Crypt Cat
Normally found as guardians in burial chambers, often with non-magical mummified cats, crypt cats appear as dry & shrunken, with mangy clumps of fur clinging to the papery skin stretched across their bones. Their teeth are yellowed & broken, & their eyes are nothing but husks that rattle in gaping sockets.
Combat
Unless threatened, skeletal cats remain still until the can attack by surprise.
Statblocks
Homebrew, Ravenloft: Denizens of Darkness (3.5e)
Crypt Cat CR: 1/2
STR
8 -1
DEX
14 +2
CON
12 +1
INT
3 -4
WIS
10 +0
CHA
11 +0
Infection. Whenever the crypt cat hits a creature with a melee attack, that creature must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the damage from the attack lowers the creature's maximum hit points. The hit point maximum can not be restored unless either a creature succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check, or something similar to the spell Lesser Restoration or a paladin's Lay on Hands feature is used to cure the infection. If a creature's maximum hit points drops to zero, the creature dies & rises as a zombie in 2 (1d4) days.
If a creature succeeds on the initial saving throw, it is immune from this crypt cat's infection for the next 24 hours. This feature does not affect constructs or undead.
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the crypt cat to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the crypt cat drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Multiattack. When the crypt cat takes the attack action, it makes one claws attack & one bite attack.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, 5' reach, one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, 5' reach, one target. Hit: 1 piercing attack.
Suggested Environments
Any climate, any terrain
Homebrew
Swarm of Crypt Cats CR: 4
STR
12 +1
DEX
14 +2
CON
12 +1
INT
3 -4
WIS
10 +0
CHA
10 +0
Infection. Whenever the swarm hits a creature with a melee attack, that creature must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the damage from the attack lowers the creature's maximum hit points. The hit point maximum can not be restored unless either a creature succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check, or something similar to the spell Lesser Restoration or a paladin's Lay on Hands feature is used to cure the infection. If a creature's maximum hit points drops to zero, the creature dies & rises as a zombie in 2 (1d4) days.
If a creature succeeds on the initial saving throw, it is immune from this swarm's infection for the next 24 hours. This feature does not affect constructs or undead.
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny cat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the swarm to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the swarm drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Multiattack. When the swarm takes the attack action, it makes one claws attack & one bite attack.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, 5' reach, one target. Hit: 24 (5d8 + 2) slashing damage, or 15 (3d8 + 2) slashing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, 5' reach, one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) piercing attack, or 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.
Suggested Environments
Any climate, any terrain
Ravenloft: Denizens of Darkness (3.5e), p 33-35
Dread Domains
Barovia. Victor Vallakovich, son of the baron of Vallaki, conducts a variety of necromantic experiments in his workshop, creating skeletal cats from those he dug up from the Wachter estate.
Har'Akir. Cats are sacred to the har'akiri, often mummified upon their deaths either to accompany their owners into the afterlife or to serve as guardians of sacred sites. Some of these cat corpses arise as crypt cats, defending their territory from any intruders that dare to enter.
Dark Powers
Putrid Bride (II). Living cats have a reputation for causing nasty scratches & bites. Crypt cats are worse with potentially lethal infections for unprepared intruders.
Final Breath (XIII). Beloved pets transformed into undead corpses that now seek your death can be very terrifying.
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