Often depicted as symbols of power, prosperity, and even divinity, black cats feature prominently in folklore and mythology. There’s Bastet, the cat-headed warrior goddess of ancient Egypt; Cat Sìth, the black fairy cat said to stalk the Scottish Highlands; and Bakeneko, the supernatural shape-shifting cat of Japanese lore.
But not all legends render black cats in a positive light. Associations with dark magic starting in the 13th century bred superstition surrounding black cats. Some of these superstitions persist today, including myths that black cats are bad luck and omens of death or disaster.
In this article, we’ll investigate some long-held myths about black cats to determine where they originated. Then we’ll discuss the impact this long history of superstition may have had on black cats, touching on modern myths like “black cat syndrome.”
Myth 1: Black Cats Are Bad Luck
Perhaps the most popular myth surrounding black cats is that they’re bad luck. You know how it goes: if a black cat crosses your path, bad things will come your way.
The idea that black cats are bad luck may have resulted from claims made by the early Christian church linking black cats to the occult. Well before the witch hunts of the 16th–18th centuries, Pope Gregory IX declared black cats an incarnation of Satan in an official church document called “Vox in Rama.”
Issued in 1233, this document played a key role in reshaping the view of black cats among European society. As fear of the occult spread across Europe, perceptions of black cats shifted dramatically from a pagan symbol of prosperity to a demonic being with evil intent.
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Myth 2: Black Cats Are Good Luck
Not all cultures think black cats are a sign of bad luck. In many cultures, owning or even spotting a black cat is considered lucky. The origins of this myth are hard to track. They may go all the way back to ancient Egypt, where black cats were held in high regard.
Other folklore presents black cats as neither good nor bad. Rather, they’re depicted as mysterious, even supernatural beings—aloof but not necessarily ill-intentioned. Some legends liken black cats to mischievous spirits, bringers of wealth and good fortune only to those who feed them and treat them with respect.
Myth 3: Black Cats Are Witches—or Witches’ Familiars
The link between black cats and witches is rooted in a mixture of folklore, pagan religion, and superstition. Many of the early pagan practitioners labeled “witches” held a deep respect for the natural world and great affection for animals, including cats. Folklore often paired these practitioners with familiars—animal companions who aided them in magic—or suggested they could turn into animals themselves.
According to Cerridwen Fallingstar, a Wiccan priestess and author, the link between witches and black cats in particular is likely imaginary. She says it’s possible, however, that witches (being ever-practical) valued black cats as mousers because their dark coats gave them a nocturnal hunting advantage.
Myth 4: Medieval People Thought Black Cats Caused the Plague
Also known as the Black Death, the bubonic plague killed an estimated 20 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1351. We now understand that the bacteria responsible spread through the air and through the bite of infected fleas and rats. At the time, however, understanding of germ theory was limited.
You might have heard that plague sufferers thought evil black cats were to blame for their illness, and that black cats were killed en masse as a result. It makes for an ironic story, since killing black cats would only have caused the rodent population to swell and the plague to spread. But most historians think that’s all it is—a story.
There’s not much historical evidence to suggest that contemporary people thought black cats caused the plague, or that they killed them in large numbers. Plus, witch paranoia didn’t really get going until later, in the 15th century.
Myth 5: Black Cats Are Omens of Death
There’s no shortage of superstitions about black cats foretelling death. You might have heard, for example, that if a black cat shows up during a funeral procession, someone else is going to die soon. Or that a black cat lying on someone’s sickbed means they won’t live long.
The myth that black cats are omens of death persists primarily in the United States, parts of Europe, and Latin America. It may stem from their historical connection to witches intent on doing harm—but it’s also part of a larger pattern. Many cultures have folklore linking animals with black fur or feathers (like black dogs or ravens) to loss and death.
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Black Cats Around the World
As you might have guessed from the wide variety of myths surrounding them, black cats have meant and continue to mean different things to different cultures. Here are some of the highlights.
Ancient Egypt
Cats feature heavily in Ancient Egyptian mythology, particularly the goddess Bastet. In early manifestations, Bastet was depicted as a lioness. She was a fierce warrior goddess who protected the pharaoh and Ra, the sun god himself.
As Bastet’s image shifted over time, she became a nurturing figure with the body of a woman and the head of a black cat. Throughout Egyptian history, black cats were considered divine descendants of Bastet and are often viewed as symbols of prosperity today.
Japan
Cats from Japanese folklore often take on mystical or even supernatural qualities. In modern Japanese culture, black cats are frequently seen as symbols of love, prosperity, and good luck.
For example, the image of the beckoning cat, the maneki-neko, symbolizes good fortune. Figurines of the maneki-neko appear in many colors, but black particularly is associated with warding off illness and bad energy.
United Kingdom
Associations with black cats in the United Kingdom have been mixed throughout history. British and Irish sailors once considered black cats lucky. Families of sailors would keep a black cat at home to ensure the ship returned safely. Celtic traditions in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales often depicted cats as magical.
Sentiment shifted during the Middle Ages, however, when black cats became linked to witchcraft. Even so, Scottish folklore still holds that a black cat appearing on your doorstep is a sign of prosperity to come.
Latin America
Many indigenous Latin American cultures revered the jaguar as a symbol of strength and power. Some ascribed supernatural abilities to these big cats or considered them guardians of the underworld.
Domesticated cats were rare, however, until the Spanish colonized the Americas, bringing European witchcraft associations along with them. Over time, black cats became linked to brujería, occult practices, and negative spiritual energy.
China
Originally valued for their ability to control pests in ancient China, cats gained cultural significance over time. Their symbolism varies depending on the tradition.
In some traditional Chinese beliefs, black cats have the ability to see spirits and can protect a home from evil influences. Practitioners of Feng Shui—the ancient Chinese art of arranging environments to promote the positive flow of energy—may even use a black cat figurine to attract good health and fortune.
Some ancient folklore considered black cats portents of poverty, but it’s not a widely held modern view.
Germany
When a black cat crosses your path in Germany, the direction it’s moving tells you whether it indicates good or bad luck. A black cat crossing your path from right to left symbolizes good luck, while crossing left to right indicates bad luck.
The origins of this mixed symbolism may have to do with Germanic folklore absorbing both pagan and Christian influences over time.
Are Black Cats Really Adopted Less?
A modern-day myth about black cat breeds suggests they’re adopted at lower rates than their light-colored counterparts. It’s a phenomenon known as “black cat syndrome,” and some experts say superstition and negative stereotypes about black cats are to blame for it. While research does support the claim that black cats take longer to adopt, regardless of their age or sex, superstition may not be the sole reason.
According to Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, “Black cats can be harder to photograph, especially in animal shelters where the lighting may be dim. [And] there may be more black cats in shelters, so there just may be more of them.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced countless shelters to close, virtual pet profiles became a crucial part of the adoption process. Difficulties capturing a black cat’s unique appearance and personality in digital form may shed new light on factors contributing to lower adoption rates.
