Cryptic Cat Identification

[Min Bannister]

I wonder if anyone can identify this cat?

When I was a kid I had a book of Fabulous Beasts which contained all kinds of things I have since come across many times (Roc, Pheonix, Chimera etc) except one. It was a gigantic cat with a beautifully patterned coat which lived in forests (can't remember which country). It would eat loads of food then rub itself between trees to, er, help with the conclusion of the digestive process!

Does this ring any bells with anyone?

 

[oll_lewis]

The cryptid cat in question is most likely the Cigau of Sumatra.

From 'a dictionary of cryptozoology' by Ronan Coghlan:

CIGAU Avoid this Sumatran animal, whose name, however spelt, is pronounced chigow. It is said to hate man and is feared by local hunters. It is said to combine features of tigar and monkey, and, though smaller than the Sumatran tigar, it is heftier. It's tail is short, it's fur yellow or tan and a ruff decorates it's neck

Richard Freeman recounts some sightings of the beast here:

http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/182_orang5.shtml

Back in the 1960s, when he was travelling on one of the trade routes from Kerinci to other parts of Sumatra, Sahar’s father had also seen the cigau. He and four other men were on a path through the jungle when one of them had committed a great taboo – he had eaten rice straight from the pot rather than waiting for portions to be given out.

In the dead of night, the cigau came from the forest to claim him. It stalked right into their camp and dragged him off into the darkness, its golden fur, lion-like mane and distinctive legs all clearly visible. The men searched the jungle for their lost comrade, but when they found him he was dead, disemboweled by the cigau.

It would be easy to dismiss the cigau as a bit of folklore – the wrath of the jungle sent to punish transgressors – but similar attributes are given to the very real tiger, which also punishes transgressions (we had been warned, for instance, not to bathe naked in the lake lest we meet such a fate).

Sahar’s father had also talked of a cigau whose lair was near a fallen tree that formed a natural bridge over a river. It would swim out and devour those who slipped into the water. Debbie commented that she had many recent reports of a cigau emerging from rivers and lakes, most of which mentioned the detail of the creature flinging back its mane to shake off the water.

 

[Min Bannister]

Thanks Oll but I don't think it is the Cigau. It is described as having a plain tan coat and mine was definately patterned. I think it is probably something mythical rather than a possibly real cryptid as the other animals I can remember from the book were. It just seems funny that the other creatures are such common staples and this one apparently isn't!

 

[nataraja]

Sounds like the Gulo or Glutton, which AFAIK is based on the wolverine, but embellished by people (possibly Romans, going on tall tales from "barbarians" northwards) who didn't know what one actually looked like, and thus was often drawn more catlike (looking sort of like a fat lynx if anything). It's often depicted in medieval woodcuts squeezing itself between trees to either vomit or defecate, and possibly was a bit of a satire about the decadent Roman aristocracy who reputedly did similar...

 

[Min Bannister]

Ooh thats it! I found a page with a picture here

He is as great as a great Dog, and his ears and face are like a Cat’s: his feet and nails are very sharp; his body is hairy, with long brown hair, his tail is like the Foxes, but somewhat shorter, but his hair is thicker, and of this they make brave Winter Caps. Wherefore this Creature is the most voracious; for, when he finds a carcasse, he devours so much, that his body, by over-much meat, is stretched like a Drum, and finding a streight (narrow) passage between Trees, he presseth between them, that he may discharge his body by violence; and being thus emptied, he returns to the carcasse, and fills himself top full; and then he presseth again through the same narrow passage, and goes back to the carkasse, till he hath devoured it all; and then he hunts eagerly for another. It is supposed he was created by nature to make men blush, who eat and drink till they spew, and then feed again, eating day and night, as Mechovita thinks in his Sarmatia. The flesh of this Creature is altogether uselesse for man’s food; but his skin is very commodious and pretious. For it is of a white brown black colour, like a damask cloth wrought with many figures; and it shews the more beautiful, as by the Industry of the Artist it is joyn’d with other garments in the likenesse or colour. Princes and great men use this habit in Winter, made like Coats; because it quickly breeds heat, and holds it long; and that not onely in Swethland, and Gothland, but in Germany, where the rarity of these skins makes them to be more esteemed, when it is prised in ships among other Merchandise.

Many thanks Nataraja! :yeay:

 

[Xanatico]

I remember reading about this creature from when I was a kid. They also said it was probably inspired by the wolverine. I would have given a different name for it though, but it does seem to have many names.
Incidentally I think the name Vielfras is some kind of insult in some countries, though spelled fielfras. Never knew for what though.

 

[evilsprout]

The Wolverine is also known as the Glutton, and its latin name is Gulo gulo.

It's the largest land-living member of the weasel family (the sea otter's bigger), weighing up to 45 pounds. They're very elusive, and reputedly excellent at avoiding traps.

Although it has a fearsome reputation it's generally a carrion feeder, and also eats small animals and birds. There are reports of them killing elk up to 10 times bigger than them, though I suspect that's an exaggeration. They are also known as carcajous, wood devils, devil bear and Indian devil. Eskimos call it "evil one", and it is also known as the skunk bear because it's rather smelly.

Some more wolverine legends I've found... They'll leap from trees to kill reindeer, and stalk a trapper back to his house and break down the door and devour him. If you sleep under a wolverine skin you'll sentence yourself to a eternal hunger.

Native Americans regard the Wolverine as a thief and a trickster, and have him often as a travelling companion of the wolf. It is a theme in several Northern people, and he is known as Lox, and associated with the michievous Loki.

There's a collection of wolverine stories from Native American mythology here, including one about a talking arse. I kid ye not. http://www.wolverinecom.nf.ca/wolverinemyths.html. There's another one here http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legen ... uoddy.html

Some good sites...

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0206/feature3/
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF14/1436.html
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/0 ... 104_01.txt
http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/faq.htm
http://www.waol.com/pages/s114.html