Black Magic!
Black cats have many associations with good luck as well as bad. The folklore surrounding black cats varies from culture to culture. In Great Britain black cats are a symbol of good luck. The Scots believe that a strange black cat's arrival to the home signifies prosperity.
An old English charm states:
“Black cat, cross my path - good fortune bring to home and hearth. When I am away from home, bring me luck wherever I roam”.
The supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively, for example sailors considering a ship’s cat would want a black one because it would bring good luck. Sometimes, fishermen's wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea.
Upon the death of his treasured pet black cat, Charles I is said to have lamented that his luck was gone. True to his claim, he was arrested the very next day and charged with high treason!
Black cats are also good luck in Japan. In Italy anyone who hears a black cat sneezing is considered to be blessed with good luck. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.
In Egypt it is believed that the life giving rays of the sun rest in the black cat’s eyes at night for safe keeping. It is well known that the ancient Egyptians worshipped all cats. The view of black cats being favourable creatures is attributed specifically to the Egyptian goddess Bast, the cat goddess. Egyptian households believed they could gain favour from Bast by having black cats in their household. They venerated black cats and treated them as royalty. In fact, killing a black cat was a capital offence.
We all know about the association of black cats with witches, they were considered desirable partners for them because of their ability to remain unseen at night.
So keep a look out at Halloween!!
Sadly, black cats are often overlooked by would be adopters and many of them remain in our care longer than others. Cats Protection nationally is holding a ‘Black Cat Awareness Day’ on Thursday 27th October to raise the profile of black cats.
Swansea & District Branch of Cats Protection will be holding a Homing Day on Sun Oct 16th at Kenwood Kennels and Cattery, Llanmorlais from 10am to 4pm where there will be many gorgeous Black Cats looking for loving homes and hoping it will be their Lucky Day! For more details see our website,
