Appalachian folklore is one of the detailed folklores that the world has come to know. Many of these tales originate from indigenous cultures and explain eyewitness accounts of different creatures. Today, we’re going to delve into the Wampus Cat.
The Wampus Cat is a Cryptid well known in Appalachia. Many have described this creature as a mix between a woman and the mountain lion that roams the wilderness, and with its size, strikes terror into all who come to know it.
The original sightings also come from the originator of the Wampus Cat, the Cherokee. The main legend, which explains the creation of the Wampus Cat, tells of a woman named Running Deer who sought revenge against the Evil Spirit of Madness. She craved this revenge because she believed this was what caused her husband to go insane. It is said that the only thing she took in the battle against The Spirit of Madness was the spirit of a mountain lion, and it was enough. She beat the spirit and became her tribes protector. Many believe that the spirit of Running Deer is actually the Wampus Cat attempting to guard all of the Cherokee lands against different dark forces.
A different, but still very popular legend explains that the creature we see today was once just a woman. Yet, this woman did wrong; she watched a secret ceremony that she was not permitted to attend or witness by hiding underneath a mountain lion pelt. She was caught by a Medicine Man and punished by being transformed into the Wampus Cat that we know now.
While on the topic of appearance, to be more detailed, the Wampus Cat is described as a massive and absolutely terrifying creature that has a bobcat’s face, well, mostly. Many different accounts note that the Wampus Cats’ face is actually much more similar to a mix of a woman and a cat. Regardless, it has large and sharp claws that are only matched by its fangs. It is said to have yellow eyes that glow regardless of the time of day. Different accounts have reported that this creature is extremely muscular and built for hunting, but it has a gentle feline body that is covered in fur that is most commonly described as matted. It has a long swinging tail that is perfect for its agility and balance. A lot of these details describe a cougar in the Appalachians, except for the fact that most witnesses have reported it has six legs.
As with every Cryptid, the Wampus Cat is supposed to have supernatural abilities, the most notable of which is the screams that it lets out, which can either be used to attract prey or ward off threats. It’s also said that the creature has unheard of speed and is extremely stealthy. This means that if you see the Wampus Cat, it’s gone before you know it, and you’re not sure where it went. Due to this, many other legends believe that the Wampus Cat is actually able to become invisible.
Since the story of the cat has been around for hundreds of years, there are many different historical accounts that have been publicized. The most notable account of the Wampus Cat being seen occurred in late 1918 when the cat was supposedly roaming in a city, causing everyone to be on the lookout to protect themselves. Many years later, in the same town, the cat was blamed for multiple livestock deaths in the newspaper. It was reported that the “monster” had attacked dogs and pigs on different land in the area.
Though there were different reports, there is no tangible evidence of the Wampus Cat and its existence. Could this just be cougars of a size people aren’t used to seeing, and their eyes play tricks on them in the heat of the moment, overcome by terror? Or did the Cherokee people have a valid explanation?
