Happy Halloween! This is the perfect time to learn about black cats and how they came to be associated with witches, bad luck and Halloween. In ancient Egypt, cats were beloved pets, effective pest control, an inspiration for art objects and companions in the afterlife, as cats were mummified and placed in tombs with their guardians. The Catholic church did black cats dirty on June 13, 1233, when Pope Gregory IX pronounced them the embodiment of the devil, and connected black cats to witches. This declaration was made because the church was rising in power and saw witches as competition for followers. Witches were a Pagan group who believed nature, plants and animals were divine and to be cared for, that life was joyful and in gender equality. The original cat ladies, if you will. The church began an inquisition generating fear toward witches and cats that tainted public opinion and the superstition has persisted. In the Middle Ages, cats were blamed for spreading the Bubonic plague and killed in great numbers because of it; however, with fewer cats to cull the rats, the plague spread quickly. In medieval Europe black cats were tied to witchcraft. It was thought that witches could take the form of black cats, and this started the superstition that it’s bad luck for a black cat to cross your path. Cats are nocturnal, skillful hunters with sharp claws and teeth and an independent air. Black cats are considered spooky because in the dark all that can be seen are their bright eyes. With an undeserved reputation of being scary, black cats have been associated with Halloween. Today, black cats can be found on an array of Halloween decorations as well as inspiration for costumes. In some parts of the world black cats are considered good luck and treating a black cat well will bring prosperity. Sailors and fishermen believed having a black cat onboard would bring a ship good luck and a safe return, as well as cut down on the number of rats aboard. Many Asian countries see black cats as able to ward off evil as well as attract love. Never mind all the superstitions, let’s be nice to all the kitties.

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