Cats were domesticated a long time after dogs as dogs were more useful when it comes to hunting. However, after the agricultural revolution, human settlements were formed and cats gained an important spot in human life. They very were useful for pest control as rats and venomous snakes/scorpions destroyed human property and life. This made cats important as they hunt rodents and other vermin.
Throughout the ages, religion and culture had a big impact on how cats were treated. Some cultures viewed cats as friendly and a symbol of independence while some considered cats to malicious and evil. The Romans introduced cats to England as they carried them along with them on their ships for good luck. These cats were bought from the middle east and Egypt was considered to be the first place that domesticated cats but recent findings indicate that they were domesticated thousands of years before that in the Mediterranean region. There are a lot of superstitions surrounding cats in different cultures, which a lot of people don’t know.
1. Black Cats Are Considered Good Luck In Japan
Japanese culture views black cats in a positive light as they’re considered to be good luck. A black cat crossing your path is considered to be a good omen and a single woman owning a black cat is said to make her lucky in love as it attracts more suitors.
There is a talisman originating in Japan called Maneki Neko. It is a figurine of a cat with one paw raised. and is placed near the entrance of small business places to bring good luck and ward off evil. It comes in many colours but the black ones are supposed to keep away demons, spirits and stalkers.
Japanese legends also portray cats as helpful and intelligent animals. One story tells us of an old man being summoned by a cat to safety during a storm which is why the Maneki Neko is a cat with one paw raised, summoning you to good luck.
Another legend tells us of a kind shopkeeper feeding a hungry cat and his favour was returned when the cat stood at the entrance of the shop and summoned the customers to come inside. This might also be another reason these figurines are considered lucky.
2. Medieval Europeans Killed Cats For Entertainment
The medieval times were not kind to cats as they were associated with the devil or considered to be a witch’s familiar. There are writings found describing cats as evil and malicious, comparing the way they hunt mice to the way the devil hunts for souls. A woman owning a cat could be executed for being a witch and the cat would be killed along with her.
Countries like Belgium and France had morbid rituals where people burned cats for fun and entertainment, sometimes beating it up or throwing it from a height before setting it on fire to e chased through the town. The charred remains of the cat were then taken home for good luck.
One of these events involved nailing a cat to a wooden board and men headbutting the animal, kneeling in front of it. Belgium still has a similar festival carried out on May 2nd every year to imitate witch burning where a stuffed animal is used thrown from a tower and burned.
The mass killing of the cats is speculated to be one of the reasons the black plague spread so fast in Europe as mice carry the fleas that cause the disease. The decline in the cat population caused an increase in rodents and the disease spread quickly.
3. Sailors And Peasants In Medieval Europe Considered Cats To Be Good Luck
Not everyone in medieval Europe hated cats. English and Irish sailors would carry cats with them on their ships as pest control and would take excellent care of them. The sailors families also adopted black cats as it was believed to ensure the safe return of their loved ones.
There were superstitions that cats were powerful and could control the weather. Their tails were said to have the power to induce a storm and throwing a cat overboard was considered bad luck.
Vikings (North Germany, 8th and 11th century) considered cats to be good luck and useful for pest control. Polydactyl cats were considered even luckier as they were said to be better at catching mice and were believed to have better balance.
French peasants also believed cats to be very lucky and that they would lead them to a treasure if left on a crossroad joining five roads. These beliefs were probably held due to the cats association with witch craft.
4. Dried Cats Were Kept In Walls As Protection Against Witchcraft
There were recent findings all over Europe of dead and dried up cats inside the walls of houses and buildings. This was initially chalked up to being an accident but there were situations in which it was impossible for the cat to have gotten stuck in the walls. This led to the discovery of an age old tradition that was customary in most European houses when they were being built. Dried cats would be put in between the walls to ward off evil.
Cats were believed to have sixth sense and this tradition was supposed to offer a blood sacrifice in exchange of protection from spirits, ghosts and black magic. It was also supposed to keep the occupants safe and use the animal’s psychic abilities to repel spells or witchcraft. Usually the cats were placed there after it’s death along with birds, dried rats, witch bottles and shoes.
These were used as good luck charms not only in Europe but also in some parts of the US and Australia. It is speculated that the Romans bought it to England as a part of folklore magic and it eventually spread throughout Europe.
5. Three Deities In Ancient Egypt Were Portrayed As A Human Body With A Cat’s Head
We all know that cats were considered to be valuable as pest control and held in very high regard when they were first domesticated in Egypt. Killing a cat would be punishable by death in ancient Egypt as they were considered sacred and just as much of a family member as a human. Egyptians had three deities that were portrayed to be humans with a cat’s head named Sekhmet, Mafdet and Bastet. These deities were worshipped in ancient Egypt and represented a cat’s protective nature and strength.
Sekhmet was a ferocious goddess who was said to be the daughter of the sun god Ra, in Egyptian mythology. She is hot tempered and fierce, protecting humans from venomous snakes and scorpions. She controlled diseases and was responsible for causing plagues and taking them away as well. There was an annual festival in her name where the ancient Egyptians drank large amount of alcohol and played music to soothe the goddess’s anger.
Bastet is the first Egyptian goddess portrayed with the head of a house cat unlike Sekhmet and Mafdet who had the head of a lioness, cheetah or a lynx.
Mafdet was worshipped in the first dynasty and was considered to be protective and a warrior. She was eventually replaced by Bastet, who was more nurturing and was considered the goddess of fertility and art in the second dynasty.
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