Why do Japanese cats have supernatural powers? Peter Parker had a radioactive spider, Bruce Banner had gamma rays, and cats have fish oil. When protein was scarce in a household, cats would often drink the oil used for lamps. We all have seen a cat stretch itself out when it wakes up, or when it climbs into our laps. Now imagine seeing that sight at midnight, when darkness covers the house, except for the faint patches of light made by low burning lamps. You come around the corner and see the shadowy figure of (insert cat’s name here) stretched to twice or thrice their original size on a shoji screen or wall. What would you do or think? If your cat can grow larger at will, what would keep it from coming after you?

Bakeneko or changing(bake) cat(neko) is a type of animal shape-shifter or henge. The temperament of a bakeneko can range from helpful to wicked. Cats are mercurial, so is it really that surprising. A cat may turn into a bakeneko, under certain conditions. If a cat reaches thirteen years of age, its tail will grow longer, and it gains the power to shape-shift. Sometimes, three years is the minimum requirement. This shortened time frame may have to do with the second condition, treatment. The abuse, death, or emotional attachment of a cat may also aid in its transformation.

Some bakeneko tales involve house cats taking the form of a family member. The bakeneko devours everything, except the bones which it hides under the floor. Afterwards, they con the family into feeding it large amounts of food, while it secludes itself away in a bedroom. Other tales involve cats sucking the life force out of people. The person gradually grows weaker until they die unless someone saves them.

Bakeneko can also perform acts of kindness. They transform into geishas to make money for their owners, like in the story of Okesa. Bakeneko can protect their owners from other supernatural creatures. These cats can even enter someone’s dreams and warn them of danger. From sunrise to sunset, be good to your cat because it might gain the power to eat and become you.