6 Very Superstitious Beliefs About Black Cats
The writing on the wall says black cats are luckier than you think.
If a black cat crosses your path, what would you do? I’d feel #blessed that I got a chance to see a cat today.
I might also "accidentally" smuggle said cat to work in my purse (you know, the usual). I mean, I could probably get away with it with a purse like this Bombay cat purse. “What? Of course my purse isn’t meowing. It just looks like a cat, Harold.”
@_juliechristina_
As cute as black cats are, unfortunately, there is still a prevalent belief in the United States and some European countries that they are omens of misfortune; If a black cat crosses your path, you’re in for bad luck that day. I don't know about you, but if I saw a face this precious, it'd only make my day better!
Black cats’ bad rep stems from the Middle Ages, when Pope Gregory IX decided that black cats were used to worship the devil and saw them as evil creatures.
The vilification of black cats began to grow, spreading to countries like England and eventually to America, as the Puritans settled in New England. During the infamous Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s, black cats were thought to be witches’ familiars. The Puritans believed that witches could actually shape-shift into black cats!
Believe it or not, though, black cats are actually surrounded by myths of prosperity, luck and even love.
Credit: About Postcards
In Scotland, to have a black cat visit your house means you’re headed for prosperity, my friend. I’d sell my left eyebrow to win a jackpot (It’s a big sacrifice, okay? Even if my left eyebrow is the “ugly” sister ... )
It’s not every day that a black cat hangs out on my stoop, though. I’ll have to settle for a lucky cat charm. These Black Jack Cat Earrings are perfect for bringing on some of that good luck to win big. Maybe I will buy that lotto ticket …
Is someone you know getting married? In the English Midlands, giving a bride the gift of a black cat was thought to bring her good luck. We know from experience here at Meowingtons that it’s not so easy to gift-wrap a cat.
These Purrly Cat earrings are the perfect, easy-to-wrap (they won't fight back) gift to bring the bride some luck. And they’re already dressed for the occasion!
Sailors and their wives saw black cats as guardians of safe passage. While their husbands were out at sea, women would take home black cats, thinking that they would bring their loved ones home safe. These inky felines were seen as harbingers of such good fortune that they became a hot commodity, and some sailors couldn’t even afford to buy them. Cats were even seen as good-luck charms if they were brought on ships and approached a sailor.
Winston Churchill and Blackie, Ship’s Cat / Wikimedia
If you’re a seafaring adventurer searching for your white whale (or even just going out to lunch), be sure to keep your lucky black cat close at hand with this fabulous Clowder Cat Scarf or Kira Cat Travel Pillow. You’ll need something to keep you as warm and cozy as cuddling a real cat.
In some traditions in Southern France, black cats were sometimes referred to as "matagots," roughly translating to "magician cat." Matagots were black cats who would bring the owners good fortune if they were given love and respect and fed first at every meal.
If my cat could talk, I'm sure he'd agree that the French were definitely onto something with that idea.
If you've got a magic cat of your own at home, treat that fine feline of yours to a delicious Ciao Cat Treat and he won't even want a bite of your dinner!
Do you have a black cat of your own? What makes them special to you?
I have only owned one tuxedo cat named Bonz. She was the light of my life and my good luck charm. She would sit on my hip when it was bedtime and altho it hurt I loved having her there. I later found that I have fibromialgia. She was my everything. I wish she was still with me.
My granddaughter brought in a solid black stray almost 2 years ago. I didn’t want to keep her, or the calico that her sister brought in a few weeks later, especially since my lease did not allow pets. BUT, we managed, even w/the calico becoming pregnant last year w/a litter of 3 girls. All of our cats have been female. The first one, solid black has the sweetest nature. I call her BK b/c my granddaughter named her Baby Kitty and I refuse to call her that, as she is now almost 2 and is well over 10 lbs. She is typically pretty quiet, is very partial to her owner, my granddaughter, and could never be associated w/any bad luck.
When the calico had the kittens last spring, BK was a real help in caring for them. She had already been spayed (they had delayed getting Calli spayed!) but would look out for the little kitties and play w/them when we had them. Calli was quite protective of them but trusted BK. They have been raised together and may be sisters for all we know. There were a lot of feral cats in that community.
Our black cat certainly is special to my granddaughter and I love her a lot, too, even though Calli is officially mine now.
I love black cats, and ever one who has graced my life has been an absolute joy! Right now, my husband and l have a tuxedo boy. Tennessee, who is the sweetest, kindest cat that you will ever meet. Before that, we had , Misty, a black Persian, who was my sweet baby who lived a nice long, cuddly, twenty one years, four months. We were so sad to lose her, but rejoiced at the long life that she lived. Before that, there was Beer, a huge polydactyl black tomcat who loved to cuddle me back to health when ill. As a teen, l had Herbie, a sweet black cat who rode everywhere on my shoulder as l did my work around my parents ranch. Before that, we had Snowball, Tom, Skitterbug, and Betty, all sweet black cats on the ranch. Each black cat was a treasure, and definitely good luck in my life.
About 30 years or more ago i went to a clairvoyant, she told me among many other things that she could see a black cat around me and that this was lucky. I wasn’t a cat lover at the time, but a few years ago adopted 2 black and white cats. Iam cat crazy now and really would love a little blackie to join us.
NancyBrighteyes KeislingMiller, you’re freaking me out, you know people WHO SACRIFICE CATS AT HALLOWEEN ?!?!?!? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK
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