Tradition / Region: Bezhtin mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative names: None recorded
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Kav appears as a shaggy creature completely covered in hair with the face of a cat, but without whiskers. It is the restless spirit of a recently deceased person who lived an unrighteous life and rose from the grave after death.
According to Bezhtin tradition, the Kav wanders through abandoned villages, ruined houses, barns, and haylofts. Those unfortunate enough to encounter it are overwhelmed by terror, and the creature is said to frighten its victims so severely that they may be driven into madness or even die from the encounter. It is regarded as an evil undead spirit that continues to haunt the living after emerging from its grave.
Sources
“Кав (Kav).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Kav