The
black
cat is a feline whose
fur is uniformly black.
It is not a particular breed of cat and may be mixed or of a
specific breed. The all-black pigmentation is equally prevalent in both
male and female cats, and typically skips one generation due to the
characteristic's association with the X chromosome.
In Western history, black cat have often been looked upon as a symbol
of evil omens: in other cultures, they are considered to be good omens.
Black cat generally have green eyes but rarely may have other eye
colors.
Black cat were often
believed to be familiars of human witches. Cats are
believed, by some Wiccans, to have the ability to sense the presence of
spirits before humans notice them. Black cat, because of their ability
to remain unseen in dark places or at night, were considered especially
desirable partners for witches. Some witches were purported to have the
ability to shape-shift into a cat nine times, hence the archaic belief
that cats have "nine lives". Black cat were sometimes used in magical
rituals, sometimes as purported participants, other times as
sacrifices.
History of Black Cat
Historically, black cats
were symbolically associated with witchcraft
and evil. In Hebrew and Babylonian folklore, cats are compared to
serpents, coiled on a hearth. Originally in Britain and Europe, a black
cat crossing one's path was considered good luck; however they were
also seen by the church as associated with witches. This association
with witches possibly stems from pre-Christian Europe when witches
weren't considered evil. In fact it was the church, who considered them
unholy and pagan, who altered their reputation. The black cat was still
usually seen as good luck, however in the USA and parts of Europe which
were affected by the witch hunts the association with witches caused
them to be considered as bad luck. In places which weren't affected
particularly by witch hunts, they retained their status as good luck,
and are still considered as such in Japan and most of Britain.
Superstitions
Of Black Cat
Here's more
superstitions from all around the world. Some are good & some,
not necessarily so:
A black cat seen from
behind fortells a bad omen - Unknown
A strange black cat on
your porch brings prosperity - Scottish
A black cat crossing
ones path by moonlight means death in an epidemic - Irish
A black cats carry
demons - Unknown
If a black cat walks
towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it take the
good fortune with it.
It is believed that if
a black lived in the house, the young las would have plenty of suitors
(woohoo!) - English
It is believed that if
you find one white hair on a black cat,
Lady Luck will smile upon you (double woohoo! Dawa has 4, the last time
I counted!) - French
While it is lucky to
own a black cat, it is extremely unlucky to come across one
accidentally - English
It is considered bad
luck to pass a black cat at 9pm
It is thought that a
reincarnated soul may be liberated by throwing a black cat
into a fire - Indian
Women could change
their soul into a black cat & that any harm brought to the cat
would be suffered by the women - Bengali
It is thought that
black cat were reincarnated being able to divine the future - Celtic
It is believed that if
a black cat jumped on the bed of a sick person it meant death is near -
German
It is thought that
black cat were thought to carry the souls of the dead to the other
world - Finnish
It is thought that the
presence of a black cat foretold of poverty - Chinese
Picture of the Week
Super Fast
Fact
The
Persian cat
is one of the most beautiful cats with a long, luxurious
coat. Owning a Persian gives one the same gratification as owning a
beautiful work of art. Wild Cat
Here
are 36 species of wild
cats.
Domestic
Cat
