Wampus cat

Wampus cat
Species information
Eye colour	Yellow
Hair colour	Light brown and white
Related to	Cat
Native to	Appalachian Mountains, North America
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Eyes capable of hypnosis and legilimency Incredibly fast and strong Almost impossible to kill
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXXXX
Status	Extant

"A fast and powerful cat native to Appalachia."

— Description

The Wampus cat was a magical cat native to the United States, specifically Appalachia. It was one of the four house symbols of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Description

Somewhat resembling the mundane mountain lion or cougar in size and appearance, the Wampus Cat was native to the Appalachian Mountains. It could walk on its hind legs, outrun arrows, and its yellow eyes were reputed to have the power of both hypnosis and Legilimency. The Wampus cat was fast, strong, and almost impossible to kill.

The Cherokee had most extensively studied the Wampus Cat, with whom they shared their native region, and only they had ever succeeded in procuring Wampus cat hair for use as a wand core.

The tears of Wampus cats had strong degenerative properties, and drinking these tears could cause its drinker to rapidly lose their memory.

History

Isolt and the Pukwudgie William took trips to observe these creatures and watched newborn Wampus kittens playing. One of the four houses of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded in the 17th century, was named after the Wampus cat. This name of the house was decided by Webster Boot. Isolt Sayre and James Steward also used the hair for some of their wands.

In 1832, wizard Abel Treetops of Cincinnati claimed to have patented a method of taming Wampus Cats for use as guards over wizarding houses. Treetops was exposed as a fraud when MACUSA raided his home and found him putting Engorgement Charms on Kneazles.

The famous wandmaker Johannes Jonker used the hair of this species as a wand core in the early 20th century.

Tim, a Wampus cat

During the 1990–1991 school year, a rogue Wampus cat attacked and injured both Dolores Umbridge and Ismelda Murk in Hogsmeade. Because the creature hypnotised them both, they could only remember seeing its yellow eyes, leaving them to believe it was a werewolf. Jacob's sibling investigated the case with the Beast Division. Jacob's sibling later located the loose beast at Hogsmeade station, and managed to subdue the beast. It was brought back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and was later observed by the Care of Magical Creatures Professor Silvanus Kettleburn and the Groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, along with some students.

Later in the same school year, Xeep's Luscious Locks Solution was found to have contained Wampus cat tears.

See also

• Wampus House at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Legilimency
• Kneazle

Behind the scenes

• The Wampus cat is a creature that features in the folklore of various indigenous peoples of the southeastern United States.

Appearances

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2017 edition) (First appearance)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• The Case of Beasts: Explore the Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery