Nekomata

This creature resembles nothing so much as a cat the size of a man. Its forked tail flicks behind it as if in agitation as it rears up on its hind legs.

Source Demiurge113
Originally posted on Probing the Membrane of Science

Nekomata are gluttonous and indolent cat-like creatures that use their shapeshifting abilities to live like parasites on human societies. Although they are more than capable hunters, they much prefer to Disguise themselves as common household cats and allow themselves to be pampered by pet-owners. Once bored with the easy life, they kill their owners and masquerade as them, devouring as much as they can before being discovered or moving on. Nekomata can consume their own body weight in a single sitting and have a particular fondness for lamp oil, which affects them as alcohol does humans. Nekomata love fire almost as much as they love food, and may make mischief by starting fires while in Disguise.

Nekomata have the eerie ability to raise the dead as intelligent servants. They do this by granting a corpse a part of their own souls, which weakens the nekomata but gives it a loyal companion. Nekomata typically use these thralls as servants to pamper it further, but may send them on missions to gather food or as disposable bodyguards.

In lands where nekomata are active, various superstitions govern cat ownership. Many people believe that ordinary housecats transform into nekomata if mistreated, over-fed or just after a long life-time. Cats with long tails are viewed as especially suspect. A nekomata stands five feet tall when it stands on its hind legs, and weighs two hundred pounds.

Nekomata CR 8

XP 4,800 NE Medium magical beast Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +12, Scent

DEFENSE

AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dexterity, +7 natural) hp 95 (10d10+40) Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +7 Defensive Abilities evasion; Immune poison; Resist fire 10

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., Fly 60 ft (good). Melee bite +15 (1d8+3), 2 claws +15 (1d6+3) Special Attacks invest corpse, pounce Spell-like Abilties CL 10th, concentration +13 (+17 casting defensively) Constant – fly At will – command undead (DC 15), dancing lights, death knell (DC 15), ghost sound (DC 13), pyrotechnics (DC 15)   3/day – empowered flaming sphere (DC 15) 1/day – fear (DC 17), fireball (DC 16)

STATISTICS

Strength 17, Dexterity 20, Constitution 19, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 15, Charisma 16 Base Atk +10; CMB +13; CMD 28 Feats Combat Casting, Empower Spell-like Ability (flaming sphere), Iron Will, Persuasive, Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +15 (+19 when jumping), Bluff +10, Diplomacy +12, Disguise +10 (+18 while using change shape ability), Fly +10, Intimidate +12, Perception +12, Stealth +15 Languages Common, Infernal, Sylvan SQ change shape (any feline animal or humanoid, beast form II or alter self), perfect copy

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate hills or urban Organization solitary, pair or host (1-2 plus 1-4 wights) Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Invest Corpse (Su) As a full-round action, a nekomata can touch an adjacent humanoid corpse and transform it into a wight under its control. Doing so deals 1 temporary negative level to the nekomata that remains as long as the wight remains in existence. Wights created by this ability do not gain the create spawn ability. A nekomata can destroy one of the wights it created as a standard action if the wight is within 30 feet. Perfect Copy (Su) A nekomata can assume the appearance of specific individuals when it uses its change shape ability.