GOOD LUCK KITTY
As anybody who’s ever belonged to one can tell you, black cats are nothing but good luck.
But don’t take my word. I’m a little biased, since I’ve loved and lost both a solid black and a tuxie over the years. Start with the Ancient Egyptians. Cats in general were worshiped as a manifestation of the goddess Bastet, but no kitty was more sacred than a black one. They were celebrated in art and kept as revered pets in temples and homes alike. At one point, killing a black cat was punishable by death. (Which my feline friends would probably still support!)
The Egyptian love for black kitties spread across the ancient world and became part of maritime lore. For centuries, British and Irish sailors didn’t want to head out to sea without one. Any cat, of course, would do to keep down the mouse population, but a black kitty brought good luck too. And sailors, at the mercy of the wind, the tides, and any number of other unpredictable things, would never turn to superstition for a little peace of mind, would they?
Speaking of the Irish, they’re the ones who brought black cats to the Halloween party, with an ancient tradition of leaving milk out for The Cat Sith at the harvest festival Samhain to bless your home. The Cat Sith was described as a great big black kitty with a white spot on its chest. Reminds me of my first black cat, who was a blessing for sure.
Then things got weird – and bad.
First, the medieval Black Death plague led people to associate the cats who ate the rats with evil, instead of the rats who actually carried the plague. And then, in the Renaissance, a lot of folks flat-out lost their minds in the witchcraft scares. Black cats, who’d already taken a beating from the plague, were now associated with witches. No need to go into all the wrongheaded nonsense that led to witch scares here. It's enough to know that black cats’ reputation was collateral damage.
Five hundred years later, they’re still working their way back. Even now, reliable reports suggest black cats are harder to adopt, spend longer in shelters, and have a higher euthanasia rate.
Despite all this, one particular class of black cat has always been considered special: the tuxedo cat. Tuxies are definitely unique: a genetic quirk endows them with anything from a few white spots to full boots and tummy. They’re celebrated in literature and art and pop culture, from Felix to The Cat in the Hat. The full-dress look often leads people to think they’re the smartest of cats. Sometimes the luckiest, too: the Japanese “manaki-neko” good luck figurine – the one with the waving paw – is often shown as a tuxie.
I can’t speak to all tuxies, but I’m going to end this piece with a personal tribute to one. Merritt was my son’s Cat Mom, my beloved writing buddy, and most importantly, my husband’s source of unending love and support during his cancer battle. She brought love and joy and warmth to our lives at a very tough time, and we miss her every day.
So if you have a problem with black cats, you have a problem with me.
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments.
But don’t take my word. I’m a little biased, since I’ve loved and lost both a solid black and a tuxie over the years. Start with the Ancient Egyptians. Cats in general were worshiped as a manifestation of the goddess Bastet, but no kitty was more sacred than a black one. They were celebrated in art and kept as revered pets in temples and homes alike. At one point, killing a black cat was punishable by death. (Which my feline friends would probably still support!)
The Egyptian love for black kitties spread across the ancient world and became part of maritime lore. For centuries, British and Irish sailors didn’t want to head out to sea without one. Any cat, of course, would do to keep down the mouse population, but a black kitty brought good luck too. And sailors, at the mercy of the wind, the tides, and any number of other unpredictable things, would never turn to superstition for a little peace of mind, would they?
Speaking of the Irish, they’re the ones who brought black cats to the Halloween party, with an ancient tradition of leaving milk out for The Cat Sith at the harvest festival Samhain to bless your home. The Cat Sith was described as a great big black kitty with a white spot on its chest. Reminds me of my first black cat, who was a blessing for sure.
Then things got weird – and bad.
First, the medieval Black Death plague led people to associate the cats who ate the rats with evil, instead of the rats who actually carried the plague. And then, in the Renaissance, a lot of folks flat-out lost their minds in the witchcraft scares. Black cats, who’d already taken a beating from the plague, were now associated with witches. No need to go into all the wrongheaded nonsense that led to witch scares here. It's enough to know that black cats’ reputation was collateral damage.
Five hundred years later, they’re still working their way back. Even now, reliable reports suggest black cats are harder to adopt, spend longer in shelters, and have a higher euthanasia rate.
Despite all this, one particular class of black cat has always been considered special: the tuxedo cat. Tuxies are definitely unique: a genetic quirk endows them with anything from a few white spots to full boots and tummy. They’re celebrated in literature and art and pop culture, from Felix to The Cat in the Hat. The full-dress look often leads people to think they’re the smartest of cats. Sometimes the luckiest, too: the Japanese “manaki-neko” good luck figurine – the one with the waving paw – is often shown as a tuxie.
I can’t speak to all tuxies, but I’m going to end this piece with a personal tribute to one. Merritt was my son’s Cat Mom, my beloved writing buddy, and most importantly, my husband’s source of unending love and support during his cancer battle. She brought love and joy and warmth to our lives at a very tough time, and we miss her every day.
So if you have a problem with black cats, you have a problem with me.
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments.
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