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Ferocious Fiends: 006

Neko-mata

猫又

Pronunciation:

(NEH-koh MAH-tah)

English Name:

Literally, “Forked Cat”; Two-Tails

Gender:

Male or Female

Length:

Housecat-sized to two or three times housecat-sized

Weight:

Unknown

Locomotion:

Quadrupedal or bipedal

Distinctive Features:

Two tails or a forked tail

Offensive Weapons:

Shape-shifting, claws, teeth

Abundance

Prevalent

Habitat:

Anywhere cats live

A well-dressed Bakeneko in a vintage woodblock print.

Claim to Fame:

In a twist on the Western concept of cats stealing babies’ breath, Japanese superstition holds that cats need to be kept away from the recently deceased, lest they breathe new life into the corpses.

Set against this macabre background, it is said that once a cat reaches a certain age—according to some sources, more than forty years; in others, as little as eleven—its tail naturally splits into two and it acquires supernatural powers. Other legends hold that cats that are mistreated or killed by humans will return as vengeful spirits. These paranormal felines are collectively known as Bakeneko (literally, “monster cats”) and Neko-mata.

A Neko-mata interacts with the human world in all sorts of ways. Often spotted dancing or conversing in human speech, they have also been cited as the source of ghostly fireballs and other forms of supernatural environmental phenomena. Similar to Kitsune (p. 154) and Tanuki (p. 126), the Neko-mata is believed capable of mimicking the forms of other creatures. Although it prowls the streets as a normal-looking cat, it can make itself significantly larger than the average feline.

The Attack!

A Neko-mata is particularly feared for its voodoo-like ability to raise and control the dead. They achieve this feat by leaping over the heads of fresh corpses, using the reanimated bodies to take revenge on individuals or families that they believe have wronged them.

A Neko-mata has been known to attack and even devour living human victims. Meigetsuki (“The Record of the Clear Moon”), a thirteenth-century diary written by a Kyoto aristocrat, recounts a terrifying attack in which a furious Neko-mata consumed seven or eight individuals over the course of a single night. Meanwhile, the 1708 document Yamato Kaiiki (“A Record of Strange Phenomena in Japan”) describes an incident in which a hefty specimen measuring some five feet (1.5 meters) from head to tail pounced on a samurai relaxing in his own home.

Tail Trivia:

A great many cats in Japan are of the bobtail or tailless variety. Some speculate that the relative rarity of long-tailed cats gave rise to the legend of the Neko-mata.

Surviving an Encounter:

The traditional expedient for avoiding the wrath of a Neko-mata is simple. Don’t abuse cats. Or any other animals, for that matter. At its heart, this yokai is a metaphor for the consequences of mistreating those smaller and weaker than yourself.

For concerned pet owners, there is an easy expedient for preventing one’s beloved housecat from turning into a Neko-mata. Before taking any cat in, you must clearly state to it: “I will only care for you for three years.” This establishes a contract of sorts, after which the cat is free to stay or go as it pleases. And don’t forget to stock up on catnip while you’re at it.

An image of dancing Neko-mata by Sekien Toriyama

Lamp-Lickers:

Neko-mata are famed for their peculiar dining habits, which include not only the occasional human but also a thirst for lamp oil. Before the age of electricity, metal lamps that burned vegetable-based oils were a major source of light, and it was said that phantom kitties would drink the fuel from lamps left unattended. But why lamp oil? Back then, meat was not a fixture of the Japanese diet, which consisted largely of rice, and this extended to pets as well. A cat hungry for a little extra fat and protein but too lazy to head outside for a mouse was apt to sneak a quick slurp of oil from the fuel-dish of a nearby lamp instead. As lamps were usually placed on tabletops, a cat needed to stand on its hind legs to reach the treat. When glimpsed in silhouette through a paper shoji screen, the looming shadow of an average housecat could easily pass for a yokai feline that walks on two legs instead of four.

TOP SIGNS YOUR PET MAY BE A NEKO-MATA

1) Appearance of second tail

2) Thirst for lamp oil

3) Preference for walking on two legs

4) Sudden rise in conversational ability

5) Newly discovered repertoire of songs

6) Overly fond of hitting the dance floor

7) Insatiable hunger for human flesh