Can you tell I've been trying to improve my understanding of colour? Not an easy thing, I can tell you.
The wolf I've tried to make as unusual as possible, strange purples and reds moving into a nice white coat on top. Your players should look at it, saying... it's a wolf... but not as I know it. The 3rd eye should help too.
As for the thunder cat, I borrowed a colour scheme from the thunder boar I made some time ago. Would make for an interesting encounter, eh?