Cat

Alraune

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Tradition / Region: Swiss Mythology
Alternative names: Mandrake
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Alraune was believed in the Werdenberg region to be a real cat-like creature that brought good fortune and great wealth to the household in which it lived.

According to local tradition, although the mandrake root was widely used for magic and carved into human-shaped figures believed to possess supernatural powers, people in Werdenberg also believed that the Alraune existed as a living, cat-like animal. Rather than being feared, it was regarded as a bringer of prosperity, blessing the home with luck and great riches. The source records no further description or legends about the creature.

Sources

“118. Mandrake / Alraune.” St. Gallen Myths. June 23, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://stgallenmyths.com/2024/06/23/118-mandrake/.

“Alraune.” Sagen.at – Sagen aus Österreich. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/schweiz/st_gallen/alraune.html.

Chochlik

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Tradition / Region: Polish Mythology, Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: None known
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Chochlik is a malicious or mischievous household spirit that takes the form of a cat. It dwells in the pantry, where it serves as its guardian.

According to the tradition recorded by Bronisław Trentowski and Joachim Szyc, the Chochlik watches over the household stores. However, it is quick to anger. When offended, it becomes destructive, overturning furniture, breaking household objects, and ravaging the family’s food supplies.

Sources

“Chochlik (istota).” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (Polish Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chochlik_(istota)

Gumiennik

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Tradition / Region: Polish Mythology
Alternative names: Owinnik
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Gumiennik appears as a small old man with long hair, a beard, and a mustache. It can bark like a dog and has the ability to transform into a cat.

The Gumiennik dwells in the threshing floor or barn, where it guards stored grain from fire, thieves, and pests. Although protective by nature, it is easily offended. Ignoring the spirit, threshing grain during strong winds, or working on holidays could anger it. When enraged, the Gumiennik would spoil the stored grain or set it ablaze.

To ensure its goodwill, people offered the Gumiennik the first dish of the year prepared from the harvested grain.

Sources

“Gumiennik.” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (Polish Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumiennik

Katzenkönig

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative names: King of the Cats
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Katzenkönig appears as an ordinary tomcat that is secretly the ruler of all cats. Upon learning that the reigning Cat King has died, it immediately assumes the throne and vanishes from the human world.

According to the legend, a man was passing a house in a village when he heard a cat calling up toward the attic hatch, announcing that Ame is dead. Later, after returning home, he repeated the strange incident to his family. As soon as the household tomcat heard the words, it cried out, If Ame is dead, then I am the King of the Cats. With that, it leapt up the chimney and disappeared forever, having gone to claim its new royal place among the cats.

Sources

De la Fontaine, Edmond. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxembourg: Jos. Beffort, 1882. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/rvks9k

Katzengespann

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative names: Cat Team
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Katzengespann consists of three cats harnessed together to pull a wagon. They serve as the supernatural draft animals of a witch.

According to the legend, near the village of Nittel stood a high hill topped by a chapel. One evening, after finishing his prayers there, the local pastor was walking down the steep path when he encountered an elderly woman from his parish. To his astonishment, she was hauling a wagonload of buttermilk up the mountain, not with horses, but with three cats pulling the cart.

Although shocked by the sight, the pastor concealed his surprise and calmly remarked that she seemed to have a very heavy load. The old woman, who was in fact a witch, replied, Just look how my horses are stretching out their tails.

Realizing he had encountered witchcraft, the pastor immediately made the sign of the cross and hurried home without another word.

Sources

De la Fontaine, Edmond. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxembourg: Jos. Beffort, 1882. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/rvks9k

White Skull Cat

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Tradition / Region: Belgian Mythology
Alternative names: White Cat
Category: Cat, Skeleton

The Myth

The White Skull Cat appears as a small white cat that can transform into a human skull.

According to the legend, a farmer known as Boerke Jans was walking home late one evening from the village square. Near the Lindo on the Windikeveld, a small white cat began walking ahead of him. He picked it up and carried it home inside his coat. Once home, he locked the cat inside his wardrobe for the night.

The following morning, when he opened the wardrobe, the cat had transformed into a human skull.

Terrified, Boerke Jans waited until midnight before carrying the skull back to the place where he had found the cat. As soon as he laid it on the ground, the skull instantly changed back into the white cat, which ran off across the fields and disappeared into the darkness.

The fright affected Boerke Jans so deeply that, according to the legend, he gradually wasted away from fear.

Sources

De Cock, Alfons. Vlaamsche sagen uit den volksmond. Amsterdam: Maatschappij voor Goede en Goedkoope Lectuur, 1921, p. 49.

Zudringliche Katze

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative names: The Intrusive Cat
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Zudringliche Katze appears as an ordinary cat that visits people at night, speaks with a human voice, and is believed to be a witch in animal form.

According to the legend, a young woman from Bons entered service at a farm in Hamm. After she had lived there for a few weeks, a mysterious cat began visiting her bedroom door at night. The animal softly scratched at the door and repeatedly called in a strange voice, Margaret, open the door.

The servant refused to let it in. Eventually, she grew tired of the nightly disturbance. One night she leapt from her bed, flung the door open, and hurled one of her shoes at the cat with all her strength. The cat immediately disappeared, and everything fell silent.

The next morning, the young woman searched for her shoe, but it had completely vanished without a trace. According to the tradition, this proved that the mysterious cat had been a witch in disguise.

Sources

De la Fontaine, Edmond. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxembourg: Jos. Beffort, 1882. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/rvks9k

Koshin-yama Yamaneko

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Tradition / Region: Japanese mythology
Alternative names: Koshin Mountain Wildcat, Koshinzan Yamaneko
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Koshin-yama Yamaneko was a gigantic wildcat that had lived for hundreds of years, growing to the size of a calf and gaining immense supernatural powers. Its face resembled that of a raging tiger, its mouth stretched to its ears and was redder than blood, its fangs were as white as swords, and although its body was human-like, it rode a grotesque horse formed from an ancient tree spirit. Its eyes shone like torches, and after revealing its true form, they gleamed like mirrors while its whiskers resembled snowy pampas grass. It could command the beasts of the mountain, ride tree spirits as horses, speak human language, and even had the mountain and land gods as its servants.

Seventeen years before the events of the story, the local samurai Akaiwa Ikkaku climbed Mount Koshin to prove his bravery. Unknown to everyone, he was killed and devoured by the monstrous wildcat. The creature stole his clothes, assumed his appearance, and descended from the mountain to live in his place. It sought to possess Ikkaku’s beautiful second wife, Madoi, whose life was eventually drained through sleeping with the disguised monster. The false Ikkaku then continued living among humans, abusing his eldest son Kakutaro while living with the wicked woman Funamushi, whose greedy nature allowed her to remain unaffected by the monster’s supernatural influence.

Years later, the Dog Warrior Inukai Genpachi arrived in the region while searching for his scattered companions. After hearing rumors of a monstrous wildcat living on Mount Koshin, he became lost in the mountain during the night. There he encountered the mysterious horseman whose blazing eyes pierced the darkness. Genpachi fired an arrow that struck the rider’s left eye, forcing the monster and its attendants to flee. Soon afterward, he met the ghost of the real Akaiwa Ikkaku, who revealed the truth about his murder and begged Genpachi to save his son Kakutaro from the impostor.

Genpachi descended the mountain and uncovered the schemes of the false Ikkaku and Funamushi. They falsely accused Kakutaro’s wife Hinaginu and eventually demanded that her unborn child be sacrificed to restore the monster’s wounded eye. Rather than allow others to suffer, Hinaginu stabbed herself in the stomach. At that moment the sacred Jewel of Propriety burst from her body and flew across the room, shattering the chest of the false Ikkaku with divine punishment.

As the battle continued, the false Ikkaku rose again, cast aside his human disguise, and revealed himself as the monstrous wildcat. Declaring that only by tearing apart his enemies, drinking their blood, and devouring their flesh could he preserve his supernatural power, he attacked Kakutaro and Genpachi. After a fierce struggle, Kakutaro severed the monster’s hip, brought it crashing to the ground, and finally pierced its throat, avenging the death of his true father.

Although the monster’s body was burned, strange illnesses and supernatural disasters continued to plague the region. Its ashes were eventually gathered and reburied beneath a cat mound, appeasing the wildcat’s lingering curse. Afterward, peace returned, and it was said that rats no longer came near the surrounding fields.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “庚申山の山猫 (Mountain Cat of Mt. Kōshin).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). August 13, 2018. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1071974070.html

Yule Cat

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Tradition / Region: Icelandic Mythology
Alternative names: Jólakötturinn, Jólaköttur, Christmas Cat
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Yule Cat is a gigantic, vicious cat that prowls the snowy countryside during the Christmas season. It is said to lurk outside homes searching for people who have not received new clothing before Christmas Eve. In some versions of the legend, it devours those unfortunate people, while in others it steals and eats only their Christmas food. The Yule Cat is closely associated with the ogress Grýla and the Yule Lads, and is commonly regarded as Grýla’s fearsome pet.

According to Icelandic tradition, the Yule Cat appeared each Christmas to punish laziness. Farm workers were expected to finish processing the autumn wool before the holiday. Those who completed their work were rewarded with new clothes, while those who failed received nothing. Anyone without new clothing risked becoming the Yule Cat’s next victim.

Later traditions connected the beast to Grýla and her thirteen Yule Lads. The enormous cat roamed the countryside during Christmas, and in some stories only the smallest Yule Lad, Stúfur, was capable of controlling the unruly monster, riding it across the snow-covered landscape in search of prey.

Sources

“Yule Cat.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_cat

Vargin

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Tradition / Region: Belarusian mythology
Alternative names: Vargan
Category: Cat

The Myth

Vargin is an enormous demonic black cat regarded as the king of the feline kingdom. His fur is as black as coal, his eyes glow like flames, and his body is immense, with a pitch-black, furry tail as thick as a sable’s. He can appear and disappear without warning, squeeze through tiny cracks despite his size, and even pass through closed doors and windows. He is also able to assume the forms of butterflies, monstrous creatures, or humans, and is accompanied by evil spirits. His purring is said to lull people into a false sense of peace before bringing them misfortune.

Belarusian folklore tells that Vargin is one of the rulers of the animal world. The king of cats is Vargin, the king of roosters is Budzimir, and the king of mice is Podnor. While Budzimir represents peace and light, Vargin embodies torment, fear, and darkness.

Vargin is believed to prey upon people suffering from severe mental illnesses or emotional despair. Rather than causing ordinary physical sickness, he drives victims into confusion, social isolation, and complete mental and physical exhaustion. He especially torments those whose illnesses cannot be explained or cured, feeding upon their suffering.

One tale tells of a man named Tomas whose wife became mysteriously ill after insects entered her head. Doctors could not cure her. Tomas lovingly kept a black cat that everyone admired for its gentle nature, but a healer warned him that black cats, especially unknown ones, could bring terrible misfortune. The healer revealed that the beloved cat was actually Vargin, whose comforting purring concealed his true purpose of tormenting the household.

Another story tells of Budzimir being seized by Vargin, causing fear to spread throughout the world. An oak advised that Budzimir should be freed by calming and soothing Vargin rather than confronting him directly. Once the fire within the cat was allowed to fade and he became gentle, Budzimir was released and peace returned.

Despite his immense supernatural power, Vargin is said to fear only a powerful natural healer or sorcerer capable of driving him away with sacred words. Such healers can banish both Vargin and the evil spirits that accompany him.

Sources

“Варгин (Vargin).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Vargin