Bakeneko & Nekomata
Who They Are
Bakeneko (化け猫)
A Bakeneko is a “transformed cat” — an ordinary household pet that, with age, loneliness, or pent-up emotion, crosses the boundary into the supernatural.
It keeps a single tail but gains the ability to change shape, mimic human speech, grow to enormous size, control shadows, summon fire, or even disguise itself as people.
Bakeneko is the first stage of transformation — a cat stepping halfway into the world of spirits.
Nekomata (猫又)
A Nekomata is a far more dangerous evolution.
When a Bakeneko lives even longer, its tail splits into two, marking its complete transformation into a mature yōkai.
Nekomata possess darker powers — manipulating corpses, summoning ghostly fire, and returning to punish those who mistreated them.
If Bakeneko represents transformation,
Nekomata represents culmination — the full awakening of supernatural force.
The Legends
During the Edo period, people whispered about cats that began behaving “too human”:
walking on two legs, speaking softly at night, serving tea in the form of an elderly woman,
dancing in front of the hearth.
One famous tale tells of a Bakeneko who disguised itself as its mistress, slowly draining the life of the family while pretending to be her.
Bakeneko is sly, vengeful, and unpredictable — but not always malicious.
Sometimes it simply wants the respect it was denied.
Nekomata legends are far darker. They often involve a household cat who suffered neglect or cruelty and vanished mysteriously — only to return years later as a monstrous two-tailed spirit.
It brings with it fireballs, eerie music, incense smoke, and the restless dead.
In one Edo tale, a samurai household was plagued for years by music and dancing coming from empty rooms.
The culprit: a Nekomata that returned to punish its abusive master.
Symbolism
Bakeneko symbolizes: change and metamorphosis, the unpredictability of nature, cleverness and adaptability, hidden intentions. It reflects the idea that the everyday can suddenly slip into the supernatural.
Nekomata symbolizes: revenge, emotional depth turned into force, dark maturity, hidden fire and latent power.
If Bakeneko suggests that things are not always what they seem,
Nekomata reflects how unresolved hurt or neglect can transform into a powerful presence — a release of energy that has been held back for too long.
Bakeneko & Nekomata in Tattoo Art
Iconic imagery Bakeneko: — a single-tailed cat, often depicted larger-than-life.
It may appear with humanlike expressions or gestures (pouring sake, holding lanterns, even wearing a kimono),
or as a giant looming silhouette in the background.
Iconic imagery Nekomata: — a two-tailed cat yōkai, often depicted with a more ominous and fully awakened supernatural presence.
It may appear standing upright, performing ritualistic or dance-like movements, surrounded by ghost-fires,
or as a fierce, demonic feline shape emerging from moonlit rooms, temple ruins, or dense mountain mist.
Placement: These designs work well both for smaller areas — featuring a single cat figure — and for larger placements that allow full narrative scenes or battle compositions to unfold.
Image Disclaimer: All images of Japanese prints and artworks presented in this section are used for educational and illustrative purposes only.
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