7 Popular Superstitions about Black Cats (and Where They Came From)

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Learn why seeing a black cat might bring you good or bad luck
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Black cats have quite a reputation thanks to the many different superstitions surrounding them. There are all kinds of beliefs out there when it comes to black cats. For example, it’s bad luck to cross paths with one, but it’s good luck to see one during a theater performance. This article is here to inform you about all of the superstitions surrounding these furry friends—both positive and negative. Be sure to also read the last section to learn about where these superstitions originated from.

Things You Should Know

  • Some people believe that black cats are omens of bad luck and death. Others claim that black cats are witches or the Devil in disguise.
  • Black cats are also considered to be signs of good luck in certain cultures. Some people believe they bring prosperity, fortune, and even love.
  • Some superstitions about black cats can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe when early Christians linked cats to the practice of witchcraft.
Section 1 of 3:

Negative Black Cat Superstitions

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  1. Some people believe that witches can shape-shift in order to curse some unlucky souls, and they’re often thought to prefer the form of a black cat so that they can conceal themselves better in the darkness of night. Black cats are also often considered the most likely candidates to be a witch’s familiar—a creature that acts as a companion and helper. [1]
    • There was a belief that witches could transform into a cat a total of 9 times in order to hide their identity. This is likely where the idea of a cat having 9 lives came from. [2]
  2. There are many superstitions claiming that black cats are bringers of bad luck. In North America, there’s a superstition that you’ll be cursed with bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. [3] This superstition is likely one reason why black cats have become such iconic symbols of Halloween since stories of curses and misfortune are quite popular on this particular day.
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  3. This belief was particularly popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. Early Christians believed that Satan could disguise himself as a black cat to come and torment people. [4] Others believed black cats to be the evil minions of the Devil, carrying out his nefarious plans by helping witches. [5]
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Section 2 of 3:

Black Cat Superstition Origins

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  1. The superstition about being cursed with bad luck if you crossed paths with a black cat likely stems from 16th-century Italy when some people believed a sick person would die if a black cat lay on their bed. Similarly, this story might’ve been influenced by Germans and Normans who believed that crossing paths with a black cat meant death would soon follow, much like seeing ravens or crows. [6]
    • There’s also a Welsh belief that if a black cat leaves the house after a person has died, that person has gone to Hell. If a white cat leaves, then the person has gone to Heaven. [7]
  2. Black cats go back as far as ancient Greece and the many myths that came from it. In one particular myth, the goddess Hera turned one of her servants, Galinthias, into a black cat as punishment for some offense. Galinthias went to serve Hecate, the goddess of magic and death, creating possibly one of the earliest stories associating black cats with witchcraft and bad luck. [8]
    • In some variations of the myth, Hera transformed Galinthias into a weasel, not a cat.
  3. On June 13, 1233, Pope Gregory IX issued the “Vox in Rama” (“Voice in Ramah”) as a means to condemn the occult and the practice of Luciferianism that was beginning to spread fear in Germany. In his writing, he claimed that the black cat was an animal worshipped by these satanic cults, planting the seed that led people to associate cats with the devil. [9]
  4. Early Christians both feared witches and saw them as a threat. As Christianity began to spread across Europe and slowly replace paganism, the perception of pagan practices changed from positive to negative. Early Christians proclaimed pagan worshippers to be witches, and they especially targeted people who had animal companions, such as cats. [10]
    • The reason that black cats are specifically targeted isn’t exactly known, but their dark color and ability to blend in with the shadows likely didn’t help their reputation.
    • Both cats and people suspected of being witches were hunted down in the crusade against witchcraft.
    • This negative perception of witches and black cats came to North America with Puritan settlers and resulted in the infamous Salem witch trials of the 17th century.
  5. The Bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, was a deadly disease that took many lives from ​​1346 to 1353. The disease was transmitted to humans mainly by infected fleas that traveled on rodents. However, cats could also transmit this disease to humans after coming into contact with infected prey. This likely didn’t help much in curbing the superstitions that claimed black cats were omens of death and bad luck. [11]
    • Some researchers believe that the mass killing of cats due to their association with witchcraft actually accelerated the spread of the plague since there were fewer predators to hunt down rodents. [12]
  6. In terms of the origins of the more positive black cat superstitions, cats as a whole were worshipped in ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians saw them as magical creatures capable of bringing good luck to people that welcomed them into their homes. They also believed cats to be the physical form of the goddess Bastet, the goddess of protection, pleasure, and good health. [13]
    • The goddess Bastet was usually depicted as either having the head of a black cat and the body of a woman or simply as a black cat.
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Section 3 of 3:

Positive Black Cat Superstitions

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  1. In Irish folklore, there’s a tale about a fairy named Cat Sith who took the form of a black cat and would protect the harvests and bless the homes of people who fed it. [14] In Japanese culture, the black cat is a popular symbol of prosperity and fortune. [15]
    • In Japan, cats are associated with the deity Maneki Neko ; the “beckoning cat.”
    • According to an old tale, a man followed a black cat after he saw it wave to him. He soon found himself surrounded by many wealthy people who generously gave him money to restore his temple. Because of this story, cats have been associated with good fortune.
    • Due to this superstition, some people place lucky cat statues in their homes or businesses to promote good fortune and profit.
  2. While some people might be wary of keeping a black cat for company, some sailors in England might actually seek out a black cat to accompany them on their ship when they head out to sea. There’s a belief that good luck would come if a black cat walked onto a crew’s ship. However, if the cat walked on and then off again, there’s a superstition that the ship will sink. [16]
    • Cats, in general, are also considered great crewmates because they can help hunt down any stray rodents lurking in the shadows of a ship.
  3. If you’re part of a theater group and have a big performance coming up, remember to keep your eyes peeled for a black cat in the theater. There’s a belief that if a black cat appears on the opening night of a performance, the show will go on successfully and bring in lots of money. [17]
  4. In some places, such as Japan, Cornwall, and Wales, black cats are seen as sources of good luck especially for young, unmarried women. Some people believe that having a black cat in the house will help young women find a good husband and go on to have a prosperous and loving marriage. [18]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/journey-into-witchcraft-beliefs/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/ntRSa1Mcn5U?t=186
      3. ↑ https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/
      4. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/guilt-by-association-how-cats-became-steeped-in-superstition/
      5. ↑ https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/
      6. ↑ https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/
      7. ↑ https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/20096/pg20096-images.html
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/ntRSa1Mcn5U?t=73
      9. ↑ https://www.oipa.org/international/black-cats/
      1. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/guilt-by-association-how-cats-became-steeped-in-superstition/
      2. ↑ https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/ntRSa1Mcn5U?t=230
      4. ↑ https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-Bastet
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/ntRSa1Mcn5U?t=300
      6. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/the-fascinating-history-behind-the-popular-waving-lucky-cat
      7. ↑ https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/
      8. ↑ https://www.aaa.si.edu/blog/2017/10/the-good-the-bad-and-the-black-cat
      9. ↑ https://www.oipa.org/international/black-cats/

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