Cat Superstitions

by K.A. Fairless in Folklore, November 12, 2007

Everyone knows black cats are meant to be lucky – unless one crosses your path. But what does it mean when your cat sneezes? What color kitty do Japanese sailors prefer? A round up of of some kitty superstitions from around the world.

Cats have warmed themselves at the hearth in human homes for five millennia and remain an integral part of modern living. However, they have been regarded with a mixture of mistrust and affection through the ages, with many conflicting superstitions surrounding them. Are black cats lucky or unlucky? Do they have nine separate lives or just a single charmed one?

Many different cultures hold that it is bad luck to mistreat a cat, perhaps a relic from the days when cats were worshiped? If you kick a cat, you’ll suffer from rheumatism in that leg, if you drown one, the same fate lies in wait for you. It’s best to stay on the right side of these independent, enigmatic creatures. Here are a few suggestions how:

Potential Cat-Astrophes

Cats have an uncanny ability to predict a death in the household (remember
Oscar, the nursing home cat?), but did you know that it is considered very unlucky to let the cat itself die inside the house? Sick cats were placed in an outhouse till they got better or died.
Cats and corpses don’t mix. If a cat jumps over a dead body, the soul of the deceased becomes trapped, and turns into a vampire (Europe) or a zombie (parts of Asia).
Kitten season is in full swing from March onwards, but those born in May are supposedly ill-fated – sickly, badly behaved, and liable to bring snakes into the house

Feline Barometers

If a cat washes behind her ears, or sneezes, it means it will rain, or at least the weather will change. If a cat starts chasing its tail or scratching at furniture, storms are on the horizon. Licking her hair against the grain portends a hailstorm.
There are several ways to use cat power to create your own weather. Malays and Indonesians wash cats to bring rain. Cats on board sailing ships were trapped under a barrel when a strong wind was required.
Legend tells of John Fian, the Scottish witch, who was accused of hurling a cat (attached to a chopped up human body in one version) into the sea in order to create a massive storm which endangered the life of King James. Fian was burned at the stake in 1591.

Co-Habiting With Cats

Any spinster looking for a husband should keep a black cat to ensure plenty of suitors knock at her door. However, if she wants to get married in the next year, she should avoid stepping on a cat’s tail; an old Welsh and French superstition suggests that puts her out of the game for a full twelve months.
Dreaming of your kitty is not a good sign as it presages arguments and betrayals amongst friends
The Dutch believed that cats should be kept out of the room when confidential family discussions took place. This prevented them spreading secrets around town.
Finding a white hair on a black cat ensures your wealth and happiness

Cats With Careers

Japanese and European sailors thought a ship-board cat brought good luck. The Japanese favored tri-colored cats (meant to protect against fire and fever), whilst the Europeans, especially the English, preferred black.
Many theatres also kept a cat for luck, as well as dealing with vermin. Kitty’s presence in the auditorium on opening night guaranteed a good run (especially if she was black), but it was thought to be unlucky if she crossed the stage.
Porcelain figures of the Japanese Maneki Neko (the Beckoning Cat) are a familiar sight in Asian stores and restaurants, with their distinctive red ears and raised paw. If the left paw is held high, she is summoning customers, whereas her right draws in money.