Bakeneko

The bakeneko, meaning "transformed cat" in Japanese, is a supernatural feline creature from Japanese folklore. As a specific type of yōkai (supernatural entity) known as kaibyō (supernatural cat), it's sometimes confused with the nekomata, another cat-like spirit. While these two supernatural felines share similarities, the key distinction is that a bakeneko possesses a single tail, whereas a nekomata has two.

Various regions across Japan feature legends about the bakeneko, with the tale of the Nabeshima Bakeneko Disturbance from Saga Prefecture being particularly renowned.