Russian Cat Mythology

Kav

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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

Lyub

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Tradition / Region: Russian Mythology
Alternative names: Nelyub
Category: Cat

The Myth

Lyub appears as a large-eared, shaggy, golden-haired cat carrying a stalk of arrowhead in its teeth. It is the guardian spirit of the marriage bed and protects the relationship between husband and wife. Nelyub, its opposite, appears as a shaggy black cat that brings misfortune to the marriage.

To ensure Lyub’s blessing, newlyweds performed special rituals after their wedding. The marriage bed was sprinkled with incense and dedicated to Lyub. The morning after the wedding, the newlyweds’ bloodstained bed sheet was displayed to relatives and in-laws as part of the ritual. A special loaf called lyubok was also baked from rye dough with a symbolic filling placed inside and then hidden in a secluded place near the couple’s bed as an offering for Lyub. In return, the spirit was believed to protect the marriage and preserve harmony between husband and wife.

Sources

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

Earth Cat

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Tradition / Region: Russian Mythology
Alternative names: —
Category: Cat

The Myth

The Earth Cat is an underground wildcat believed by the people of the Ural Mountains to guard hidden treasures beneath the earth.

One of its best-known appearances is in Pavel Bazhov’s tale “Cat’s Ears.” In the story, a girl named Dunyakha encounters what first appears to be two mysterious fires with a small mound between them that resembles a cat’s head. As she watches, the fiery “ears” grow larger, then shift aside as if the cat is moving. The strange apparition is said to appear in places where copper and gold lie buried underground.

The Earth Cat is described as a supernatural manifestation of the underground world rather than an ordinary animal. It is closely associated with hidden mineral wealth, appearing above deposits of valuable ore while silently guarding the treasures beneath the earth.

Sources

“Земляная кошка (Zemlyanaya Koshka).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/zemljanaja-koshka