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| Max and Jinx - 1 yr. old brothers |
It’s black cat appreciation day! I absolutely love black cats…I have had many
in the past, and I have two right now. Most
people ask if this is due to my fascination with the paranormal, as most of my
novels involve spooky ghost mysteries.
And that’s probably part of it—but a few other things weigh in. For one thing, I think black cats are beautiful. But I also am a strong supporter of pet rescue and adoption, and black cats are over-represented at shelters, which
could be in part because many people are consciously or even subconsciously affected
by the superstition surrounding black cats.
So, today’s post is dedicated to how this idea that black cats are unlucky
came about.
The ancient Egyptians believed cats had magical
powers, and regarded them as sacred. In fact, they worshiped a
feline goddess known as Bastet. On the other hand, Druids feared
cats. All cats are nocturnal and appear dark as they creep through
the night, sure-footed and stealthy even with no light to see by. This
gave all cats a mystical aura, but the color black has often been associated
with sinister forces.
Black cats, along with bats and spiders, have long
been considered by some to be bad omens.
Some cultures believed witches could turn into cats in order to avoid
capture. Black cats were also thought to
be familiars—low ranking demons tasked with serving and protecting a witch.
Even with a limited understanding of diseases,
societies throughout history were also able to see the connection between cats
and outbreaks of plague. Cats control
rodent populations, and rats are carriers of many diseases deadly to
humans. This added to the idea that cats
had powers beyond human comprehension.
Thus, an association with witchcraft and the occult,
superstition, fear, and awe combined to make black cats a symbol of Halloween,
the night when the barrier between the paranormal and physical worlds grows
thin.
So, there you have it…a few reasons black cats are
considered unlucky by some. Personally,
I cross paths with my Max and Jinx dozens of times each day, and so far I’m no
worse for the wear. So celebrate your
beautiful black cats! And, if you enjoy
a little spooky suspense like me, try one of my books…there’s some steamy romance
in their as well, so something for everyone!
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