by Dawn R. Cole

Created on: March 31, 2010

No other animal on earth has inspired more superstitious beliefs than the cat, especially black cats.  While most superstitions tend to view cats as bad omens, there are also ones in which they are bearers of good fortune.

The relationship between cats and humans began about 5000 years ago, when cats allowed themselves to associate with humans.  Initially, cats enjoyed being worshipped and revered as gods but, as time passed, they became linked to evil doings, bad omens, and the Devil.

The majority of bad feline superstitions evolved from the infamous witch-hunts and executions that began in Europe, during the 12th and 13th centuries.  During this time, the Catholic Church started its religious persecution of pagan groups (many of whom deified cats), hunting down, torturing, and burning supposed witches at the stake.  Not only were most of the witches innocent of any crimes, cats became directly associated with witchcraft, black magic, evil, Satan, and all things demonic. 

It was believed that cats were either witches that had transformed themselves into cats so that they could attend the midnight meetings (sabbats) conducted by the Devil, or, were used as intermediaries (known as familiars) for witches (and minor demons) to carry out their evil purposes without having to be present at the location.  

When the Black Plague hit Europe, the calamity was blamed on witchcraft, intensifying the persecutions.  In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a decree denouncing all cats, and those who owned them.  From then on, whenever a witch was to be burned at the stake, all of her cats were to be burnt with her.  During this "Reign of Terror", over 200,000 supposed witches were executed, and millions of cats were destroyed with them, which brought the entire species close to extinction.

Besides being tormented in Europe as the receptacle for shape-shifting witches and demons, other countries have believed that cats were linked to evil entities, too.  These beliefs included cats being sorcerers, goblins and vampires and, were also thought to be able to predict the weather or affect a person's health and safety. 

Feline superstitions can be broken down into two simple categories: omens of good luck or omens of misfortune.
Let's take a closer look at some of the more common beliefs on both sides of the fence, from various cultures:

"Bad Kitty" Superstitions

* A cat can reanimate a dead body, and turn it into a vampire,

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