Are Black Cats Unlucky?

It’s on old myth, but one that, like Friday the thirteenth and walking under ladders, refuses to die. Supposedly, if a black cat crosses your path, you’re in for up to 17 years’ bad luck.

Of course, any cat lover knows how ridiculous that concept is, but here at Cat Diaries we thought we’d do some research and try to work out where and how the superstition began.

Fear and loathing
There’s a reason why the millennium-long period between about 400 to 1400CE also used to be known as the Dark Ages. Throughout Europe, lawlessness was rife, violence was commonplace and superstitions ran wild. The church was still in its infancy, struggling to assert itself and establish the kind of control it was to enjoy after that period. As a result, pagan myths remained widespread, including the idea that some women were witches.

Because many of these women were old and lived alone, they kept cats for company. And so the legend grew that cats were witches’ familiars.

By the 16th century, the idea had mutated still further: now witches were able to transform themselves into cats so they could freely move about doing their devilish work at night. And because it’s far harder to see a black cat at night than, say, a tabby, over time, people began to believe that black cats were witches in disguise – hence the reason why it was unlucky for them to cross your path.

By this time, the church had firmly established itself as a controlling force and, eager to impose its views on the peoples of the known world, enthusiastically stamped out any link to old beliefs. Suspected witches – and their cats – were burned in their thousands, and the mere act of owning a black cat became even unluckier, at it was viewed as admission of guilt.

Other myths
Gradually, though, attitudes changed and black cats began to be viewed more positively. By the middle of the 17th century, they were even thought to bring good luck. King Charles I of England certainly thought so. He reportedly gave his black cat a round-the-clock armed guard. And the day after it died, he was arrested and ultimately beheaded as England, briefly, became a republic.

Later still, sailors would take black cats on their ships to bring them luck (and, presumably, to eat the vermin). Similarly, fishermen’s wives would keep black cats while their husbands went away to sea. These cats were thought to bring such good luck that they became very valuable and were frequently stolen.

Even today, black cats are viewed with a mixture of awe and suspicion. Animal shelters in the United States will not allow people to adopt black cats in the lead up to Halloween because of the risk they will be harmed. Which is both a sad reflection on modern society and proof that when it comes to black cats, some old ideas – no matter how crazy they are – simply keep going.

So why not help set the record straight? Tell us your experiences of owning a black cat (or coming into contact with one), of all the love you’ve shared and all the luck you’ve had. Post your comments below…

Image by Ron310