Why Black Cats Are

Among superstitions, one of the oldest and

most enduring is that crossing paths with a
black cat will bring on bad luck. The dark-
colored felines have also been folded into
modern Halloween symbols, giving them the
(unearned) reputation of being spooky.

But how and where did the association between

black cats and bad luck begin? Here’s what is
known about the connection
between Halloween and black cats, including
the lasting impact of this superstition that
remains today.

Origins of Black Cat Superstitions

The connections between humans and cats can

be traced back to some of the world’s earliest
civilizations, most notably, ancient Egypt,
where cats were considered divine symbols.
Cats also made an appearance in Greek
mythology, specifically Hecate, goddess of
magic, sorcery, the moon and witchcraft, was
described as having a cat as both a pet and
a familiar (a supernatural creature that assists a
witch, according to European folklore).

Written records link black cats to the occult as

far back as the 13th century when an official
church document called “Vox in Rama” was
issued by Pope Gregory IX on June 13, 1233.
“In it, black cats were declared an incarnation of
Satan,” says Layla Morgan Wilde, author
of Black Cats Tell: True Tales And Inspiring
Images. “The decree marked the beginning of
the inquisition and church-sanctioned heretic
and/or witch hunts. Initially it was designed to
squash the growing cult of Luciferians in
Germany, but quickly spread across Europe.”

Cats and Witches Seen as Threats to

Early Christian Church

A Halloween postcard from the early 1900s

featuring a witch, a black cat and spirits.
Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

In addition to their early association with Satan,

cats also became inextricably linked
to witches in medieval Europe. According
to Cerridwen Fallingstar, Wiccan priestess and
author of Broth from the Cauldron: A Wisdom
Journey through Everyday Magic, witches were
the pre-Christian pagan practitioners of Europe.

Although the early Christian church in Europe

coexisted with witches, as the church gained
power, she says that they saw witches as their
direct competition in gaining the hearts and
minds of the people. That’s when the church
began hunting, persecuting, torturing and killing
witches in vast numbers, she explains.

“Witches honored the natural world, having

deep respect for plants and animals,” says
Fallingstar. “Affection between human and
animal therefore began to be seen as
'diabolical', or devilish, and the old lady with her
cats became seen as suspect.”

But it wasn’t only the connection they fabricated

between witches, cats, and the devil that the
early Christians feared: they also saw them
both as threats. “Cats, like the women accused
of witchcraft, tend to exhibit a healthy disrespect
of authority,” she notes. “They don't fawn, like
dogs, upon even the unworthy. In the church,
neither independent women, nor independent
animals, were to be tolerated.”
Origins of Black Cat Crossing Your Path
Superstition

Black cat crossing a mans path.

Lambert/Getty Images

Given the belief in medieval Europe that the

devil and witches were capable of taking the
form of black cats, it makes sense that the
superstition surrounding crossing their paths
developed, says Phoebe Millerwhite, a folklorist
and artist. “Therefore, a black cat crossing your
path might very well be on a mission from a
witch,” she notes. “Just as easily, it could be the
devil in disguise—and no one wants to cross
paths with the devil. This explains why a black
cat crossing your path is considered a bad
omen.”

This notion continued into the Renaissance,

says Fallingstar, when a black cat crossing your
path might have indicated that a witch had sent
her familiar to do you harm. “Many fearful
peasants of the day might have hurried to the
nearest church and paid for a priest to bless
them and rid them of any curse that might have
been laid by the cat,” she says. “As this was a
source of income for the church, such fears
would have likely been encouraged.”

But the idea that black cats are bad luck isn’t
universal, according to Compora. In fact, some
cultures believe that black cats bring good luck.

“Their resemblance to the cat-goddess Bastet

led them to be honored in ancient Egypt,” he
explains. “In other countries, such as Scotland
and Japan, they have been known to represent
prosperity. Apparently, whether a black cat is
viewed as a benevolent creature or an evil
supernatural force is entirely based on
whichever lore one is likely to embrace.”

How the Holiday Has Changed

Over the Centuries

At some point, the pairing of witches with cats

narrowed to black cats, although Fallingstar
says that it’s not entirely clear why that
happened. “The relationship between witches
and black cats in particular is probably
imaginary, but it is possible that black cats
make better mousers, since they cannot be
seen at night and therefore have a hunting
advantage,” she explains. “Witches do tend
towards the practical.”

Eventually, the fear surrounding black cats and

their association with witchcraft made its way
across the Atlantic, courtesy of Puritan
colonists, says Daniel Compora, associate
professor of English language and literature at
The University of Toledo. “The idea that witches
could turn into their familiar likely evolved from
those accused of witchcraft having cats as
pets,” he explains.

Cats Blamed for Spreading the Plague

During the Middle Ages, it wasn’t uncommon for

cats to be killed, given their association with
evil, Compora says. Some people even went as
far as blaming cats for spreading the Bubonic
plague, and used that as another reason to get
rid of them. However, their ill-conceived plan
backfired.

“In a particularly bizarre piece of irony, the

killing of the cats helped fuel the spread of the
plague,” Compora explains. “With the reduced
number of cats to control the rodent population,
the disease spread rapidly.”