http://www.care2.com/greenliving/feline-fantasies-101.html
Feline Fantasies 101
“Doesn’t Bella creep you out?” Andy asked, raking his black-painted nails through spikes of neon purple hair.
The object of his curiosity reclined on my lap, bubble gum-pink tongue lapping at her glistening, black as pitch, tiny paw. I had no idea what the boy was talking about.
“She’s a cat,” he observed, “and completely black!”
Chuckling over Andys’ skill at stating the obvious, my nod urged him to delve a bit deeper.
“Hey, everybody knows that black cats bring bad luck,” he insisted, then paused to watch my complexion darken, eyebrows shooting toward my auburn hairline.” I’ve always believed they have something to do with evil, witchcraft and wizardry.
Resisting the urge to smack my young Goth friend alongside his multiply-pierced head, I decided it was time to give Andy a crash course in Feline Fantasies 101, aka What the Heck Are You Thinking, Oh Child of the the New Millennium?” Lowering the flame beneath a cauldron of thick, blood-red liquid and allowing it to bubble, curious and exotic aromas fragrancing the cottage air, I beckoned the boy toward the sanctuary wherein stood an altar containing the knowledge I hold most sacred. Black, surrounded by books and images evoking magic and mystery, a gateway to hallowed history and the potential future, it awaited a simple gesture from my ancient, gnarled finger to commence conjuring.
“Okay, she’s booted up,” I announced. “Now you Google ‘cat superstitions.’”
For the next few hours, Andy and I examined hundreds of the half-million plus references to be found online regarding felines and the global superstitions associated with them. For me, it was time well-spent as ideas for future Kitten Smitten articles presented themselves. Andy also benefited, his preconceived beliefs replaced by an expansion of time-honored and referenced information. With mugs of warm tomato soup in hand, we compiled some of the notions he thought significant, as well as their sources (along with my random commentary) when possible:
* Ailurophobia comes from the Greek words for cat, ailuros and fear, phobos. People with this condition suffer from persistent, abnormal terror about the risk of being physically harmed by cats or the superstitious idea that cats are evil. Hypnosis may help.
* Other than an occasional, vague mention of “hoarding” as being symptomatic of Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder, no absolute psychiatric definition could be found to explain the mindset of “crazy cat” people.
* A strange black cat discovered on one’s porch brings prosperity. - Scotland
* Killing a cat brings seventeen years of bad luck. - Ireland
* A Celtic belief was that kittens born in May were badly behaved and troublesome; mythologically, the month of May was a time of ill-omen - the British Isles.
* It is bad luck to see a white cat at night; dreaming of one means just the opposite. - USA
* Ginger kitties appear to have expressive senses of humor. - Global general-ism
* A cat is very often kept as a lucky mascot in the theatre and disaster strikes any actor who dares to kick it! - Backstage everywhere
* Solid grey cats, as well as “tuxedo” kitties, bring good fortune. - USA
* If it moves, ATTACK! - Universal Cat Operating Manual
* The moment a box has been scrubbed and filled with new litter, cats must immediately poop in it. - Universal Feline Irony
* Leaving a box of kittens on a stranger’s doorstep is rude and inconsiderate. - Janet World
* Cats RULE; dogs drool! - Kitten Credo
Next: More lessons in feline superstitions
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43 comments
add your comment »Health had been slowly declining since the middle of last year. This was probably due to FIV, which he tested positive for in a second test his parents..
sdhc
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I had a cat just like the one pictured and she was something else she did like any other cats in her yard and she protected her yard just like a dog would. She lived fourteen (14) years and the very cat she hated the most took over her yard after she died because the owner of the cat left her and my mom took her in and she lived many years as well.
I think cats are the best kind of animal anybody can have because they are independent and free thinking but when you need them they are right by your side especially if you are sad they make you laugh.
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That was one of the reasons I adopted my black tuxedo boy Sammie last new years. I had heard that black male cats were harder for the shelter to get adopted especially if they are older. My Sammie is 14 yrs old but he is very frisky and playful.
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I volunteer in a cat shelter, & one of the women who works there said that around Halloween, there's an increase in the number of black cats dropped off there. In general, there are a lot of black cats at the shelter, & they're all sweet. Hard to believe in the 21st century, people still think black cats bring bad luck.
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Once again Janet ... a wonderful piece of writing, and very informative. Loved every moment of it. Must say though, I am one person who relies on her cats for 'weather forecasting' and believe me, they have yet to be proven wrong. Washing behind ears certainly is an indicator of rain, but more importantly, during summer - often a critical time in Australia with bushfires - and living as we do in a semi-rural forested community, I rely on the shedding of fur from my cats - how much and when to forecast the coming of extremely hot weather. Although cats shed their winter and their summer coats each year, my 3 shed copiously when really hot weather is about to happen. If there's a cold snap coming they stop - this happens 1 week to 10 days before the event. They haven't been wrong to date. Thanks Janet for your great story - love your comments in italics too ! ..... Annie B.
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Our cat is SMART and is just an American short hair rescue cat. People are afraid of cats, because they are smarter than people and more perceptive.
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I Love cats :)
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Janet, thanks for a great piece challenging this ugly STUPID-STITION. My black cat companion Lissa (a former stray) is gentle, clever, personable and lovely. She is social with people and got on well with her feline siblings. The only unluckiness was visited upon the cats themselves.
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Cindy, that's my lucky day too. Speaking of black kitties apparently shirts work too. Out today and walking a new route to pick up chicken for me and the fab five.
Well on the way back I looked down. The hill was collapsed and only an inch wide pipe was there. I very ginegerly crossed it, holding on to the gaurd rail the whole time.
Now how in the name of Bastet did I cross it the first time without falling down the hill onto the rocks below? The drop is fourty feet straight down.
Maybe because I was getting a special treat for my furry pals Bastet saved me both times.
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I learned a lesson long ago when I heard of someone who claimed to always have good luck on Friday The 13th. I vowed for it to be the same way with me. And soon after, was in a car at midnight on that day when a black cat ran out in front of the car, which screeched to a halt, and fortunately, missed the puddy. Since then, all occupants in that car heard my luck story, and we've all found all of those things to be lucky for us.
What one feels the need for superstition to control their luck, could easily change it to positive. If a mirror breaks, I make a mosaic. Someone opens an umbrella in the house, I rejoice because I love both them and rain. And even if I get bad luck, I know it's still good because it teaches me lessons and it makes it so I can appreciate the good things more.
Herbalists during the "witch" trials were amazing healers with great knowledge. Those of them who tried to help, were accused of witchery and killed. The others learned to keep quiet. Due to this, we've lost so much education that could help us in so many ways, just because we allowed ourselves to be scared, brainwashed, and leery. Horrible superstitions about wonderful animals stemmed from that mindset. I embrace the black puddy, and her history only makes her that much more incredible to me. Just look at what she's survived! How can that be bad luck?
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