Bakeneko 化け猫

Bakeneko (化け猫), or the “Changing Cat,” is one of Japan’s most famous and diverse yokai, ranging from playful tricksters to vengeful killers.

Meaning and Origin

The name Bakeneko means “monster cat” or “ghost cat,” from bake (化け - transform or apparition) and neko (猫 - cat).

The legend grew during the Edo period as the domestic cat population increased. Cats were mysterious to people: they moved silently, their eyes glowed in the dark, and they were often seen licking lamp oil (which was actually made from fish fat). Folk belief held that if a cat lived long enough (over 13 years), grew large enough, or possessed an exceptionally long tail, it would gain supernatural powers and transform into a Bakeneko.

Characteristics

Bakeneko are shapeshifters. They can take human form—often disguising themselves as their owners or beautiful women—and can even walk on two legs while wearing a towel on their heads to dance.

They are known to speak human languages, summon ghostly fireballs (onibi), and can even reanimate the dead by jumping over a fresh corpse, using the body like a puppet to terrorize the living.

Legends

One of the most famous legends is the “Nabeshima Bakeneko Disturbance,” where a giant cat killed a prince’s favorite concubine, took her form, and slowly drained the prince’s life until a loyal guard discovered the truth.

Unlike the Nekomata (which always has a split tail), a Bakeneko is defined by its ability to hide in plain sight as an ordinary house cat until it chooses to reveal its true, monstrous nature.