[Consider this one “loosely inspired” by Hackmaster.
In the Hacklopedia, there is a shapeshifting witch cat with thief powers. Unfortunately, it’s super gross and sexist. The design looks like erotic fanart of the one Batman TAS episode where Catwoman turns into an actual cat woman. They’re female-only, and all of the flavor text is about sexual jealousy. And it’s called the “mynx”. Yuck.
So my version is still a shapeshifting witch cat with thief powers, but (hopefully) less skeevy and misogynistic.]
Malkin This
creature resembles a housecat the size of a man. Its eyes have a mischievous
glint, and its paws bear an eerie resemblance to human hands.
Sometimes referred to as “witch cats”,
the creatures known as malkins were created by a master witch ages ago to be
the perfect familiar. They are strong enough to handle themselves in combat,
smart enough to be a decent conversation partner, and tricky enough to help a
caster out of a pinch involving locks, larceny or other skills most arcane
casters do not excel at. A malkin has an
inherent love for all arcane spellcasters, acting as guardians of novices,
servants of archmages or friends to any other casters who cross their paths.
When not in service to an arcane
spellcaster, malkins live on the outskirts of society. Like the domestic cats
they descend from, they are carnivores that feed primarily on small game. Malkins
have a fondness for creature comforts, and may sneak into town to steal what
they cannot get lawfully. In humanoid form, a malkin resembles a particularly
fur-covered catfolk, although catfolk usually dislike malkins—their criminal
antics and disdainful attitude towards clothing tend to give catfolk a bad
reputation.
Malkins can be of any alignment,
although they tend towards chaotic alignments. They advance by class level,
with rogue and witch being the most common classes among them. Malkins know the
struggles a familiar can suffer under a neglectful or cruel master—malkin
spellcasters frequently dote on and pamper their familiars.
Malkin are native to Senksen, where they are usually found as familiars to spellcasters. They have become less common since the umbral dragon’s conquest, since most spellcasters end up in the military and are encouraged to take more aggressive familiars.
Shores of Swords 