The poor black cat has historically been marginalized. In particular, there is a whole parallel culture regarding the bad luck that accompanies seeing a cat of this color, wherever it is. Do you want to know where all the superstition associated with the cat? Keep reading!
History of black cat superstition
First of all, it should be noted that the cat has not always enjoyed a bad reputation. Quite the opposite! In ancient times, the cat was a very popular and respected animal, so much so that some people even paid with their lives for having killed one of these animals. Likewise, the historian Diodorus of Sicily claimed to have seen it.
For its independent character, its beauty and its elegance cats were adored. In fact, in Egypt when a cat died it was embalmed and embalmed mice were added to its resting place. Hence, more than 300,000 cat mummies were found in 1890 in Bubastis. Another curious fact is that those who had lived in the house with the animal shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning for the loss. Even Muhammad in the 7th century preached with a cat in his arms.
What made everything change?
The popularity of the cat began to change radically when the Catholic Church in the mid-13th century began to persecute them for considering them a symbol of the devil and also servants of witches.
As the cat was present in numerous pagan rites and beliefs, the characteristic aspects of the animal began to be highlighted in a negative way and it began to be relentlessly persecuted.
Apart from this, as they reproduced very quickly they also began to be a nuisance for rulers and citizens. Stray cats were then fed by lonely old women. and this was seen as something diabolical. Even worse if the cat was black and short-haired. Thus, a whole series of legends and myths began to be created around the black cat that led it to have such a bad reputation.
When the black cat began to be considered a sign of bad luck, all specimens began to be chased to kill them. Even the Church encouraged their hunting and made a spectacle at the bonfire of Saint John by burning these felines. The massacre was so great that When the Black Death arrived, there were almost no cats left to fight it.
King Louis XII of France was the one who began to bring some sanity to the whole situation and put an end to the killing of black cats. Given its special role in the eradication of the plague, the cat once again regained its prestige and today it is one of the most adorable pets that coexist with humans.