Cats Facts:  History of Cats-2

As we know, cats were worshipped in Egypt.  Their mousing ability and natural beauty were appreciated by other ancient peoples, including the Romans, Greeks, Indians, Babylonians, Chinese, and Japanese.

Coming back to Europe, in the Middle Ages cats had a very hard time of it in most of Europe — the Catholic Church sanctioned the Inquisition to kill cats and cat owners, since they were believed to be associated with the devil, pagan worship, and to be witches’ familiars.  Apparently, these superstitions were associated with the cats’ nocturnal activity (in the dark of night!), ability to see in the dark, and glowing eyes.  Cats were burned alive, thrown off high buildings as a way to “rid the building of evil spirits,” or even buried alive in walls of houses, which I guess was supposed to bring good luck — although I don’t understand that. 

Away from the Inquisition, cats fared better.  The Vikings loved them and carried them on their boats.  In Wales, in the 900′s, King Hywel Dda (the good) passed a law, like the ancient Egyptian one, that is was illegal to harm or kill a cat. 

Back in Europe, the superstitions about cats ran rampant, including the old one that cats were dangerous to babies — that they would kill a baby by climbing on its chest while it slept, putting its nose in the baby’s mouth, and sucking out the baby’s breath.  The old superstition about black cats being evil, and having it be bad luck to have one cross your path, even survives to this day.  Cat shelters report that black cats are harder to place for adoption than other cats. 

Although black cats were considered unlucky in Europe, and even in America, they are considered to be lucky cats in Britain.  It was believed that, to keep her husband safe on the sea, a sailor’s wife should own a black cat.  It was white cats — the color of ghosts — that were considered unlucky. 

Also, in Russia, cats were considered to be lucky.  It was believed that it would be lucky for a family to have a cat move into a new house before the people did, although really it might just have been a good way to start out mouse-free!

 

In the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersberg, Russia, which was the old Imperial Palace, there have been cats living there since the Empress Elizabeth received them as gifts in the 1700′s.  They are still, to this day, considered part of the staff.  Generations of cats have lived their whole lives in the museum, helping to protect its priceless collection from mice. 

In the East, cats were kept in the temples to keep mice from eating the sacred scrolls — and really what monk wouldn’t like a kitty?  Don’t we all?