Intro
Here we are! Another Halloween is in full swing. And instead of doing my usual theme of popular Halloween Headliners, I’ve decided to shine the spotlight on the black cat. Who, in all fairness, has become famously connected to this spooky (and most awesome) holiday. Black cats: some people fear them, some love them, and some don’t really like cats — any cats! The. Hell. You. Say. “I’m not really a cat person — sooooo.” Well, I’m not really a people person, Penelope, but here we are! No matter what side of the “good luck/bad luck” aisle you land on, I’m here to state my opinion on black cats LOUDLY and PROUDLY. Because I know how fortunate I was to love a black cat for the entire span of her life. (Insert two snaps and a head swivel here)
Let’s get started …
In This Post
- Song of the Day
- Something Wicked
- Dinner and a Movie
- Familiar Dedication
Song of the Day
Penelopes: “Why this song? It doesn’t give off a spooky Halloween vibe!”
Me: “Bruh — It’s Janet Jackson. (Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty!).”
Something Wicked: Black Cat Superstitions
The Feline Double Standard
Personally, I find it wild that one little ball of black fluff can become a vessel of such gloom and doom. But there it is. On the one hand, they’re the last ones to be adopted in shelters. On the other hand, many shelters will not allow black cats to be adopted during October. And then there’s me — on a waiting list at my local pet store for a little black kitty. Already deciding that if there were two kitties left, I would scoop them both up, not having the heart to leave one behind. But there was only one left; he was homely and had a squeak for a meow. His name was Azrael, and he grew to be a miniature panther. But I digress — black cats have been associated with both good and bad fortune for centuries. Their reputations depend largely on geography, folklore, and cultural traditions. Apparently, whether a black cat brings good luck or bad luck depends on whom you ask. For a creature that spends most of its time sleeping, eating, and plotting the occasional act of household destruction, the black cat has managed to acquire quite the supernatural résumé.
Bad Luck: The Usual Suspects
Here are three of the darker superstitions that have unfairly followed black cats through history.
- Black cats crossing your path: The familiar belief that a black cat crossing in front of you brings misfortune, some form of evil, or a curse. This traditional belief was mostly in North America and Eastern Europe; this fear is notoriously connected to witchcraft and the devil. Speaking from personal experience, I’ve had a black cat crossing my path for the better part of my adult life, and the only misfortune it brought was the occasional puke puddle.
- Witches could disguise themselves as cats: It was widely feared that witches could physically transform into black cats to spy on people, move unseen in the dark, or carry out curses without being recognized. Honestly, if I could shapeshift into a black cat, I would find the perfect sunbeam and snuggle down for a lonnnnng cat nap.
- Omens of death: Some folklore connects black cats appearing near a home or sick person with impending death. In 16th-century Italy, people believed that a black cat near the home or lying on the bed of a sick person was a sign of their forthcoming death. The supernatural cat was called Pandeeka, who, once again, was a witch or devil in disguise. It was believed that the cat would sit on the sick person’s chest, trying to crush the breath from their bodies and steal their souls. I believe that these misunderstood kitties were trying to soothe or heal the ill. Why? Because my black kitty Wednesday was an empath, and if I was sick or feeling really low, there she was.
Pretty impressive, right? An animal simply walking across a road somehow became responsible for whatever disaster happened afterward.
Good Luck: A Change of Fortune
Apparently, the same cat that ruins your luck by crossing the road can improve your fortunes by showing up at your doorstep. Location, location, location!
- Scottish folklore: A strange black cat appearing at your doorstep has been regarded as a sign of prosperity. In Scottish culture, the entryway is a spiritually significant threshold. So, if a black cat (also connected to the fae world) willingly crossed your threshold or chose to lounge on your porch, it was a sign that your house was welcoming and safe. I know that whatever house I called home always felt better with a black ball of fluff by my side.
- Japanese traditions: It is believed that encountering a black cat is traditionally considered good luck and a sign of future happiness, such as finding romantic suitors and financial prosperity. Traditionally viewed as “fuku neko” (fortune cats) that ward off evil spirits. You may be familiar with the gold or white beckoning cat that is a Japanese symbol that draws money to a person, but what about the black version? The black maneki-neko specifically wards off evil spirits, misfortune, and illnesses. Black cats as protectors. Yes, yes, they are.
- Ancient Egypt: Black cats were revered as sacred and associated with Bastet, the cat-headed goddess of home, protection, and fertility. Rather than worshiping them as gods, they viewed them as earthly extensions. Deeply respecting the dual nature of cats — playful one minute and predators the next — this balance mirrored the way Egyptians viewed the universe. There is now a small black cat statue sitting at the top of my apothecary cabinet; a small attempt to fill the loss and imbalance that is now a part of my universe.
So, are black cats good luck or bad luck? Apparently, that depends on which century you’re living in, which country you’re visiting, and whether the cat crosses your path or decides to move in. Personally, I think we’ve been asking the wrong question: How do you choose just one?
“Something Familiar” by Peter de Sève
A Different Kind of Luck
Her name was Wednesday. Almost ten years ago, she came into my life: a tiny little ball of black fur with big, crazy eyes. And as the years passed, she grew into a hulking black kitty still with big, crazy eyes. For she was no ordinary domesticated black house cat. No, she was a Bombay.
Bombays have short, sleek, jet-black coats (including whiskers, nose, and pads); a solid, muscular build; a deceptively heavy body (yep); and large deep-gold-to-copper eyes. Wednesday’s were deep gold with a green slivered ring around her pupils, so a purebred she was not. Bombays are also highly affectionate, social, and intelligent; they crave human companionship and love to cuddle. Wednesday also loved her solitude, her alone time.
And even though she was my kitty, I was not her person. Well, not her only person anyway. Wednesday’s other person was my granddaughter, Ayanna. She was Wednesday’s choice for snuggling and playing, head bumps, and nose kisses. And I was more than happy to share the love.
Anywho, as I sit here writing about my tiny black kitty named Wednesday, I struggle with what to share. There are so many wonderful moments and memories. So, here’s a top ten list of things I’d like to share.
- When she was feeling lazy, she would lie beside her food dish and flick the kibble out to the floor, and then eat.
- She hated car rides. Once, when she was one, my daughter let her out of her carrier, and Wednesday crawled up to stand on my forearm, looking out the window while I drove.
- She loved playing with the little black plastic Halloween spiders. Occasionally, I would see one abandoned on the floor, and it would scare the shit out of me. I hate spiders, dude.
- She was a huntress, and it didn’t matter if it was a mouse or a fly; the level of commitment was intense.
- She was an empath. Whenever I or someone else she cared about was hurting (physically or mentally), she would sit beside us and touch us with her little paw. Just silently lending us her energy, purring in that healing frequency.
- Her favorite spot to lounge was on the couch, above my head. And then later, in our new home, on her little bed in the laundry room.
- She loved to disappear down into the dark basement and explore every chance she got. And she knew exactly who to go to when she wanted to explore. She would look at Mike with her big eyes and give him her sweetest, tiniest meows, and sure enough, he would open the door to the basement every time.
- She loved soft food Sundays.
- She tolerated her siblings: first, Morticia and then Sugar and Cyanide.
- She was the best little black kitty a girl could ever love, and I miss her terribly.
Dinner & A Movie
Dinner: an oldie but a goodie
Tonight’s dinner menu selections are tried-and-true recipes that I have been making for years. Halloween-themed comfort food, if you will.
- Devil burgers
- Nose of a witch
- Mud sodas
- Ghost sugar cookies
The recipes can be found in a post from the 13 Days of Halloween Crypt: The Sanderson Sisters.
Movie: an absolute classic
Tonight’s featured movie is an absolute classic and stars a pretty awesome black cat named Binx.
Not a scene that includes Binx, but one of my favorite scenes from the movie. So good!
Bonus Song
Wednesday was taken from us on a cold, February morning after a sudden and quickly progressing illness. The day we brought her in to be put to sleep, I was told this song was playing in the vet clinic as we brought her back to the private room. It has now become her song.
For centuries, black cats have been accused of bringing bad luck. But sometimes, the only bad luck is having to say goodbye to one.
And so, bats and ghouls, this concludes my one and only post this season. Honestly, I wasn’t planning on publishing anything new this year (the blog is in cocoon mode), but it was important to me that I honor my black cat, Wednesday, and share in some bad luck and other nonsense. But rest assured, I will return next year.
Until then …
Happy Haunting
