Appalachian folklore explores the legend of the Wampus Cat

The Wampus Cat remains one of the most enduring and strange legends within Appalachian folklore. Descriptions of the creature vary significantly depending on the source, with some accounts depicting it as an enormous wildcat, while others describe a supernatural beast capable of walking on its hind legs.

Historical records indicate that accounts of a creature known as the Wampus appeared in American newspapers over a century ago. This legend exists alongside modern sightings of mountain lions in states like Kentucky, though the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources states there is no evidence of an established wild mountain lion population in the state since 1899.