The Black CAT

The black cat is considered a very symbolic animal with very ambiguous interpretations. 1 While in civilizations such as Ancient Egypt they were considered sacred animals as they were related to the cult of the goddess Bastet , 2 in Hebrew and Babylonian tradition, cats are compared to snakes , coiled in a home. It is said that they were seen by the Church as being associated with witches. 3

It is associated with the Greek goddess Hecate and with the Norse goddess Freya , both related to witchcraft , so that in the Middle Ages the black cat would already be considered a symbol of the Devil. 4

Historically, black cats were symbolically associated with witchcraft and evil. Black cats (and sometimes other black or even white animals) were feared to be the familiars of witches. In the seventeenth century , the cat began to be associated with witchcraft in many areas of the world. The black cat was generally seen as good luck; however, in the US and parts of Europe, which held witch hunts, the association with witches caused them to be regarded as bringing bad luck.