Introduction to Black Cats
It’s the darkest time of the year. You go for a walk, the sun has already set. Suddenly a black cat scurries across your path from the shadows. If you’re superstitious, you might back away uncomfortably – after all, black cats are seen by many as a sign of impending bad luck, especially if the cat switches from left to right.
With their piercing eyes, dark, glossy fur, and graceful, stealthy movements, black cats have something mysterious about them. In many cultures they are a symbol of the supernatural.
From Witch Companion to Halloween Staple
Their dark reputation dates back to the Middle Ages, when they were used as scapegoats and were themselves victims of the fear of evil. During the witch hunts, people believed that black cats were actually witches who had transformed and secretly slipped through the night to spread bad luck. They were considered creatures of the devil and were often burned along with the supposed witches. Many old paintings and drawings show witches with black cats at their sides.
By the 18th century, thirteen black cats were burned alive in bonfires in parts of France to mark the summer solstice. In Ypres, Belgium, they were thrown from the church tower. The first European emigrants took their superstitions with them. In the 19th century, Halloween became a popular festival in the United States and the black cat established itself as an important part of this tradition.
The Black Cat as a Lucky Charm
However, not everyone sees the black cat as bad luck. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it is said to bring good luck if a black cat crosses your path or enters your home. In Scotland, a black cat on your doorstep is a sign of coming prosperity. In Japan, black cats are not only said to symbolize good luck and wealth, but also protect against poor health.
Black cats were also popular on board ships. They were considered good omens as they kept storms away and ensured safe return – not to mention they kept ships free of mice and rats. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Bastet was worshiped as the protector of pregnant women, mothers and children. She was also a promoter of joy, music and dance. Early depictions show her as a woman with a cat’s head; later she was often depicted exclusively as a cat. Of course she was always black.
What Actually Makes Black Cats Black?
According to one legend, God created the black cat before creating the raven so that it would receive the purest amount of black. These dark cloaks are of course not the product of divine intervention or magic, but of genetic nature. The so-called “B” gene triggers the production of the pigment eumelanin in cats, which gives their fur, often including their nose and paws, their dark color. Most black cats are male. This is because the B gene is on the X chromosome: men only have one X chromosome while women have two, meaning both chromosomes would have to carry the B gene for it to be black.
Between Poe and Pop Culture
Black cats have a long tradition in art and culture. In 1843, Edgar Allan Poe dedicated a chilling short story to them, “The Black Cat,” a tale of murder and madness. The black cat later became a pop culture symbol of coolness, independence and rebellion. In the US television series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a sarcastic, witty cat named Salem became a cult favorite. In the anime series Sailor Moon, Luna, the talking black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead, acts as a mentor and protector to the heroes and symbolizes female intuition and wisdom.
In director Tim Burton’s films such as "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride", black cats are part of his distinctive imagery that is as aesthetic as it is melancholic. After the success of the superhero film “Black Panther”, many people adopted black cats and named them after characters from the film, such as T’Challa or Shuri. In rock and gothic culture, the black cat represents individuality, mystical attraction, elegance, restraint and pride. As Halloween approaches, remembering all the meanings black cats can have and all the qualities they can embody will help us see them not just as symbols of terror, but for what they truly are: elegant, mysterious, independent – and perhaps a little magical.
