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

Zheng

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Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: None known
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Zheng is a strange beast described as resembling a red leopard with five tails and a single horn. Its cry sounds like the striking of stone. It is said to inhabit Mount Zhang’e, a barren mountain devoid of vegetation but rich in jade and precious stones.

According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), the Zheng lives on Mount Zhang’e, located two hundred and eighty li to the west. The mountain is described as barren of plant life but abundant in jade and valuable stones. There dwells the Zheng, an extraordinary creature whose appearance and voice distinguish it from all other beasts. Its body resembles a red leopard, yet it possesses five tails, a single horn, and emits a sound like stone being struck. No further actions, powers, or legends are recorded in the source.

Sources

“狰 (Zhēng).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/狰

Zhujian

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Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: None known
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Zhujian is a bizarre creature with the body of a leopard, a long tail, a human head, the ears of an ox, and a single eye.

According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), specifically the Northern Mountains Classic, the Zhujian is simply described as a strange beast with these unusual features. It has the body of a leopard, an elongated tail, a human-like head with ox ears, and only one eye. No further legends, abilities, or deeds are recorded in the source.

Sources

“諸犍 (Zhūjiàn).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/諸犍

Shusse Neko

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Tradition / Region: Japanese mythology
Alternative names: Cat of Success
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Shusse Neko was a mysterious black cat said to appear within the Kawachi residence beyond the main gate of Fuchu Castle in Suruga Province. Anyone fortunate enough to see the cat was believed to receive good fortune. Those with great ambitions, who sought to cultivate virtue and achieve fame, were said to inevitably rise in status after encountering it. Because of its ability to bring prosperity and advancement, the mysterious black cat became known as the Cat of Success.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “出世猫 (Shusseneko).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655155.html

Splintercat

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Tradition / Region: American Mythology
Alternative names: None known
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Splintercat is a fierce nocturnal feline that flies through the air at tremendous speed. It is said to smash headfirst into large trees, knocking off their branches and leaving the trunks dead and stripped bare like pale ghostly snags. It performs this remarkable feat to expose raccoons and wild bees hiding inside the trees for food. Constantly battering trees with its head leaves the creature with a perpetual headache, making it notoriously ill-tempered and dangerous to approach.

An alternate tradition from Nova Scotia describes the Splintercat as emerging from trees during winter after spending the summer hibernating inside them. The loud cracking sounds heard in frozen forests are said to be the creature breaking free from its tree. In this version, it has exceptionally long claws, powerful legs, and fur patterned like tree bark, allowing it to remain perfectly camouflaged until it suddenly leaps from the shadows to ambush its prey.

Sources

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

Hurbóż

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

The Myth

The Hurbóż is a demonic creature that resembles a cat. It attacks people by silently creeping onto them and strangling them with its soft paws. It is regarded as a type of nightmare demon that strikes its victims during sleep. Besides tormenting humans, the Hurbóż is also said to tease horses by tangling and knotting their manes during the night.

Sources

“Hurbóż.” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (Polish Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurb%C3%B3%C5%BC

Nunda

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Tradition / Region: Tanzania Mythology, Kenya Mythology, Mozambique Mythology
Alternative names: Mla Watu (Eater of People)
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Nunda began as the unusually fierce cat of Sultan Majnún. As it fed on increasingly larger prey, it grew into a gigantic monster described as being larger than an elephant, with small ears, a broad body, two civet-like markings, and a thick tail.

The cat first killed a calf, but the Sultan dismissed the incident, insisting that both the cat and the calf belonged to him. As it continued killing and eating a goat, a cow, a donkey, a horse, a camel, a child, and finally a man, the Sultan still refused to punish it. Growing ever larger on its diet of flesh, the cat eventually left the city and hid in the surrounding wilderness, ambushing travelers and sneaking into the roads at night to carry away anyone it found. The population gradually dwindled while the Sultan ignored every warning.

Only after the monster attacked the Sultan himself and killed three of his sons did he realize the creature was no longer an ordinary cat. He sent his soldiers to destroy it, but the Nunda killed many of them and scattered the rest.

The Sultan’s youngest son then swore to avenge his brothers. Carrying only a spear and knife, he set out alone to hunt the beast. Mistaking many large animals for the monster, he successively killed a dog, civets, a zebra, a giraffe, a rhinoceros, an elephant, and several other creatures, proudly bringing each one home. Each time his mother told him it was not the Nunda and described the true monster’s appearance.

Eventually the prince and his companions found the Nunda asleep beneath a grove of trees. Recognizing it from his mother’s description, they fired their guns into the beast before retreating for the night. Returning the next morning, they found the gigantic monster dead. Its carcass was dragged back to the city in triumph, buried beneath the ground, and a house was built over its grave with a guard stationed there.

Other versions of the legend describe the Nunda as an insatiable monster capable of swallowing an entire population. In those tales, a lone hero kills the beast, cuts open its belly, and frees all of its victims alive.

Sources

Countess Sica. “Nunda.” A Book of Creatures. September 2, 2015. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/09/02/nunda/

Okazaki-ba-neko

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Okazaki Cat Monster, Spirit of the Maruko Cat Stone
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Okazaki-ba-neko first appears as an old woman wearing a twelve-layered kimono that had served as a burial shroud. She is accompanied by two pet cats that stand upright and dance, while she extends an unnaturally long tongue to lick oil from a lamp. Later she reveals her true form as a monstrous cat and finally transforms into a Kasha after emerging from the Cat Stone.

Osode traveled with her husband, Nakano Tosuke, and their infant child in search of her elder sister Omatsu, who had sold herself to earn money for their mother’s medicine. Unable to find a place to stay, they were led by their acquaintance Okura to an abandoned temple outside the post town.

Inside the temple, Osode encountered her mother, who was believed to have died of illness. The old woman was actually the monster cat in disguise. Okura witnessed the two pet cats standing on their hind legs and dancing while the old woman licked oil from a lamp with her long tongue. Because Okura had been born in the Year of the Rat, she was devoured by the cat.

At the same time, the ghost of Omatsu appeared before Osode and Fujisuke. It was revealed that Osode had unknowingly cursed her own sister, believing her to be a rival for Fujisuke’s affection. The curse disfigured Omatsu’s face, causing her to wander in search of a buyer before she was eventually murdered by Akahori Mizuemon. After learning the truth, Fujisuke declared he would divorce Osode. Overcome with despair, Osode died on the spot.

A monstrous hand then reached through a shoji screen, dragging away Osode’s body and her infant child. Behind the screen, the old cat-woman devoured them before revealing herself as the combined spirit of the Cat Stone and the ghost of Omatsu, after which she disappeared.

Later, as Omatsu’s body was brought for burial, a violent thunderstorm erupted. The Cat Stone opened its eyes and breathed fire before transforming once more into the old woman. She assumed the form of a monstrous Kasha, seized Omatsu’s corpse, and disappeared into the clouds.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “岡崎の化け猫 (Okazaki-ba-neko).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1069769025.html

Neko Oni

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: None recorded
Category: Cat

The Myth

According to a legend from Yoshima in Fukushima Prefecture, there are four ranks of horned cat demons, each possessing different powers. The legend was introduced in the Illustrated Compendium of Mythical Creatures of Japan (2016), which also features photographs of skulls said to belong to these beings.

The lowest rank is the Wild Demon, a one-horned cat that differs little from an ordinary cat and possesses no special supernatural abilities. Its traditional leader bears the title Amenokatsubushi no Mikoto.

Above them are the Ghost Demons, recognizable by their two horns. They understand human language and possess the ability to shapeshift. Their leader is known as Amenomatatabi-no-Mikoto.

The third rank consists of the Sky Demons, which have three horns. They can understand the languages of all animals and plants, shapeshift at will, and command the forces of earth, water, fire, and wind. Their leader is called Amenoshaminen-no-Mikoto.

The highest rank is the Heavenly Demons (Tenki). These beings are considered equal to gods and rarely reveal themselves or harm humans. Unlike the lower ranks, they have no horns and are completely indistinguishable from ordinary cats. No skull of a Heavenly Demon has ever been found. Their leader is traditionally named Nekoterasu-Ōmikami.

A cat demon’s rank is determined at birth and normally cannot change. However, the legend states that through constant training a cat demon may eventually lose its horns and ascend to the rank of a Heavenly Demon, which is why cat demons are said to devote themselves tirelessly to spiritual cultivation.

The legend also describes other horned demon races. Chicken demons are weaker than cat demons and are often hunted by them. Fox demons are stronger than cat demons, while bear demons are the most powerful of all, although they are said to live without conflict with the other races.

A mysterious document known as the “Cat Demon’s Apology Letter” is also associated with the tradition. Written in an unreadable script of strange symbols and accompanied by what appears to be a map, its contents remain undeciphered. The source notes that many aspects of the legend—including the divine names and the four-rank hierarchy—appear to parody elements of Japanese mythology and older folklore, and it remains uncertain whether the legend itself is genuinely ancient or a more recent creation.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “猫鬼 (Neko-Oni).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1069861391.html

Nekomata

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Nekomata, Nekomata (猫跨, older spelling), Cat Fork-Tail
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Nekomata is one of Japan’s best-known cat yōkai. According to folklore and numerous historical texts, an ordinary cat that lives for many years may transform into a Nekomata. Its tail splits into two, and it gains supernatural powers.

Nekomata are said to speak human language, dance like people, transform into humans, and sometimes attack both humans and animals.

One of the earliest recorded accounts appears in the Meigetsuki, which states that in 1233 a Nekomata appeared near Nara, killing seven or eight people in a single night. When the beast was finally slain, it was found to have the eyes of a cat but the body the size of a dog.

The Tsurezuregusa also mentions that deep in the mountains there are Nekomata that devour people.

Later illustrated yōkai scrolls portray the creature differently. In the Hyakkai Zukan, a Nekomata is shown disguised as a woman while playing the shamisen, while Toriyama Sekien’s Gazu Hyakki Yagyō depicts a Nekomata wearing a towel over its head and dancing merrily on the veranda of a house. These portrayals reflect the belief that aged cats could become intelligent supernatural beings capable of human behavior and transformation.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “猫又 (Nekomata).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010653552.html