Black cats have been victims of superstitions for millennia, with many cultures viewing them as unfortunate beasts. However, some cultures revered the animal, such as ancient Egyptians who worshipped black cats. The negative attitude towards black cats may have come from the Crusades and early Americans’ preoccupation with witchcraft. While the superstition that a black cat crossing your path is unlucky is most active in India and several Eastern European nations, in other parts of Europe and Japan, it brings good luck. In the Americas, the association of black cats and bad luck has led to some problems, particularly around Halloween.
The black cat, for those who are not superstitious, can only be seen as a victim of several millennia of smear campaigns. Many cultures have viewed the animal as an unfortunate beast, and there are dozens of different superstitious thoughts regarding black cats. The poor ebony-furred animal rarely gets good press, although there are certainly some cultures that have revered the animal rather than despised it, and many equally superstitious, but more positive rumors about the black cat.
In ancient history, especially in the Fertile Crescent, there were opposing beliefs about the black cat, and how you viewed the animal depended on your culture and religion. Ancient Egyptians worshiped the black cat, and some even felt that the cat possessed spiritual qualities. Egyptians often mummified their pets, especially black cats. The Jews and Babylonians, however, believed that all cats were related to snakes, especially due to their habit of curling up near warm places such as hearths. All three cultures believe that the cat has inherent spiritual qualities. The ancient Greeks, like the Egyptians, associated cats with divinity and believed that Artemis often took the form of a cat.
Some argue that the strongest influence on the negative attitude towards the black cat comes first from the Crusades and early Americans’ preoccupation with witchcraft. This may be partly true. Still tied to some kind of spiritual origin, black cats were often thought to be the familiars of witches, a belief dating back to the Middle Ages. Owning or possessing a black cat was potentially to suggest that you were a witch or devil worshiper and that the cat was your familiar. Color was also important, since black cats couldn’t be seen well in the dark when you were carrying out your evil plans. Edgar Allan Poe stoked suspicions about the animal by writing arguably one of the scariest short stories The Black Cat which maintains the connection between the feline world and the spirit world.
In fact, evidence suggests that the theory that a black cat crossing your path is unlucky didn’t come from ancient America. The superstition is most active in India and several Eastern European nations that were not heavily involved in the Crusades, particularly Romania. In other parts of Europe and Japan, a black cat crossing your path brings good luck, and in Ireland killing a cat of any color was thought to bring seventeen years of bad luck. Scotland is very generous with the kitten; a black feline at your door meant prosperity was on the way.
The association of black cats and bad luck in the Americas has led to some problems, particularly around Halloween. While there is scant evidence of huge pockets of satanic cults in the United States, there are some sick people who catch and kill mostly black cats on this day. The US Humane Society and others suggest keeping all of your cats a few days before Halloween and through the holidays.
The many superstitions regarding black cats and their frequent connection with the spirit world, which arise independently in numerous cultures, may have a lot to do with the nature of cats. They can stare into space and appear to see something, a somewhat unsettling experience for some cat owners. Black cats appear to blend into the darkness, with only their brilliant eyes glowing if a light hits them. Cats in general are curious creatures, with wills of their own and a great deal of independence. Though humans have long owned cats, this independent streak can assert their wild nature, even among the most cuddly and affectionate of cats.
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