Bakeneko and Nekomata

Bakeneko V.S. Nekomata

The Tricky and the Malicious

Bakeneko and Nekomata are very similar in ability and power. Both can transform, walk on hind legs, and use human speech.

However Nekomata are the more empowered and dangerous versions of the Bakeneko.

Nekomata

Bakeneko

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• Always malicious

• Grows to be sizes equal to Jaguars and lions

• Tail splits down the middle making 2 identical tails

• Frequently eats humans

• Looks upon humans with contempt

• Usually from regular house cats

• Can be malicous but are usually just tricksters

• Tail is forked at the end

• Usually eats fish, birds and small animals. Ocassionally Humans

• More or less a nuisance on the household

Bakeneko

The Changeling Cat

Sources

https://hyakumonogatari.com/2012/04/21/nekomata-the-split-tailed-cat/

https://hyakumonogatari.com/2012/06/03/bakeneko-the-changing-cat/

http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/beware-cat-tales-wicked-japanese-bakeneko-and-nekomata-part-1-004471

http://yokai.com/nekomata/

http://yokai.com/bakeneko/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nekomata

http://www.yo-kai-world.com/discover

http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/beware-cat-tales-wicked-japanese-bakeneko-and-nekomata-part-1-004471

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakeneko

The word bakeneko (化け猫) consist of two kanji; “Bake-“(化け) means to change form, to transform. The kanji is often used with yokai, and indeed a general term for monster in Japanese is obake (御化け) meaning “changer.” “-neko” (猫), of course, just means “cat.”

Most common translations are Monster Cat and Ghost cat in English. However Changling Cat is a little more accurate as that is one of its base powers.

Nekomata

The "Again" Cat

Combining 猫(neko) with又(mata) meaning “again" directly translates as “the again cat,”.

There is a dispute as to whether or not this is in reference to the two tails it has or the second yokai life the cat has been granted.

More Powers and Superstitions

Possible Origins

• Ablity to control the recently dead

• Shapeshifting

• Speak human languages

• Some are able to summon fire and often cause house fires

• Extremely long tails

Some scholars say that the legends began as cats were licking oil from lamps that were fueled by fish oil. The appearance of a cat on its hind legs with shining, anticipatory eyes understandably shocked and unnerved some of the folks who saw it and the myth arose soon after.

So from then on any cat seen licking

lamp oil was thought to be a Bakeneko

Tradition of Bob Tailed Cats

Funeral in progress

NO CATS ALLOWED

Since Bakeneko and Nekomata are known for having a spliced long Tail pet cats tails were bobbed to prevent them from changing.

Since Bakeneko are known for raising the dead they were kept far away from the recently deceased and prohibited during funerals

Bakeneko and Nekomata