Buy me a coffeeCactus Cat
“Unleash the mystery of the desert: Meet the Cactus Cat, the thorny feline that drinks fermented cactus juice!”
Appearance: The Cactus Cat is a creature of whimsical yet fearsome appearance, resembling a diminutive feline adorned with spiny, cactus-like fur. Its coat consists of coarse, sandy-colored fur interspersed with clusters of sharp thorns and spines that protrude in all directions. Its eyes gleam with an otherworldly glow in the darkness of the desert night, and its claws are as sharp as the needles of the cacti it calls home.
Behavior: Elusive and cunning, the Cactus Cat is a creature of the night, prowling the arid deserts under the cover of darkness. Despite its diminutive size, it possesses an air of confidence and mischief, often taunting larger predators and unwary travelers with playful antics. However, it is not to be underestimated, as it can quickly turn aggressive when threatened, using its sharp claws and spines to defend its territory.
Habitat: The Cactus Cat makes its home in the rugged and unforgiving terrain of the desert, where it can blend seamlessly into the arid landscape. It favors areas dotted with prickly cacti and sparse vegetation, using the cover of thorny thickets to conceal its movements and ambush unsuspecting prey.
Modus Operandi: A skilled hunter and opportunist, the Cactus Cat relies on stealth and cunning to catch its prey. It often lies in wait among the prickly underbrush, using its natural camouflage to remain hidden until the perfect moment to strike. When hunting, it targets small desert rodents, insects, and even the occasional lizard or bird, using its sharp claws and spines to incapacitate its quarry before feasting on its flesh.
Motivation: The Cactus Cat is driven by primal instincts of survival and territoriality, fiercely guarding its desert domain against intruders and rival predators. Its motivation lies in securing food, water, and shelter in the harsh desert environment, where resources are scarce and competition is fierce. Despite its playful demeanor, the Cactus Cat is a creature of necessity, adapting to its harsh surroundings with cunning and resilience.
Cactus Cat 5e
Cactus Cat Pathfinder
Cactus Cat
Medium monstrosity, neutral
- Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 68 (8d8 + 32)
- Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 18 (+4) | 6 (-2) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
- Skills Stealth +6, Perception +4
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Languages understands Common but can’t speak
- Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Camouflage. The Cactus Cat has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in desert terrain.
Spiked Fur. Any creature that hits the Cactus Cat with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 5 (1d10) piercing damage from the cactus-like spines covering its fur.
Actions
Multiattack. The Cactus Cat makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d4 + 4) slashing damage.
Fermented Cactus Juice (Recharge 5-6). The Cactus Cat spews fermented cactus juice in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On a failed save, the creature is also poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Reactions
Thorned Defense. When a creature makes a melee attack against the Cactus Cat, it can use its reaction to cause sharp spines to erupt from its fur. The attacking creature must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 4 (1d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Tactics
The Cactus Cat is a cunning and opportunistic hunter, using its natural camouflage to ambush prey in the desert terrain. It prefers hit-and-run tactics, darting in to strike with its claws and spines before retreating into the cover of the cacti. In combat, it relies on its agility and speed to outmaneuver opponents, using its spiked fur to inflict damage on those foolish enough to attack it at close range.
When faced with multiple adversaries, it focuses its attacks on the weakest or most vulnerable targets, seeking to incapacitate them before moving on to the next threat. If cornered or outnumbered, the Cactus Cat will attempt to flee, using its superior speed to outpace pursuers and vanish into the desert landscape.
This lean feline creature is studded from head to toe with long, thin spines. Its ears are tufted like a lynx’s. Its forelegs have embedded within them long blades of bone, and its whip like tail is covered in barbs.
Taken from the Creature Codex
Cactus cats are ornery predators of the sandy deserts. They are violent and territorial creatures, and humanoids that cross their path are typically met with violence. The victims of the cat are rarely eaten, merely left behind to mummify in the sun as a warning. Most of a cactus cat’s prey comes in the form of small animals, like jackrabbits and rattlesnakes.
Cactus cats get their moniker both from their prickly hide and from their predilection for certain species of cactus. They slash at the trunks of cactuses with their boneblades and let the sap ooze out and ferment into an alcoholic paste. This paste is then consumed, sending the cactus cat into a drunken revel. These bacchanalia are typically the only time when two cactus cats can stand to be in each others company long enough to mate. These cats will go out of their way to waylay travelers if they smell alcohol on them. A cactus cat is about the size of a large cougar, although they are leaner.
Cactus Cat CR 5
XP 1,600
CN Medium magical beast
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +4, scent
Defense
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +1
Defensive Abilities barbs
Offense
Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d4+2), 2 boneblades +8 (1d8+2), tail +6 (1d4+1 plus pain)
Statistics
Str 15, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 4, Wis9, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +7; CMD 20
Feats Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Step Up
Skills Acrobatics +8 (+16 jumping), Perception +4, Stealth +8
SQ sand stride
Ecology
Environment warm deserts
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure incidental
Special Abilities
Barbs (Ex) any creature striking a cactus cat with a melee or natural weapon takes 1d4+2 damage from the creature’s barbs. Weapons with exceptional reach do not endanger their wielder in this way.
Pain (Ex) a creature struck by a cactus cat’s tail attack must succeed a DC 15 Fortitude save or take be sickened for 1 minute. Multiple strikes of a cactus cat’s tail do not stack, but resets the duration on a failed save. This is a pain effect. The save DC is Strength based.
Sand Stride (Ex) a cactus cat can move through any natural difficult terrain in a desert without penalty. Magically altered terrain affects a cactus cat as normal.