View source for Avatar:Catgator

{{Imported Content
|source=Avatar Wiki
|url=https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Catgator
|date=2025-12-22
|license=CC-BY-SA
}}

{{Icons|Earth Kingdom|Spirit}}

{{Fauna infobox
| nation         = 
| image          = Slim.png
| habitat        = [[Foggy Swamp]]<br />[[Spirit World]]
| status         = Active
| uses           = Pet, [[Healthcare in the World of Avatar|medicine]]
| appearance     = "[[The Swamp]]"
| lastappearance = ''[[Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra]]''
| voice          =
}}The '''catgator''' is an [[Fauna in the World of Avatar|animal]] that resides in the [[Foggy Swamp]]. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is a fairly popular pet in the [[Earth Kingdom]] and the [[Foggy Swamp Tribe]].<ref name="BFN-20">''[[Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra]]'', page 20.</ref>

== History ==
When [[Team Avatar]] crashed in the swamp, one catgator tried to eat [[Momo]], but was instead scared off by [[Appa]]. [[Sokka]] later attempted to feed another catgator, named [[Slim]], who was domesticated by members of the [[Foggy Swamp Tribe]].<ref name="TS">{{Cite episode|1|204}}</ref>

In 171 [[History of the World of Avatar#Dates|AG]], [[Avatar]] [[Korra]] and [[Jinora]] were swallowed whole by a giant catgator shortly after the pair entered the Spirit World, causing the two to fall into a spiraling river which subsequently separated them from one another.<ref name="NSA">{{Cite episode|2|210}}</ref>

== Anatomy ==
[[File:Catgator.png|thumb|left|200px|Catgators are about seven or eight feet long.]]

The catgator is a large, dark green reptile that is about seven or eight feet long from snout to tail. It is a squat, short creature and moves with its body close to the ground. Its back is lined with ridges, and it has a flat head with barbel whiskers coming from the snout. The catgator's mouth itself is lined with sharp teeth, and its tail has a small fin at the end.<ref name="TS" /><ref name="BFN-20" />

Apart from lacking barbel whiskers and being slightly brighter green in appearance, catgator spirits retain similar physical characteristics as their swamp counterparts. In addition to this, spirit catgators are capable of growing to far more gargantuan sizes, similar to an [[elephant koi]].<ref name="KAAS2-123">''[[The Legend of Korra—The Art of the Animated Series, Book Two: Spirits]]'', page 123.</ref> They also have certain spiritual abilities, such as transporting the humans that they swallow into other parts of the Spirit World.<ref name="NSA" />{{Clear}}

== Behavior ==
[[File:Aggressive catgator.png|thumb|right|200px|Although catgators may appear to be ferocious [[Fauna in the World of Avatar|creatures]], they are kept as pets in the [[Foggy Swamp]].]]

Catgators are the bottom-feeders of the swamp. Although they appear to be ferocious animals, they are actually docile toward humans. To most people, catgators are considered extremely revolting creatures, but to some of Earth Kingdom and the Foggy Swamp Tribe natives, they are lovable pets and are given names such as Slim and Derby.<ref name="dead 204-5">{{Cite nickold|204|5}}</ref><ref name="BFN-19">''[[Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra]]'', page 19.</ref>

Most catgators will eat anything in their vicinity, save for the large insects which inhabit the swamp. Their feeding habits contribute to their popularity as pets, as they tend to keep areas clean of pests. Conversely, some catgators such as Slim are very picky eaters.<ref name="BFN-20" />

== Connection ==
The catgator appears to be a hybrid of a catfish and an alligator, and it exhibits physical characteristics of both of these animals.

== Trivia ==
* After the [[Hundred Year War]], a [[Pro-bending#Teams|pro-bending team]] named itself the Capital City Catgators.<ref name="PBA-4">{{Cite Republictour|PBA|4}}</ref>
* [[Iknik Blackstone Varrick|Varrick]] has a catgator deck aboard his [[battleship]], the ''Zhu Li''.<ref name="HC">{{Cite episode|2|212}}</ref>
* The creature has a counterpart in the [[Spirit World]], the catgator spirit, which lives in aquatic regions.<ref name="NSA" /><ref name="KAAS2-123" />
* A catgator was seen on [[Super Deformed Shorts#Swamp Skiin' Throwdown|Swamp Skiin' Throwdown]], the second of the [[Super Deformed Shorts]].
* Catgator teeth are used as a [[Healthcare in the World of Avatar|medicinal]] ingredient.<ref name="CoE2">{{Cite Legends Novels|102}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
* [[Fauna in the World of Avatar]]
* [[Foggy Swamp]]
* [[Slim]]

[[es:Gatodrilo]]
[[fi:Kissagaattori]]
[[nl:Alligator Baars]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Earth Kingdom]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Hybridized creatures]]
[[Category:Spirit World]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Legend of Korra]]