the sumxu, chinese lop-eared cat, drop-eared cat, droop-eared cat, or hanging-ear cat, all names referring to its characteristic feature of pendulous ears, was a possibly mythical, long-haired, lop-eared type of cat or cat-like creature, now considered extinct, if it ever actually existed. the descriptions are based on reports from travellers, on a live specimen reportedly taken to hamburg by a sailor, and on a taxidermy specimen exhibited in germany. the cats were supposedly valued as pets, but was also described as a food animal. the last reported chinese lop-eared cat was in 1938. it is believed by some to have been a mutation similar to that found in the scottish fold. the name "sumxu" originally described the yellow-throated marten, but a series of mistranslations caused the name to be applied to the alleged cat or cat-like animal.