Black cats has been blamed for most of the wrongs of the world. Poor black kitties! Even today, black cats bring to mind images of witchcraft and magic tales. Literature and fiction pictured cats and witches in countless mistery tales. Edgar Allan Poe wrote about one and Hollywood has made many movies about them.
For a long time, black cats were regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural powers and were associated with witches. The association between bad luck and black cats dates back to the middle of the fourteenth century. It’s not known exactly why cats became associated with the Devil in the Middle Ages, but the belief was so persistent that they were all exterminated during the Black Death pandemic around 1348 CE. The killing of the cats only worsened the plague, which was spread via rodents.
In the middle-ages in Europe black cat’s status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by lonely old ladies later accused of witchery.
Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s became quite popular. The pair were said to have been traveling one night when a black cat crossed their path. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who was suspected of being a witch in the town. The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was bruised and believed that was more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.
For a long time, black cats were regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural powers and were associated with witches. The association between bad luck and black cats dates back to the middle of the fourteenth century. It’s not known exactly why cats became associated with the Devil in the Middle Ages, but the belief was so persistent that they were all exterminated during the Black Death pandemic around 1348 CE. The killing of the cats only worsened the plague, which was spread via rodents.
In the middle-ages in Europe black cat’s status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by lonely old ladies later accused of witchery.
Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s became quite popular. The pair were said to have been traveling one night when a black cat crossed their path. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who was suspected of being a witch in the town. The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was bruised and believed that was more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.
Here are a few cat superstitions from different countries
- America: It is bad luck to see a white cat at night
- Scottland: A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity
- Italy: A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it.
- America: Dreaming of a white cat means good luck.
- Netherlands: In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town.
- Egypt: It was once believed that the life-giving rays of the sun were kept in a cat's eyes at night.
- Ireland: To kill a cat brings seventeen years of bad luck
Black cats are loved and appreciated nowadays. At Kitty in NY we have many black cat clients. We love black cats too! Who couldn't appreciate the beauty of these animals? Our caregivers located in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens would love to take care of your cat while you're away. Please contact us in advance to confirm availability. We'll be glad to help you.
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