In some places when an old cat becomes a bake-neko, its tail is said to split in two, then it is
called a neko-mata or "forked cat". Like most bake-neko, neko-mata are unusually
large cats, reportedly a meter and a half long minus the bifurcated tail, and often walk about comfortably on
their hind feet. They are said to dance and manipulate the dead like puppets, and are associated with strange
fires and other unexplainable occurances. Sometimes the tails of kittens were cut off as a precaution,
as it was thought that if its tail couldn't fork, a cat could not become a bakemono.