It’s October, and in October, we celebrate all things spooky, scary, and suspenseful! It’s the time of year for pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and witches. After all, what’s a witch without their black cat?
Black cats are the source of many superstitions, usually bad. Many people associate a black cat crossing your path with bad luck, or even death. In Medieval Europe, black cats were symbols of evil, connected with the devil. People believed that witches used black cats to communicate with the devil or commit evil deeds. Some people even thought that witches would turn into black cats to hide their identity or cast spells in secrecy. During the twelfth century, mass hysteria surrounding witches and witchcraft led people to kill many black cats by association. Historians believe that this mass killing of black cats may have contributed to the rapid spread of the Bubonic Plague, which caused the deaths of over 25 million people in Medieval Europe.
However, not all cultures view black cats as harbingers of death and evil. In Egyptian culture and mythology, people often symbolize the goddess Bastet as a woman with a black cat’s head. She’s a fierce warrior goddess who defends pharaohs and blesses those who protect cats. Killing a cat in Egyptian culture was a crime that was subsequently punishable by death. People mourned the death of a cat, and they often buried or mummified their cats with them.
Although in Japan, a black cat crossing your path means good luck. Japanese women will own a black cat in hopes of attracting suitors. In general, the Japanese culture honors cats. The most famous Japanese cat may be Maneki Neko, or Lucky Cat. This cat has one raised, waving paw that is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity. Depending on if it’s their left paw or the right paw raised, the Maneki Neko may be beckoning for customers or money.
In Germany, they are very specific in their black cat superstitions. A black cat crossing your path can mean good or bad luck, depending on the direction they cross your path. On one hand, if it’s from right to left, good luck is on the way. But if it’s from left to right, beware of bad luck. This isn’t limited to just strays, either. As a matter of fact, even your own house cat could accidentally curse you!
Unfortunately, black cats continue to carry a bad rap. Black cats are least likely to be adopted, as are their black and white feline friends. Many places will refuse to adopt out a black cat during October or around Halloween. This is in fear of the animal being hurt or mistreated. However, black cats are just cats. They can be as lovable, friendly, and sweet as any other color of cat. And we can prove it! We have two black cats here at TCWR and they both have lots of personality, but no bad luck. Come visit our black leopard, Spyke, and our black jaguar, Bagheera, this Halloween and prove to yourself that black cats aren’t bad luck.
Sources
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/black-cat-superstition
https://humanities.drury.edu/good-luck-bad-luck-complex-history-black-cat/
https://www.iamexpat.de/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/aberglaube-guide-german-superstitions
*Published by Clementine Mulvihill on 10/29/2022*