Bakeneko are cats that walk on their hind legs, have supernatural powers, and can grow to the size of a human. Normal cats become bakeneko once they reach a certain age, generally over 13 years old. Only cats with long tails can become bakeneko, so some people have bobbed their cats' tails at a young age to stop them from becoming bakeneko. Bakeneko are often confused with nekomata. The distinction between the two is quite ambiguous, but nekomata appear to be stronger. It is usually said that only bakeneko can transform while nekomata cannot, but even this distinction is not universally agreed upon.
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Bakeneko usually live in towns and cities. They are able to shape shift into smaller cats and humans. Bakeneko that are disguised as humans will often dress up with towels on their heads and dance around. Many also learn how to speak human languages. They can eat things that are much bigger than them without any difficulty. They can also eat poisonous things safely. Sometimes, bakeneko will eat their owners and shape shift into them, leaving everyone unaware of the unfortunate owner's demise.
Even when they don't kill their owners, bakeneko bring them great misfortune. Bakeneko can summon fireballs, and they often start house fires by accident because their tails act like torches on any flammable objects in the house. Bakeneko can reanimate the dead and use them like puppets. In general, bakeneko are very dangerous to have in or near your house.
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FUN FACT: Bakeneko are said to lick the oil from lamps. It is considered an omen when they do so, indicating that something strange is about to happen. In the early modern period, people used oils from fish in lamps, so cats wanted to lick them. Also, Japanese people would feed their cats their leftovers (mostly grains and vegetables) during that time period, causing huge problems for the cats since cats are carnivores. Their desperate need for protein and fat made cats even more attracted to the oil lamps. A cat standing on its hind legs to reach a lamp would have been seen as eerie and supernatural, possibly inspiring the concept of bakeneko.
Examples in various media:
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Tomekichi (Inukami!)
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Yoruichi Shihōin (Bleach)
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