Superstition, Folklore and Cats

Cats have long been eyed with suspicion. Perhaps it is their aloof manner of behaving around humans, as if they don't really need us. Or maybe the way they glare at us with calculating, yellow eyes. At any rate, this creature has been given more supposed powers over the years than nearly any other animal!

Here are just a few of the things people have believed about felines:

- Sneezes are very important. One sneeze from a cat means rain is coming, while three in a row means the whole family will be sick with a cold! Also, if you hear the cat sneeze, it means very good luck to you and foretells future wealth.

- Many believe that cats are a link to the supernatural world. It is believed that they can see human auras, ghosts, and Death.

- Cats are supposedly very good weathermen. If they sit with their backs to the fire, it means there will be a cold front. Rain is predicted by a variety of actions including washing behind the ears, repeatedly looking out the window, and the widening of the pupils. When your cat sleeps with all four paws neatly under her, that means bad weather is coming. A very active cat is a prediction of high winds while licking its fur backwards means hail is on the way.

- They can bring luck, both good and bad. A tortoise shell cat who is a stray is a bad omen, as is a black cat who is either seen from behind or who crosses your path. However, if you find a white hair on a cat that is all black, that is good luck. Also, black cats on the porch or sneezing on your wedding day are very good omens. While black cats are usually a sign of bad luck, it only if you find one accidentally, owns one is a good idea since it protects you and everyone in the house with its magic.

- Killing a cat is very bad; it means the animal will haunt you for the rest of your life. Also, by killing a cat, you give your soul to the Devil, and supposedly will die in the same manner as the animal. For example, if you drown a cat, you will drown and if you burn it, you will surely die in a fire!

- Cats were considered to be very useful for curing illness. A black cat broth is supposed to cure TB, but no one wants the bad luck from killing a cat! Also, the blood from cats is supposed to help cure various diseases, depending on what body part it is taken from. Rubbing a black cat's tail against an eye with a sty will cure it and if a cat leaves a house and doesn't return, that means that people will always be sick there.

People have a myriad of beliefs about cats and that will probably never go away as long as the animals exist. Their strange behavior, seemingly incredible survival abilities and odd eyes mean that superstitions and stories will be made up about them for as long as they are around!