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"Kitsune" (pronounced "kee-tsoo-neh", sometimes Woolseyized to "keaton") is actually the Japanese word for fox. But it can also refer to a type of Youkai in Japanese Mythology , an intelligent fox spirit creature with magical powers, including Shapeshifting (particularly to human form), enchantment, illusions, Faux Flame, and supernatural wisdom. In fox form, they tend to grow additional tails as they get older, up to nine in total (known as Kyūbi no Kitsune.)
While their mythological origins have them as divine servants and even gods of a sort, they're also classic Tricksters who mess with mortals for giggles. They usually p
Bakeneko (化け猫 lit. monster cat) are part of Japanese folklore. Bakeneko possess supernatural abilities that are similar to the Kitsune, Tanuki, or Inugami. Cats can become Bakeneko in various ways, such as: reaching a certain age, size or weight, sometimes by leaving the tail long and thus creating the Nekomata (猫又?, or 猫股 lit. forked cat) when the tail forks.
Bakeneko will haunt the house it resides in, such as creating ghastly balls of fire, menancing sleeping humans, walking on its hind legs, sometimes devouring its mistress, shapeshifting and taking her place. There were also stories about not letting a cat, more specifically Bakeneko, into a room with a fresh corpse as it was said that they could reanimate the body by jumping over it.