Wampus cat


The Wampus cat is a cat-like creature in American folklore that varies widely in appearance, ranging from frightful to comical, depending on region.

Description

Early references, by the American Dialect Society, noted the wampus cat as, "A creature heard whining about camps at night," "A mythical green-eyed cat, having occult powers," or "An undefined imaginary animal." Folklorist Vance Randolph described the wampus cat as, "a kind of amphibious panther which leaps into the water and swims like a colossal mink." Other commentators liken the wampus cat to a creature of Cherokee mythology. In Cherokee mythology, the monster is the cat-like embodiment of a female onlooker cursed by tribal elders, as punishment for hiding beneath the pelt of a large wild cat to witness a sacred ceremony. The wampus cat is used as a mascot for numerous educational institutions. During the 1920–30s, newspapers reported of a "Wampus" cat killing livestock in North Carolina to Georgia. Though possibly due to early intrusions of coyotes or jaguarundi, the livestock deaths were attributed to the Wampus cat.

Examples

The Wampus cat is the mascot of the following: