How did black cats come to be associated with Halloween? It may date back to the ancient Egyptians, who worshipped black cats and considered them sacred (something cats have to this day never forgotten). Cats were so highly revered by the Egyptians, in fact, that killing one was punishable by death and temple priests interpreted their every move as a prophecy. The Egyptians also had a cat-headed goddess named Bastet who ruled the night, and many Egyptian households kept black cats as pets to gain her favor.
In more modern times, Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull in 1232 that condemned all devil worship, and in it he officially declared that black cats were the devil incarnate, and decreed that they should all be burned.
Cats in Europe during the Middle Ages were often believed to be a witch’s trusty assistant, or “familiar.” It was also believed that witches could shape-shift into black cats to escape detection! But witches could only change into a cat eight times before forever remaining feline (perhaps the origin of cats having nine lives).
People once blamed cats for the Black Death, a horrible plague that killed about 200 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages. As a result, scores of cats were slain—which turned out to be a devastating mistake. Officials finally figured out that the plague was transmitted not by cats but by the fleas that lived on rats. When cats were once again allowed to roam free and hunt the rats, plague deaths swiftly declined.
Celtic folklore tells of the Cat Sith, a mythological creature that took the form of a black cat with a white spot on its chest. Some believed that the Cat Sith was actually a fairy or witch cleverly disguised as a cat. According to legend, a Cat Sith would bless any house that left out a saucer of milk on Samhain (an ancient pagan festival); houses that didn’t leave out milk were cursed, so be sure to put out some nibbles for feral treat-or-treaters!
When European settlers came to America, they brought their cat superstitions along with them. But in other parts of the world, black cats are considered good luck. For example, many Scottish people believe that the appearance of a black cat at your home predicts eat wealth, and that any woman who owns a black cat is likely to have many suitors. In England, giving a black cat to a bride is thought to bring her good luck, and in Brittany, black cats are said to bring good fortune to anyone who feeds them well and treats them with respect. Black cats are also considered good luck in Russian and Japan, and we feel the same way about every black kitty that comes through FixNation’s doors!
