Month: October 2020

Culture

Werecats, Part I: The Mystic Weretiger

mehshadoweye

Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Man with painted tiger stripes
Photo by Charles Crawshaw World Peace in 2020 from Pexels

Werelions, weretigers, werejaguars, oh my! That was my where my brain was at about thirty seconds into my research on ailuranthropy, or the phenomenon of humans transforming into big cats (from the Greek ailouros “cat” and anthropos “human”). I hadn’t intended for this to be a series, but I quickly realized that werecats were a much larger topic than I had expected. This means I get to draw the Halloween blogs out longer, so I can’t complain. We will begin the series with the cat people that stalk human prey in the folktales of Asia: the weretigers.

Weretigers are the most frequently occurring kind of were-creature in the folklore of tropical Asia (1, 2). Tales about these creatures can be found in the mythology of China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, just to name a few. Humans have lived alongside tigers in this part of the world forever, really, although the decline of tigers has tragically made that less the case. In Europe, the most fearsome natural predator was the wolf, giving rise to stories of humans becoming wolves. There was no more appropriate metaphor for the animal within. Where the tiger is the king of the jungle, however, humans become cats.

Under Their Skin

The stories about weretigers are almost as different as the people and places where they are told. In only some of them are people bodily transformed into tigers. Often, the transformation takes place once the weretiger puts on a tiger skin with or without an accompanying incantation (3, 4). The European werewolf is frequently made the same way. There are some stories where people became weretigers accidentally after slipping into a tiger skin (4). One story tells of a Chinese monk who put on a tiger skin to play a practical joke, only to become a tiger and remain so for a year (4).

Alternatively, a person may become a weretiger by burning incense, reciting an incantation, and throwing his clothes off (5, 6). By shedding their clothes, they are shedding their personhood, in a sense, and once naked they transform into a tiger (5, 6). If someone steals the clothes, the weretiger will not be able to turn back into a human (6).

White tiger on grass
Photo by Anthony from Pexels

My personal favorite tactic, however, involves circling an anthill seven times clockwise while repeating a secret charm (7). This lacks the obvious symbolism of stripping off one’s humanity but is infinitely more bizarre. To turn back, simply do the opposite: walk around the anthill counterclockwise seven times while repeating the charm (7). Does this mean weretigers can talk? Does it have to be the same anthill? I have no idea, but I love it.

Some transformation rituals require one or more accomplices. In one, a practitioner recites particular spells, or mantras, over a measure of water (1). An assistant then sprinkles the water over the weretiger to effect the transformation (1). To change them back, the assistant sprinkles the water over them again (1). In some versions of the throw-off-the-clothes ritual, the only way to become human again is for someone to hurl the weretiger’s clothes at them while they are in tiger form (1). If a weretiger’s accomplice is unable or unwilling to help for whatever reason, they will be stuck as a tiger, presumably for the rest of their life (5).

Tiger Spirits

In some beliefs, a person becomes a weretiger when they are possessed by a spirit. The Lisu people of Laos believe that weretigers can possess people and may then possess their family members in turn (8). They also believe that those who are thus possessed will put “the essence of the weretiger” into a valuable object and leave it lying on a path (8). Whoever picks the object up will be possessed, too (8). I can only imagine the chain reactions of weretiger possession that ensue from a single Weretiger Zero.

On the other hand, there is a folk belief in Malaysia that certain families are already tigrine by birth (9). After death, they become tigers that somewhat resemble their human selves and remember their human lives (9). These tigers visit their humans relatives during festivals or times of great turmoil and can sometimes be called upon for help (9). When a human member of the family is about to die, at least one of their tiger relatives will come to hold vigil outside the house, waiting (9). A few days after death, their grave will be found opened, and a representative tiger will appear in the nearby forest (9). The journal article describing this belief was written in 1922 (9), so it is possible that the lore has died out by now. Unless, of course, it’s not just a myth.

Dreamtime Weretiger

Tiger in snow
Image by Marcel Langthim from Pixabay

Interestingly, there is a major type of weretiger that does not involve any metamorphosis at all. These weretigers leave their human bodies in their sleep to become tigers. In the lore of certain indigenous peoples of India and south Asia, some individuals naturally have the ability to be this kind of weretiger (1, 2). When these weretigers dream, a part of their soul travels into the jungle and joins with the soul of a live tiger (1, 2). The weretiger then acts out the desires of the sleeping human, which can sometimes result in the property destruction, injury, or death of the weretiger’s enemies (1, 2).

The weretiger and their tiger have a close relationship. They always migrates into the same tiger, night after night, for their entire life (1, 2). If the tiger is wounded or killed while bonded with the weretiger’s soul, the human body suffers the same fate (1, 2).

The Khasis of northeastern India ascribe to a variation of the dreaming weretiger belief. Khasis people believe that humans are divided into the body, the soul, and the rngiew (10, 11). The rngiew is a sort of essential, divine essence integral to each person (10). When the weretigers sleep, their rngiew leave their bodies and transform into tigers in the spirit world (10, 11). However, the spirit world and the physical one are not entirely separate, and the weretigers are able to interact with the material plane as tigers (10, 11). People either inherit the ability to be a weretiger or are chosen to receive the gift by a deity (10).

The Good, the Bad, and the Stripey

I have read a lot of old werewolf stories because that’s the kind of thing I do for fun. I can’t think of a single one where the werewolf was presented as anything other than a force for evil. Modern representations are much more varied, of course, but folklore decidedly depicts werewolves as bad dogs. Weretigers, however, are painted in many different lights.

Tiger in jungle
Image by Capri23auto from Pixabay

Sometimes, weretigers engender terror. They are thought to kill people and livestock (1, 2, 4). But other times they are protectors (9, 10, 11, 12). The Khasis weretigers have a sacred duty to protect their communities from harm, including other weretigers (11). There are Chinese myths about weretigers who are the instruments of heaven, meting out divine fate whether they want to or not (4).

Sumatrans believe that were-tiger homes are made of roofs thatched with human hair, walls made of human skin, and beams of human bones.

Joane le Roux, New Straits Times

Weretigers have a complicated place in the folklore of Asia, both within and between cultures. Should you want to know how to recognize them, just to be safe, there are a few ways. One of the most common signs is that weretigers lack the groove on the upper lip (5, 9). A person caught vomiting chicken feathers is considered a likely suspect for a weretiger (12). I would suggest that that should make them suspect for something regardless. The tracks of the weretiger are distinctive because there are five toes on each paw, whereas normal tigers, like all cats, leave prints with five toes on the front paws and four on the back (10, 11). If you see large cat prints with any number of toes, perhaps the best practice is to depart with haste rather than start counting.

Works Cited

  1. Brighenti, F. (2017). Traditional beliefs about weretigers among the Garos of Meghalaya. eTropic, 16(1), 96-111. PDF
  2. Brighenti, F. (2011). Kradi mliva: The phenomenon of tiger-transformation in the traditional lore of the Kondh tribals of Orissa. Lokaratna, 4, 11-25. PDF
  3. Casal, U.A. (1959). The goblin fox and badger and other witch animals of Japan. Folklore Studies, 18, 1-93. doi: 10.2307/1177429.
  4. Hammond, C.E. (1992). Sacred metamorphosis: The weretiger and the shaman. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 46(2/3), 235-255. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23658449
  5. Wessing, R. (1995). The last tiger in East Java: Symbolic continuity in ecological change. Asian Folklore Studies, 54(2), 191-218. doi: 10.2307/1178941
  6. Wessing, R. (1994). “Bangatowa,” “Patogu” and “Gaddhungan”: Perceptions of the tiger among the Madurese. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 25(2), 368-380. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20071663
  7. Biria, S.G.D. (1947). The Muria and their Ghotul. Oxford University Press.
  8. Worra, B.T. (2012, December 20). Pondering weretigers of Laos. On the Other Side of the Eye. http://thaoworra.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-weretigers-of-laos.html
  9. bin Ahmad, Z.A. (1922). The tiger-breed families. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 85, 36-39. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41561390
  10. Lyngdoh, M. (2016). Tiger transformation among the Khasis of northeastern India: Belief worlds and shifting realities. Anthropos, 111(2), 649-658. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44791292
  11. Kharmawphlang, D. (2000). In search of tigermen: The were-tiger tradition of the Khasis. India International Centre Quaterly, 27(4), 160-176. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23005708
  12. le Roux, J. (2014, November 1). In pursuit of a were-tiger. New Strait Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/pursuit-were-tiger

Published October 26th, 2020

Breed Profiles

Lykoi: The Werewolf Cats

mehshadoweye

Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

I knew months in advance that I wanted to cover the Lykoi as the breed of the month for Encyclopaedia Felidae’s first October. There was no way I could pass up the opportunity to talk about the “werewolf cat” during spooky season. The Lykoi is so nicknamed for its appearance, which is entirely unique among pedigreed cats and reminds some people of the werewolves in classic film. They are also one of the newest and rarest breeds in the world.

Lykoi cat
Photo by danilobiancalana

History

Lykoi cats have cropped up in random-bred cat populations for a long time [1, 2]. It’s unknown just when the first Lykoi-type cat was born, but they were first recognized in September, 2010 by Patti Thomas, who found two partially-hairless kittens with their black Domestic Shorthair mother at a shelter and adopted them [3]. She began a breeding program with Tennessee veterinarian Jonny Gobble and his wife Brittney [3, 4, 5]. They obtained another, unrelated litter of kittens with the same appearance, and in 2011 they bred a cat from each to get the first intentionally-bred Lykoi [3, 4, 5].

Through the breeding program, the founders quickly realized that the Lykoi appearance came from a natural, recessive mutation [1, 4, 6]. Thomas, the Gobbles, and incoming breeders incorporated Domestic Shorthairs, primarily black ones, as well as any naturally occurring Lyoki that could be found into the breeding program to broaden the gene pool [3, 4, 6]. Despite some incredible drama in the Lykoi breeding community, the breed has seen rapid success, although it remains quite rare due to its newness. As of August 2020, there were still fewer than 100 show-standard Lykoi on the planet [2].

Breed Traits

The Lykoi’s striking coat is it’s stand-out feature. They are considered partially-hairless, although they can range from nearly bald to nearly full-coated [4, 6, 7]. Their sparse, thin pelt has little to no undercoat [1, 2, 6]. Instead, they are covered in a variable layer of guard hairs which make their fur look coarse in texture [2, 6, 7]. In fact, Lykoi actually have a soft, silky coat, despite appearances [2, 6, 7].

The Lykoi lacks fur on their facial “mask” and behind their ears [1, 2, 4, 7]. This, in addition to the rough appearance of their coat, gives them that werewolf look. That coat also has a pattern otherwise unknown among cats: roan, a mixture of colored and amelanistic hairs [4, 6, 7]. Amelanistic hairs are unpigmented and appear white. A roan coat can look silvery or frosty, but it depends upon how much roaning there is. A lot of roaning can cause an animal’s coat to look almost white. The traditional Lykoi color is black roan, and that is still the only color which can be shown in The International Cat Association (TICA) shows [4]. However, the Cat Fanciers’ Association now allows all solid and point colors [3, 6], and Lykoi of many different colors and patterns are being bred as pets.

There is another curious thing about a Lykoi’s fur. It molts. At least once. Lykoi kittens are born looking like any other kitten, and then after a week or two they lose their coat [7]. It regrows all werewolf-y [7]. This may happen as an adult cat, as well, as often as every shedding season [2, 3, 7]. When the coat grows back, it sometimes looks a little different than it did before [7].

The other breed standards for the Lykoi are fairly basic. After all, Lykoi came from Domestic Shorthairs, mostly random-bred ferals. Lykoi are medium-sized cats with short to medium hair [2, 6, 7]. They have rounded wedge-shaped heads and tapering tails [6, 7]. Their eyes are usually amber or green [2, 4].

Weird Science

When Lykoi cats were discovered, they were tested for known cat fur mutations. However, they do not have any of the genetic variants associated with the hairless Sphynx and the curly-haired Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex, German Rex, and Cornish Rex [8, 9]. A genome sequencing study published in May 2020 found six different loss-of-function mutations of the gene Hairless (a.k.a. lysine demethylase and nuclear receptor corepressor) in Lykoi [8]. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising, given that the breed came from random-bred cats with natural mutations in quite a few different populations. The study was able to confirm sixteen different Lykoi lineages [8]. It is interesting, though, that so many mutations arose in this particular gene, with the same result no less.

Hairless is important for skin function and hair maintenance [8], and this is borne out by what we know about the skin and hair of Lykoi. They have fewer and shallower hair follicles than Domestic Shorthairs [9]. Their hair shafts are thinner, but they have more oil gland tissue [9]. Lykoi frequently have hair follicles that are too small, too large, or misshapen [9]. The breed demonstrates lymphocytic mural folliculitis, an inflammatory skin condition with unclear impacts on the health of the cats, if any [9]. What is clear is that Lykoi have markedly different skin and hair than other cats. The scientists who studied their skin and hair up close hope that their unique traits may teach us more about dermatological disorders [9].

The Care and Keeping of Werewolves

Some Lykoi enthusiasts characterize their personalities as dog-like or wolfish. I’ll spare you the rant on how I feel about people saying that friendly cats are acting like dogs. Instead, I will simply say that that’s a bit silly. Lykoi are smart, energetic, and people-oriented [4, 5]. They can sometimes be shy with strangers, but they can usually learn to get along well with just about anyone, including children and other pets [4, 5]. Lykoi have guard-cat tendencies, wanting to keep watch over their toys and their people [4, 7].

Lykoi need plenty to occupy their active minds and bodies, but outdoor time is not a good option for this. Their sparse coats make them sensitive to cold and sunburn [1, 2, 6]. They need to be indoor-only cats, and if you have a catio, make sure it’s warm enough outside. You may even need to consider pet sunscreen.

White cat on blanket
Shikoba, white “Arctic” shorthair http://lykoikitten.com/our-lykoi/

Even without sunscreen, Lykoi can have a build-up of oils on their skin, just like hairless breeds do [1, 2, 6]. They need regular bathing to keep their skin clean, about once a month. They can also have buildup on their claws and in their ears, so those may need a quick cleaning once a week or so. Brushing is part of any good grooming routine, but because a Lykoi’s fur is so thin, you have to make sure to brush gently. Too harsh or too much brushing can irritate their skin [5].

As far as health goes, Lykoi are believed to be a healthy breed. There are no known health conditions associated with the breed except the lymphocytic mural folliculitis, which may or may not be a real problem. It remains uncertain. However, the breed is so new, and there are so few cats, that it is possible there are lurking health problems which haven’t become apparent [1, 2]. The best practice is to just watch a Lykoi for any signs of illness or injury, as you would a non-pedigreed cat.

A word of caution to anyone interested in getting a Lykoi: because the breed is so rare, and therefore so valuable, there are a lot of scams out there. This is the case with all pedigreed cats, but the rarer the breed, the worse it gets. Of course, this is just another reason to adopt, not shop! Even rare breeds end up in shelters, and Lykoi cats still turn up as natural mutations, too. Unfortunately, they are sometimes put down because staff think they are sick, especially if they molt [10]. Avoid a scam and adopt a vulnerable cat. There aren’t a lot of Lykoi-specific rescues yet. You can always check your local shelter if there isn’t one in your area, or you can try Werewolf Warriors Lykoi Cat Rescue, a Facebook group dedicated to placing Lykoi in need of forever homes.

Fun Facts

  • The name Lykoi comes from the Greek word for wolf, lycos [2, 8].
  • Lykoi have pink skin that will tan if exposed to sunlight or heat [4].
  • The Lykoi is one of the most genetically diverse breeds of cat, according to a joint Wisdom Health and TICA study [11].

Works Cited

  1. Chant, I. (2014, September 15). Watching the birth of a new breed: The werewolf cat. Nautilus. http://nautil.us/blog/watching-the-birth-of-a-new-breed-the-werewolf-cat
  2. Taylor, C. (2020, August 24). Lykoi. Daily Paws. https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/lykoi
  3. Hartwell, S. (2018). The uncensored origins of the lykoi. MessyBeast. http://messybeast.com/lykoi-story.htm
  4. The International Cat Association. (2018, August 13). Lykoi breed. https://www.tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=852:lykoi-breed&catid=79
  5. Cat Time. (n.d.). Lykoi. TotallyPets. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/lykoi#/slide/1
  6. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the lykoi. https://cfa.org/lykoi/
  7. Gobble, J. (2019, November 4). All about the lykoi cat breed. All About Cats. https://allaboutcats.com/lykoi-cat
  8. Buckley, R.M., et al. (2020). Werewolf, there wolf: Variants in Hairless associated with hypotrichia and roaning in the lykoi cat breed. Genes, 11(6), 682. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11060682
  9. LeRoy, M.L., et al. (2016). Clinical and histological discription of lykoi cat hair coat and skin. The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, 22(3), 179-191. 10.2736/jjvd.22.179
  10. Lykoi Cat Rescue. (2020, April 5). Hello all! We just wanted to give you all a quick update about our Lykoi Cat Rescue Page [Status Update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lykoicatrescue/posts/838934323252539
  11. Lytle, K.M., Anderson, H., Hutcherson, A., and Kajon, A.E. (2019). The International Cat Association-Wisdom Health State of the Cat study: lessons learned in genetic diversity by bringing panel testing to the cat fancy. The International Cat Association. PDF

Published October 18th, 2020

Updated June 14th, 2023

Culture

Cat Yokai: Japan’s Dancing Monster Cats

mehshadoweye

Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Yokai is one of those words that is inevitably lost in translation. It is a combination of the Japanese characters 妖 (yo as in yogurt), meaning “attractive,” “bewitching,” or “calamity,” and 怪 (kai) meaning “mystery” or “wonder” [6]. It has been translated a lot of different ways in English. I popped it into Google Translate and got back “monster,” “devil,” “goblin,” “demon,” and “bogy.” I’ve heard others as well. None of these translations are incorrect, but they are all incomplete. Yokai encompass a wide range of supernatural entities, including ghosts, monsters, demons, deities, and many more. Humans assigned supernatural meaning to cats almost everywhere the two species crossed paths, so it’s hardly surprising that there are cat yokai.

Painting of three people and two dancing cats
Ume no haru gojūsantsugi (梅初春五十三駅) – from Wikimedia Commons

Bakeneko

With age comes wisdom. Magic powers, too, at least if you’re a cat. This is the legend of the bakeneko, meaning “changed cat” [2, 5, 7, 8]. Bakeneko are pet cats that have gained supernatural abilities. They are usually considered evil, but that isn’t always the case [1, 5, 7]. There are actually several ways that normal pet cats can become bakeneko, with reaching a great age being one of the most common. What that age is, exactly, varies by regional folklore [2]. Thirteen years is often the magic number [2, 5, 8].

Cats that grow to weigh at least one kan (8.25 lbs or 3.75 kg) or have a very long tail may also transform into bakeneko [1, 8]. It was also commonly believed that licking up a lot of lamp oil could turn a house cat into a bakeneko [2, 5, 8]. Cheap fish oils, like sardine oil, were used in lamps during the Japanese early modern period, so it was probably not unusual to see a cat drinking lamp oil, but it may have seemed like an unnatural thing for an animal to do [1, 2, 5].

Once a cat becomes a bakeneko, it may look no different than an ordinary cat, or it may begin to grow very large [8]. However, bakeneko are shapeshifters, frequently disguising themselves as humans, including their owners [1, 2, 5, 8]. In its natural, feline shape, a bakeneko is able to walk on its hind legs and speak human languages [1, 2, 5, 8]. They are known to dance, on two legs, sometimes with a towel or napkin on their head [1, 2, 5, 8]. Charming as that sounds, bakeneko can be quite dangerous. They can summon spectral fireballs; eat almost anything, even if it’s poisonous or bigger than they are; and reanimate corpses and manipulate them like puppets for all sorts of nefarious purposes [1, 2, 5, 8]. Bakeneko are generally considered a menace to anyone unfortunate enough to live with one, but they can actually be loyal and helpful companions as well.

Drawing of dancing cat
Bakeneko dancing with napkin on head, from the Buson Yōkai Emaki (蕪村妖怪絵巻) – from Wikimedia Commons

The lucky maneki neko, “beckoning cats,” are a type of beneficent bakeneko [1, 7]. In all the maneki neko legends, the cat does their owner a huge favor, bringing wealth or saving their life. Now many businesses display maneki neko statues to bring good fortune.

There are also stories of bakeneko getting revenge for a wronged owner [1]. Sometimes, bakeneko just want to live their lives. They may transform into a human and then live as a human would, not bothering anybody [1, 5]. In an odd tale from Aji Island and the Oki Islands, a bakeneko turned into a human and wanted to compete in sumo [2]. These yokai are complex creatures.

Nekomata

Nekomata, on the other hand, are evil, plain and simple. Nekomata is often translated as “forked cat,” but it may also mean “again cat,” have something to do with monkeys, or mean something entirely different that has been lost to time [4, 5, 10]. There are several different forms of the word, all sharing the same character for neko, “cat,” but with different characters after [4]. The first written mention of nekomata in Japan was in 1233 [10], so there has been a lot of time for the word to evolve. That first mention came when Fujiwara no Teika recorded in his journal that in August in Nanto, a nekomata killed and ate several people in one night [4, 5, 10]. He described the nekomata as having cat eyes but “a large body like a dog” [5, 10].

In the mountain recesses, there are those called nekomata, and people say that they eat humans…

Tsurezuregusa, Yoshida Kenko, c. 1331

At the time, there was no mention of supernatural powers, and it seems that these early nekomata were simply a feared predator, though whether myth or fact remains unknown [4, 11]. There is speculation that rabies or tigers imported from China may have been the culprit, but there is no way to know for sure [4]. With time, the mountain nekomata legends grew, literally. The size of the creatures increased over centuries of stories [5]. In an 1809 writing, it was said to be more than six feet long (1.8 m) and carrying a dog in its mouth [4, 5, 10, 11].

During the Edo Period (17th – mid-19th century), people began to believe that nekomata weren’t just beasts that haunted the deep mountain hollows, but things that could invade your own home [4, 5, 10, 11]. It came to be accepted that the tails of old cats would split into two, they would gain magic powers, and they would become the malevolent nekomata [4, 5, 9-11].

Nekomata have similar powers as bakeneko, and may even be considered a type of bakeneko or a next stage of the bakeneko, although this is not necesarrily the case. However, the nekomata is much stronger and has a particular desire to cause harm [9-11]. Sometimes they focus on those that wronged them during their former life as ordinary pets [10, 11]. Sometimes nekomata just want to cause death and destruction in general. Not only are their powers greater in strength than a bakeneko, but they are also able to blackmail and even enslave humans [9, 11].

Drawing of cat with two tails on hind legs
Nekomata and two admiring cats, illustrated by Toriyama Sekien – from Wikimedia Commons

Sadly, the fear of bakeneko and nekomata led people to take certain preventative measures when it came to their pets. They docked the tails of their kittens to prevent the transformation [1, 2, 10]. People often decided they would only keep a cat for a certain number of years, and then they would abandon it, lest their pet become a yokai and cause them harm [2, 11]. It was believed that killing a cat brings down a curse that lasts either seven generations or seven lives, so it was preferable to avoid creating bakeneko and nekomata in the first place [1, 4, 10]. Of course, an unknowable number of innocent cats were harmed by these well-intentioned practices.

Breeding of the Japanese Bobtail may have helped. It’s thought that the popularity of the breed might have been due to fear of bakeneko and nekomata, a fear that clearly wasn’t strong enough to stop people from wanting pet cats [1]. Today, there is much less fear. In fact, a bakeneko festival is held in Tokyo each year near Halloween, where people dress up like cats, march in a parade, and dance like bakeneko [7]. Click to learn more about the Kagurazaka Bakeneko Festival.

Works Cited

  1. Bakeneko. (n.d.). Academic. Retrieved October 9, 2020, from https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/2775702
  2. Bakeneko. (2020, October 7). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bakeneko&oldid=982382332
  3. Casal, U.A. (1959). The Goblin Fox and Badger and Other Witch Animals of Japan. Folklore Studies, 18, 1-93. doi:10.2307/1177429
  4. Davisson, Z. (2012, April 21). Nekomata: The split-tailed cat. Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. https://web.archive.org/web/20120708015623/http://hyakumonogatari.com/2012/04/21/nekomata-the-split-tailed-cat/
  5. Davisson, Z. (2021). Kaibyo: The supernatural cats of Japan (2nd ed.). Mercuria Press: Portland, OR.
  6. Mao, Yuki. (2020). All About Yokai. https://sites.temple.edu/yuki/yokai/
  7. Matcha Admin. (2019, October 1). The Kagurazaka Bakeneko Festival: Become a cat and join the parade (C. Mischke, Trans.). Matcha. https://matcha-jp.com/en/6661
  8. Meyer, M. (n.d.). Bakeneko. Yokai.com. http://yokai.com/bakeneko/
  9. Meyer, M. (n.d.). Nekomata. Yokai.com. http://yokai.com/nekomata/
  10. Nekomata. (2020, September 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nekomata&oldid=977577652
  11. Nekomata: An evil cat in Japanese folklore. (2017, June 27). Yabai. http://yabai.com/p/2318

Published October 11th, 2020

Updated July 24, 2022

Cat Care

Should cats be dressed in costumes?

mehshadoweye

Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Spooky season is upon us. Let me tell you, I live for Halloween. I start planning my costume about six months in advance. But what about a costume for kitty? There are certainly plenty of pre-made pet costumes calling out for your hard-earned money. Halloween stores, big box stores, and pet stores alike sell them, implicitly endorsing their use. But pet clothes are controversial, and it can be difficult to get to the truth. Is it really okay to dress up your cat?

Gray tabby in pink shirt
Joon in her little t-shirt, 11-28-2018

When my Joon had her spay surgery, the vet’s office sent me home with the smallest Elizabethan collar (a.k.a. “cone of shame”) that they had. Unfortunately for me, Joon was a tiny, runty kitten, and even that was too big for her. No matter how hard I tried, the second I got the cone on, she would just slip her head right out. I called the vet in an entirely appropriate panic. They gave me some more tips for keeping the collar on, and they also said that I could try putting Joon in a little pet t-shirt.

Well, Joon would not wear that cone of shame. I bought a pink Spiderman t-shirt for toy dogs at the pet store and wrestled Joon into it. It served the purpose of keeping her from pulling out any stitches, but I noticed changes in her behavior right away. The six-month-old kitten was normally bursting with energy, but with that shirt on she mostly just sat. I thought it might be the pain meds, but as soon as the vet gave me the go-ahead to remove the shirt, Joon was no longer a zombie cat.

Of course, not all cats are like my cat. God in Heaven knows, not all cats are like my very, very unique cat. But she is like most cats in that cats generally do not like being made to wear much of anything. Almost any rule has exceptions, and there are sure to be a few cats out there that don’t mind playing dress-up. However, there are good reasons why putting cats in cute costumes and outfits is by and large a bad idea. We’ll go over them, and then we’ll discuss some exceptions and alternatives.

#1 Stress

If you’ve ever tried putting a wearable item on an unwilling cat, even if it was just putting a collar on them for the first time, then you know that they get quite upset about it. Cats are not accustomed to wearing anything other than their own fur coat. When clothes are put on them, they can feel trapped or ensnared. They’ll feel stressed while you try to wrangle them into the clothes, and if you succeed, they’ll likely feel stressed that they are stuck inside of them. You’ll know if they are, not just by the hissy fit they pitch while you get the outfit on.

Once in the clothes, cats that are stressed by wearing them may freeze, flop over, hide, or even scratch and paw at the clothes trying to get them off (1, 2). This is especially concerning for cats that are already anxious, but no cat should be put through unnecessary stress.

#2 Costume Hazards

Brown tabby cat in elf costume
Image by Uki Eiri from Pixabay

Cats are very athletic creatures, capable of all sorts of Olympic feats. As animals that are both predators and prey, they have to be. But stick them in a tuxedo or a hot dog costume, and the range of motion they are used to is suddenly no longer there. Not only can this be confusing and scary for them, it can also be dangerous. When their bodies are encumbered by cute clothes, cats may injure themselves trying to run, jump, dive under the sofa, or do some other gymnastic activity that should come naturally (3). Costumes tend to inhibit their senses as well as their mobility by blocking the eyes or ears or compressing the whiskers, only increasing the chances of a mishap (4, 5).

Another concern is that some costumes may pose a choking hazard (4, 5, 6). Buttons, bells, sequins, strings, and any number of other parts that may fall or be chewed off could be swallowed (4, 5, 6). Cats can choke on these pieces, or if they swallow them the small parts can get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and cause life-threatening blockages that require surgery to repair (4, 5, 6).

#3 Cat Conflict

Scent is extremely important to cats. They use it to communicate and navigate their world. Putting clothes on a cat covers them in a strange scent. This can be disturbing for the cat wearing the costume (5), but in a multicat home it can cause conflict between cats (5, 6). The costumed cat won’t smell right, and that can cause other cats to avoid or attack them (5, 6). It’s similar to how cats react when one of them comes home from the vet smelling different, but with the added confusion of the funny-smelling cat not looking right, either.

If the cat with the clothes is especially upset, they might make it worse by lashing out in fear or frustration (5, 6). If a serious fight does get started, wearing clothes puts a cat at a disadvantage and may lead to injuries that wouldn’t happen if they were capable of properly defending themself or escaping (5, 6).

#4 Discomfort

Even if none of the aforementioned problems crop up, cats are just not very comfortable in clothes. The feeling of the fabrics rubbing on their fur, straps in awkward spots, sleeves holding their legs in place, or any number of other unpleasant aspects of pet clothing can make a cat unhappy. Items that cover the ears might make irritating sounds that could really grate on a cat’s sensitive hearing (5). Cats can also get overheated wearing clothes over their own fur coat, a circumstance which can range from uncomfortable to dangerous (3). Think about a time when you wore an itchy sweater or something else uncomfortable. Remember how you couldn’t wait to get out of it as soon as possible–and probably toss it in the donation box? Why put our cats through that if we don’t have to?

Ginger tabby cat with gold crown
Milo (RIP) in a hat, 2012

Alternatives to Kitty Costumes

All is not lost if you want to spook your cat up for Halloween, however. If your cat is used to wearing collars, why not get them a collar with a spooky print? There are also collars with attached bowties or bandanas that you could use as a “costume,” but some cats might find even that bothersome. Don’t spend a lot of money on cute bowtie collars until you know whether your cat will hate them or not.

An option if you just want a quick photo of your cat looking like they’re in the spirit is a hat. Not the kind that straps onto their head, but rather one that just sits on top. It won’t stay there long, but you might be able to get a picture or two of them in it. Having done this once myself, I suggest putting the hat on your cat during their sleepy time, so you have enough time to get a picture before kitty starts to care that there’s something on their head. Make sure to give them a treat for putting up with your silliness!

When Cats Should Wear Clothes

As I alluded to earlier, there are circumstances in which cats should wear clothes, although that doesn’t mean elaborate costumes. Like Joon, some cats need a simple shirt or sweater as a part of postoperative care (7). They are sometimes even used in veterinary hospitals for this purpose and may be deemed preferable to an Elizabethan collar in some cases, as the collar can make it difficult for cats to eat and walk around (7). Also, hairless breeds or cats that have recently been shaved may need to wear something warm (3, 7). In these cases, keep the clothes simple, only what is needed for the situation, and introduce the clothes gradually and with positive reinforcement.

“Cats are nudists. With hats!” –The Kitten Lady

Works Cited

  1. Arnold, B. (2019, October 8). The do’s and don’ts of dressing your cat for Halloween. The Catington Post. https://catingtonpost.com/dressing-your-cat/
  2. Tan, M. (2019, June 5). Can cats wear clothes? Five tips for cat owners. Whisker Fabulous. https://whiskerfabulous.com/cat-activities/can-cats-wear-clothes-five-tips-for-cat-owners/
  3. Keane, D. (2019, September 23). Clothing on cats: Is it ethical? Cat Gazette. http://frontpagemeews.com/category/cats/for-cat-parents/lifestyle/clothing-on-cats/
  4. Kelley, J. A. (2014, October 15). Should people put their cats in Halloween costumes? Catster. https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-pet-health-cats-wear-halloween-costumes-safety-tips
  5. Pawsome Cats. (2016, December 29). Should you dress your cat in a costume? https://pawesomecats.com/should-you-dress-your-cat-in-a-costume/
  6. Johnson-Bennett, P. (n.d.). Six reasons why you shouldn’t dress cats in Halloween costumes. Cat Behavior Associates. https://catbehaviorassociates.com/six-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-dress-cats-in-halloween-costumes/
  7. Pet Coach. (n.d.). Do cats need to wear clothes in cold weather? https://www.petcoach.co/article/do-cats-need-to-wear-clothes-in-cold-weather/

Published October 4th, 2020

Updated December 7th, 2020