The cat that trains in the mountains and comes home a nekomata

What the record says

A cat that grows past one kan in weight goes off to train. In the mountains it sleeps on pine stumps to coat itself in resin and rolls in sand to harden its fur until neither arrow nor gun can pierce it. After a year, or two, or seven, it comes home a nekomata and goes for the people of the house, which is why newborn kittens are put in a masu measuring box as a charm to keep them from growing. A nekomata's tail is split at the tip. Red toms are the most likely to become one.

Our summary in English of the record as catalogued; the original card is in Japanese.