The cat beast is a creature that I saw when I was young near the Dismal swamp in Chesapeake VA. It is nearly 3 feet at the shoulder 5 feet long with a long bushy tail it is solid grey has a man-like face and arms with a large cat's body and cat-like ears with tufts coming from them. It walks on two legs and lives in the swamp.

(It sounds very much like Ewah Wampus is described)