The legend of the Wampus Cat tells of a mysterious creature native to the Appalachian Mountains, known by many Native American tribes. Described as a cougar-like animal with six legs, some believe it might actually be a cougar with a rare deformity, giving rise to its mythical reputation. Although modern anthropologists don’t see it as real, the Wampus Cat lives on in Southern folklore, a creature of mystery that lingers more in tales than in actual sightings.
There are two prominent descriptions of the Wampus cat. According to old myths of native American tribes, the Wampus cat is typically represented as a cougar or panther-like beast with a woman’s face. However, current interpretations and occasional sightings indicate that the Wampas Cat is a genetically deformed cougar with six legs rather than four.
There are several folklores about the existence of the Wampus cat, which vary according to the different Native American tribes. Most people relate this monster to shape-shifting and metamorphosis abilities, where the spirit of a woman transforms herself into this feline creature. Where else, according to Cherokee legend, the origin of the Wampus cat is strongly related with themes such as forbidden love and treachery, as well as retribution in which the woman is doomed to roam the Earth as this fearsome creature.
Though the Wampus cat has several origins, every representation manages to quote the creature as a forest-protecting spirit. The Wampas Cat is considered to be the guardian of the Appalachian and its nearby territories, protecting both nature and the native people from bad omens and dark fortunes.
It is said that encounters with the Wampus cat bring good luck to those who come with a good heart and don’t harm the forest while travelling. As a forest entity, the wampus cat can be fearsome to those who come to the forest with bad intentions. It can even kill the person who visits the place or make the person lost in the woods forever with its immense powers. This describes the predatory nature of the Wampus cat. The first sighting was documented in the year 1609 AD, when a French cartographer by the name of Samuel de Champlain allegedly spotted something strange in the Appalachian lakes.
Mythology of the Wampus Cat is well-known not just in North American folklore but also plays a significant role in contemporary pop culture and literature. Cormac McCarthy’s novel “The Orchard Keeper” portrays its unnerving presence, and fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons depict its terrifying visage. However, the most significant reference to the Wampus Cat is in the Harry Potter universe, where the Wampus Cat’s hair is regarded as one of the most important materials in the creation of the magical wand. The Wampus cat also appears as one of four houses at the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which was regarded as North America’s equivalent of Hogwarts in Scotland.
These days, the legend of Wampas Cat is regarded more as made-up folklore meant to spook those who venture out into the wilderness by themselves. Though its rich symbol as a forest guardian gives a depth to the Appalachian history and its geographical myths. The Anthropologists who believes the existence of the Wampus Cat, describes it to be a deformed six legged cougar who once dominated the entire region being the queen of the Appalachian Mountain range.