Werecat.
Werecats are highly developed creatures and are considered to be the genetic sub-species of shape-shifters. A werecat is a therianthropic creature of folklore, horror, and occultism, described as being a type of Werebeast similar to a Werewolf.
Description[]
Depending on the type, the species involved can be a domestic cat, tiger, lion, leopard, lynx, or any other type of the felidae family; including some that are purely fantastical felines. Typically, an individual werecat can only transform to one unique feline, not to a number of different species, and each individual type of werecat may be known by a more species-specific term such as "werelion".
There are two most common ways to acquire ailuranthropy: the first one through a curse and the second is to simply have a werecat parent. Being bitten by another werecat, while popular in folk tales, gives only a very small chance of becoming one in reality. Those who are born as werecats are able to fully control their shapeshifting abilities, while those cursed or bitten change into their werecat form only during the full moon. Those who became werecats during their lives however are the only ones who can be cured.
They find faithful companions in other felids, either domestic ones or wild such as pumas or lynxes. As one would expect, they are hostile towards werewolves and also serve as the greatest enemies of wererats, being responsible for their dwindling numbers to their eventual extinction.
Capabilities[]
Werecats are noted to be very powerful therianthropes, although not as strong as other Werebeasts but it depends on the type of Werecat, or more accurately the type of curse or affliction they carry. Example of this is the Werejaguar, which is typically regarded as the emissary of the Mesoamerican god Tezcatlipoca and thus hold a sort of divine status amongst the bestiary of therianthropes. This also in turn allows them to go toe-to-toe with other powerful creatures such as Werewolves.
Werecats have a good night vision, slightly better than those of real cats. Werecats are extremely agile, their agility, balance, and bodily coordination are all enhanced to levels that are far beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete. A werecat is extraordinarily limber and their tendons and connective tissues are twice as elastic as the average human being is despite their physical strength.
Their sense of agility also ties into their equilibrium which is noted to be far greater than domestic felines, as werecats possess the ability to achieve a state of perfect equilibrium in any position imaginable. They seem able to adjust their position by instinct, which enables them to balance themselves on virtually any object, no matter how small or narrow although it depends on the type of werecat; example the Nagual was able to climb and scale a large building using its highly durable claws and pads with extreme speed and maneuverability.