We don’t usually associate vampires with cats, but the feline has a connection to the undead. Bats were often viewed as the popular shape vampers love to take on their nocturnal hunts. In many talks such as Le Faun’s Carlilla the vampire makes its appearance as a cat. The cat has a long-time connection to magic going all the way bac t o Egyptians. The Egyptians even worshipped as a deity such as goddess Bastet. When paganism became vilified by the church cats became associated with demons. During plaque times when rats were bringing disease into Europe and the cat was an obvious enemy of rat. So, hostility towards cats diminished. But superstitions connected to cats held on. One form of the cat with vampires was the belief that the cat might house a demon or other kind of spirit that might possess a corpse and cause it to reanimate. When a deceased was laying in state then cats were usually kept out of the house. Here in West Virginia, we hear many witch tales of a fox or coyote that is killing chickens or other farm animals. Fed up shooting the petering varmints.
Usually, the varmint is only injured. The next day the village witch would show up with the exact same wounds as the injured animal according to local legend the witch was a shapeshifter. In this form the witch could steal chickens, eggs and so on.