Among all the heroes of Slavic mythology, the Bayun cat can be considered the most mysterious. He is rarely found in fairy tales, very little is known about him, and it is impossible to unambiguously describe him as a negative or positive hero. We can find mention of this animal not only in folklore, but also in A. S. Pushkin - in the classic, he walks along the chain in Lukomorye and, although not named by name, is easily recognizable.
One of the legends says that Veles himself created Bayun's cat in order to protect his grain reserves from brazen mice. Having found a rodent for spoiling food, God flew into a rage and threw his mitten into them. It was she who turned into a big and dangerous cat with a complex character and a passion for solitude.
According to legend, Bayun the cat lived in the forests, far from people and did not like guests too much. The beast sat on an iron pillar, and when he saw an approaching traveler, he began to purr and speak to him. Having lulled the vigilance of a person, the cat rushed at him, killed and ate.
Because of the ability to speak of a mythical beast, they were called Bayun, from the word "bait" - to chat, talk. It is from here that the well-known word "lull" - to lull, to deprive everyone of vigilance went. Despite the danger, they were looking for a meeting with the cat on purpose, because he could heal from ailments and even give eternal life with his purr.
Therefore, Bayun the cat was a welcome prey for kings, sorcerers and witches, who, in order not to risk, sent others to find him. The beast with steel claws and fangs saw the guest from afar and started its conversations a whole mile away, so it was impossible to take him by surprise.
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In the fairy tale "Go there - I don't know where, bring that - I don't know what" the main character Andrey the shooter caught Bayun thanks to three iron caps. The cat had a habit of jumping on the head of its victim, but then three layers of metal prevented him. While the animal tore the caps with its claws, Andrey managed to grab him and capture him.
In some tales, the cat Bayun is mentioned as a loyal assistant to Baba Yaga. He reported the news to the old witch, and also helped her with the housework. Despite its reputation as a predatory witchcraft beast, Bayun the cat was not a completely negative character. The heroes could find a common language with him and then he became an irreplaceable helper and even a savior.