Kneazle

• Ministry of Magic Classification: XX (Harmless / may be domesticated) (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
• Native To: Britain (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
• Key Distinctions: Cat-like appearance, flecked or spotted fur, large ears, a plumed tail like a lion's, exceptional intelligence, and the ability to detect untrustworthy individuals.
• Legality: Due to their intelligence and abilities, a witch or wizard must obtain a license from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to own a Kneazle as a pet. (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)

A Kneazle is a small, feline magical creature with a distinctly cat-like body. Its fur can be spotted, speckled, or flecked in various colours. The most prominent physical features that distinguish it from a common cat are its greatly oversized ears and a long, plumed tail, which is often compared to that of a lion. They can interbreed with normal cats, producing part-Kneazles that may inherit some of their magical parent's physical and mental traits. Crookshanks, for example, is described as having a squashed face and bottle-brush tail, which likely stems from his Kneazle heritage.

Kneazles are highly intelligent creatures, known for their independent and sometimes aggressive demeanour, especially towards those they distrust. However, when a Kneazle forms a bond with a witch or wizard, it becomes an exceptionally loyal and protective companion. Their magical abilities are subtle but potent:

• Detection of Deceit: Kneazles possess an uncanny ability to identify suspicious, untrustworthy, or disguised individuals. Crookshanks famously demonstrated this by immediately distrusting Peter Pettigrew in his Animagus form as Scabbers the rat, and by recognising that Sirius Black in his Animagus form was not a threat.
• Guidance: A Kneazle can be trusted to guide its owner safely home, possessing a superb sense of direction.
• Guard Ability: Their protective nature and ability to sense danger make them excellent guards for their chosen owners and households.

Part-Kneazles, the offspring of a Kneazle and a regular cat, often inherit these enhanced abilities, particularly the high level of intelligence and intuition, making them far superior to ordinary cats.

• Crookshanks: The most prominent part-Kneazle in the series, owned by Hermione Granger. His Kneazle intelligence was crucial in the events of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where he aided Sirius Black by stealing Neville Longbottom's list of passwords to Gryffindor Tower and by pressing the secret knot on the Whomping Willow to temporarily paralyse it.
• Arabella Figg's Cats: The Squib Arabella Figg was a breeder of part-Kneazle cats. Her pets, including Mr. Tibbles, Snowy, Tufty, and Mr. Paws, were intelligent enough to act as lookouts in Little Whinging to help keep an eye on Harry Potter for Albus Dumbledore.
• Hoppy, Milly, and Mauler: Three pure-bred Kneazles owned by Newt Scamander. (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series)

• The primary source of detailed information about Kneazles is the in-universe textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by Newt Scamander and first published for the charity Comic Relief in 2001.
• J.K. Rowling confirmed on her former website that Crookshanks is indeed part-Kneazle, which explains his exceptional intelligence and “squashed face,” often associated with breeds like Persians that have been cross-bred. (J.K. Rowling's website)
• The name “Kneazle” may be a playful portmanteau. It could be a combination of “knead,” an action common to cats, and “weasel,” referencing its clever and sometimes cunning nature.