catheaded

Catheaded is an adjective used to describe beings that have the head of a cat, or humanoid figures featuring a cat’s head. In myth, art, and fantasy, the term is employed to convey feline morphology and the cultural associations of cats, such as agility, independence, and nocturnal behavior.

Etymology and usage: The term is a straightforward compound of cat and head. It is not a scientific or taxonomic label; rather, it appears in descriptive writing, art criticism, and speculative fiction to name a visual or conceptual attribute.

In myth and religion, cat-headed figures appear in various traditions. Ancient Egyptian religion depicts feline-headed deities, most famously Bastet (Bast), shown with a cat head and a protective cult image. In other folklore and in modern fantasy, cat-headed beings are used as mythic or symbolic creatures, with diverse names and roles.

In contemporary culture, catheaded characters appear in fantasy novels, games, and art. They are typically portrayed as humanoids with a cat’s head, sometimes combining feline traits such as heightened senses or stealth with human form. The usage remains informal and descriptive, not a standard classification.

See also: anthropomorphic cats, feline humanoids, Bastet.