Depending on the storyteller, it has yellow or red eyes, a long tail, and pointed and/or tufted ears like a bobcat.
It only attacks with its claws, suggesting it is not a "versatile" demon or spirit,[1] but it can and does speak in some form of English, meaning it can't simply be an animal.
The main events occur in a log cabin deep in the woods where a hermit and his three dogs live.
During a season of considerable hunger and a lack of suitable game, the tale begins with a hermit and his three hounds.
Understandably still hungry, the man presses on and discovers a bizarre shape with bright eyes and a long tail.
Unable to sleep, the man clutches his weapon (usually a gun of some kind) and waits for dawn, his remaining dog nearby.
In some variants, the Tailypo does actually enter the cabin through a hole in the floor, as opposed to being found in the woods.
Usually, these variations depend most heavily on the target audiences, with grisly embellishments removed for younger listeners.
The legend has been described as revolving around common anxieties for rural families in Appalachia, such as the fear of isolation or famine.