Cat O' 9 Tails

A Cat-O-9-Tails is a blue cat with nine tails encountered in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Cat-O-9-Tails are fairly rare enemies, only encountered in three of Donkey Kong Country 2's levels (namely Mudhole Marsh, Screech's Sprint, and Fiery Furnace). If a Cat-O-9-Tails spots either Diddy or Dixie Kong it will attempt to spin into them and whip them with its tails. The Kongs must avoid this attack and wait for a Cat-O-9-Tails to collapse from dizziness; it will then become vulnerable to being jumped on the head.

If the Kongs jump into a Cat-O-9-Tails from above while it is spinning they will end up being flung into the air. This can help them collect items, although they can be thrown into another enemy or abyss. Also, while Cat-O-9-Tails is spinning, cartwheels are completely useless against it.

Trivia

 * Its name is derived from the whip called "cat o' nine tails", even though Cat-O-9-Tails actually has only seven tails.