Another fearsome critter popular in the American Southwest is the legendary the cactus cat. As the name would suggest, it has the physical characteristics of a cat with fur that more closely resembles the spines on a cactus. On top of having a spiny tail, the cactus cat was said to be much larger than a housecat, more closely resembling a bobcat in size and form.
image via lumberwoods.com
The strange stories revolving around this mythological figure of American folklore begin with the cactus cat using the sharp spines of its tail to slash into the numerous cacti of the southwest. After the cactus juice had seeped onto the ground and had time to ferment, the cat like creature would then drink this to become intoxicated. Drunkenly, the cactus cat would then wail and shriek throughout the night.