creativecommons photo by synx508
Dear Friends,
I have gathered some myths about black cats and added my own myth busters. As you know, we cats have no silly myths about ourselves, no matter what color we show up in – so this is for the humans.
Myth: In the Middle Ages, black cats were believed to consort with witches, and bring bad luck to the villagers.
Myth Buster: Cats do not curse.
Myth: In North America, a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen and will bring bad luck.
Myth Buster: North Americans had ancestors from the Middle Ages whom they never really understood. They just associated them with bad luck, and as luck would have it, there were many black cats in the village.
Myth: In days of olde, black cats would spy for the witches and demons.
Myth Buster: Cats don’t tell.
A more up to date look at the issue:
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. – Groucho Marx
If a black cat crosses your path you should be honored that the cat noticed you at all. – Fisher Harris
For lots more information on black cats, please visit “Are Black Cats Really Bad Luck Charms?” presented to you compliments of Alfred and Little Cat B, who end their thesis with a most telling paragraph:
There are other creatures that have been said to look like black cats
and really cause misfortune, but they are supernatural in origin and it could
be that the people who originated the superstition saw these creatures
rather than a real black cat?
Helloooo….enough said.
Your friend,
Fisher
Dear Fisher,
Everything around our house is crazy these days. The kids are all hyper and they put on awful faces and try to scare me. It works just fine, thank you very much. This is holiday season – that’s what they say. It’s just starting and I can’t wait until it’s over. Worst is they have pictures of black cats in the window and they all look scary as heck. It is an insult to me and gives black cats a bad name. Sometimes I just want to run away from home. Can you help?
Tommy
Dear Tommy,
If you mean will I help you run away from home, the answer is “No!” But, if you mean will I help you try to deal with your situation, I will be happy to. First order of business is to get the kids you live with under control. Even though you have a built in instinct to fight back, run away, or just freeze in place when you are afraid, these reactions are only encouraging them. Children can become overly exuberant when suddenly allowed to act like little monsters. You may remember doing much the same when you were a kitten.
You will do well to put forth your best effort to act aloof. After all, that is one of our best traits. Here is how that can work for you: The children put on scary masks and rush at you. You act aloof. After 3 or 4 efforts to scare you, they become bored. They then start to pick on each other, which annoys the parents and they end up in time out. At this point, skip the aloofness and do a little happy dance. All is under control.
As for the actual night of Halloween, your adult family members should help you by:
- Setting up the master bedroom as your safe haven, with litter box, food and water dishes.
- Select a pleasant program on TV so the endless doorbell ringing will not drive you nuts.
- Close the door to the bedroom. Appoint only one person to open it to check on you.
- Treats are OK, but no candy. Candy will cause new and often worse problems.
Everyone must be on guard for your safety and inability to escape.
Urban legend or not, cats should not go out on All Hallows Eve. Many animal rescue groups report an abrupt increase in the adoption of black cats at this time. For more information, look up Black Cats and Halloween.
You are right to say this is the first of the holiday season, and no doubt the worst of it will be over for you soon. Next is Thanksgiving. Please remember to think kindly upon all turkeys.
Your friend,
Fisher
For those who are convinced that a black cat crossing their path is bad luck, I just want to say, some of my best friends are black cats. They are not all that different from me or my other friends, who are orange, gray, tiger striped, or a huge mix of other colors. According to Mary Anne Miller, in her article The Mystique Behind Black Cats,
One of the three prevalent superstitions alive in our culture today concerns the black cat. These superstitions are: the number 13 being unlucky, you don’t walk under an open ladder, and if a black cat crosses your path, it is considered bad luck.
But, there is no convincing some folks who really believe in such bad luck superstitions. I wonder if they ever have nightmares about, oh, let us say, 13 black cats all sitting under a ladder! Mercy!
Ms. Miller explains that in ancient Egypt, the black cat and good luck went together hand and paw. One very special black cat named BAST was so revered for her powers of riches and prosperity, she became the official deity. The history of the black cat and good luck is very positive in Sumatra, the Yorkshires, and much of Europe and England.
So what happened? The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock and changed history in more ways than one. Their fear of witches who often kept company with black cats just ruined the reputation created by so many wonderful black cats across the water.
Halloween will soon be here. Some revelers will take the opportunity to seek out and cause harm to cats – and these types really do not care what color. These trouble-makers are suspicious and afraid of cats. This is the night for you to stay home, wherever it is. Be safe. Be aware.
So what do you think of black cats?
Your friend,
Fisher
sxc.hu/gallery/dirtypaper
For those who are convinced that a black cat crossing their path is bad luck, I just want to say, some of my best friends are black cats. They are not all that different from me or my other friends, who are orange, gray, tiger striped, or a huge mix of other colors. According to Mary Anne Miller, in her article The Mystique behind Black Cats, “One of the three prevalent superstitions alive in our culture today concerns the black cat. These superstitions are: the number 13 being unlucky, you don’t walk under an open ladder, and if a black cat crosses your path, it is considered bad luck.”
But, there is no convincing some folks who really believe in such bad luck superstitions. I wonder if they ever have nightmares about, oh, let us say, 13 black cats all sitting under a ladder! Mercy.
Ms. Miller explains that in ancient Egypt, the black cat and good luck went together hand and paw. One very special black cat named BAST was so revered for her powers of riches and prosperity, she became the official deity. The history of the black cat and good luck is very positive in Sumatra, the Yorkshires, and much of Europe and England.
So what happened? The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock and changed history in more ways than one. Their fear of witches who often kept company with black cats just ruined the reputation created by so many wonderful black cats across the water.
Halloween will soon be here. Some revelers will take the opportunity to seek out and cause harm to cats – and these types really do not care what color. These trouble-makers are suspicious and afraid of cats. This is the night for you to stay home, wherever it is. Be safe. Be aware.
So what do you think of black cats?
- Fisher
