Overshadowed by its lycan-counterpart, the term "Werecat" draws its roots from "ailuranthropy", blending Greek words for "cat" and "human". These feline shape-shifters can be domestic cats, roaring lions, or even mythical feline beings.

Their portrayal varies across the world: in Europe, they're often seen as magical folk, sometimes branded as witches who only possess the ability to transform into domestic cats (useful if you want to knock things down from shelves or perfect the art of the 3am "zoomies” through the living room.) African tales highlight were-lions and leopards with connections to royalty. Asia tells tales of malevolent weretigers and the mysterious ‘bakeneko’ in Japan. The Americas? They had the were-jaguar, revered and celebrated in ancient Mesoamerican cultures.