Why are black cats very superstitious?

Why are black cats very superstitious?

Hollie Morrall

During October, searches for ‘black cat’ on Google double. Black cats have become a symbol of Halloween due to their association with black magic and witchcraft. In animal shelters across the world, there is a general consensus that this superstition has made black cats less desirable than their light-coloured counterparts. The RSPCA rehomed 3,169 black cats in a two-year period (2015-2017), and around 70% of cats in their care are black or black and white.

Let us travel back to 7500 BC, cats were living in harmony with humans. Cats were helpful beings, ridding farms of rodents that could potentially harm crops. Cats were so well loved that they were carried over seas and even buried with their human companions. Fast forward to around 4000 BC where cats were held in sanctity, a symbol of protection and compassion. The deity, Bast, with her lioness power and catlike grace, lead to the crowning of cats as god like figures. Intentionally or inadvertently killing a cat was a capital crime, resulting in the death penalty.

In the 14^th century, cats had become synonymous with evil and were suspected servants to the devil. They were disliked so much, that the British public almost exterminated all black cats on the isle.  This came back to bite them when the plague ravished the kingdom as the plague was carried by rodents.

A story, claimed to have occurred during the 1560s, tells of a father and son walking along a Lincolnshire path on a moonless night. A black cat happened to cross their path and they decided to throw stones at the feline. The cat then scarpered into a home alleged to belong to a witch. The following day, the suspected witch entered the town with bruises and was limping. Hence, she must have been a shapeshifter, taking the form of a human by day and cat by night. Many a cat life was lost due to this folklore. The first documented witch’s cat belonged to Elizabeth Francis, fatefully named Satan. He had been gifted to her by her magical grandmother who mentored her. Fortunately, Elizabeth happened to avoid the death penalty for her crime and eventually traded her cat for a cake from her neighbour.

Nowadays, society has moved on from burning witches and blaming misfortune on pets. Nevertheless, there is still a lingering mistrust surrounding black cats, leading them to be the least adopted in shelters. Shelters themselves promote the adoption of black cats, except during  

Halloween. Due to their presumed partnership with the Devil, black cats are a popular decoration during spooky season. A minority of people believe that October is peak Satanist ritual month. Some shelters have even prohibited the adoption of black cats during this time in fear that they may be sacrificed to the devil. Despite this proactive protection put in place, it seems that there is no need for the banning. There is no evidence of increased cruelty around October, in any country. Moreover, there is no indication that any Satanic groups carry out sacrifices of any sort. In fact, The Satanic Temple tenets state that members should “strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures”. Despite public opinion, black cats are not in any more danger from Satanists in October than any other month.

Modern hypotheses argue that black or black and white cats are less popular due to ‘selfie culture’. It is said that these cats are less photogenic than other colours, making them less appealing. Advertising cats from shelters is dependent on portraying their behaviour through photographs and many people enjoy posting photographs of their pets online. Black cats just do not fit into the social media world, apparently.

It is a shame that colour appears to be the defining factor of adopting a feline friend. Cats have so much more to give than their outward image, even online a funny cat video is worth far more than a selfie with a kitten. Today, with our knowledge of science, suspicion should be obsolete. There is no such thing as witches and therefore, no witch’s familiar. By choosing a companion purely based on their colour, prospective adopters miss out on some of the most gentle and friendly fur babies they could have. In addition to being wonderful creatures, black cats hold an air of mystery and legend, which only adds to their charm.