Ball-tailed cat

The ball-tailed cat (Felis caudaglobosa) is a legendary creature from North American folklore, often likened to a mountain lion but distinguished by its extraordinary tail. At the end of this long tail is said to be a heavy, rounded mass, which the animal uses to strike down its prey.

Stories of the ball-tailed cat were widespread among woodsmen around the turn of the 20th century, and many versions of the creature’s tale have been told. Two of the better-known variants are the dingmaul and the sliver cat. The sliver cat is especially notorious, described as having a tail that ends not only in a smooth, blunt ball capable of knocking travelers unconscious but also in a spiked side designed for piercing and entangling its victims.