Tradition / Region: Argentinian Mythology
Alternative names: Catman
Category: Cat

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The Myth

The Hombre Gato (“Catman”) is a legendary creature from Argentine folklore that combines both human and feline features.

According to the legend, the Hombre Gato emerges only at night, wandering through villages and rural areas in search of prey. It is said to attack both humans and animals under the cover of darkness, much like a werewolf.

Stories of the creature are especially common in the Argentine countryside. While many people regard the Hombre Gato as a fictional legend, others claim to have heard its eerie cries or even encountered the mysterious being during the night. The tale remains one of Argentina’s best-known modern urban legends and has inspired numerous works of fiction and documentaries.

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Sources

“Hombre Gato.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hombre_Gato

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