In which countries do black cats bring good luck?

For Slavs, a black cat is a symbol of misfortune, yet in some countries it brings good luck. Beliefs surrounding it are centuries old, and it has been scientifically proven that a black cat's dark coloring doesn't alter its character at all.

Slavic mythology

Beliefs associated with cats date back to pagan times. This animal was considered a creature that straddled the line between the real and the otherworldly. Witches who wanted to kidnap people would transform into cats. Even faith in God couldn't overcome this superstition. In Slavic mythology, this animal is unclean because a cat once ate the devil, who possessed it. These beliefs are passed down from generation to generation. Today, sleeping with an animal is commonplace, but once upon a time, this was considered... bad omenIf a cat sleeps in a person's bed, the person will have a runny nose the next morning. Stray cats were also disliked, as they were believed to bring illness to their new owners.

Beliefs associated with dark-furred animals take us back to the origins of magic: a completely black cat could be boiled into an invisible bone, which, when eaten, would make one invisible. A calico cat, however, commanded respect: such a cat would protect a house from fire. However, this animal wasn't the only negative influence. It was believed that if a cat arched its back toward a person, that person would be lucky. Anyone who killed a cat would suffer for seven years.

In which countries do cats bring good luck?

Egypt is considered the most cat-loving ancient civilization. They had a goddess of joy, merriment, and fertility, Bastet, who was depicted with the head of a cat, specifically a black one. A little later, Bastet was joined by Isis, the goddess of fertility, femininity, and marital fidelity. Sometimes even the sun god Ra was depicted as a cat, albeit a ginger one.

In Greece, black cats were believed to bring good luck, as they were associated with Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, who had keen eyes and the ability to disappear into the darkness. At the time, these animals were prized not for their beauty and soft fur, but for their ability to catch rats. Sailors also favored dark cats for this same quality. In the 18th and 19th centuries in England, sailors' wives gave their husbands coal-colored kittens, believing they would surely bring their husbands home. Sea pirates, however, had mixed feelings about the animal: if a black cat approached a person, it was best not to drive it away, as it brought good luck; if, on the contrary, it left, misfortune awaited.

A positive image of the animal is found in Celtic mythology. Although northern peoples had a strong belief in the fairy Cat Sith, who transformed into a black cat with a white spot on her chest and took the souls of the dead, having a dark-furred animal in the home was considered a good omen. This is due to the fearlessness of cats, which saved people from snakes. The Celts believed that if a black cat crossed the road or came into the house, then good luck will come with her.

There's an English proverb: "Get a black cat in the house and you'll never run out of lovers." In England, it's considered a sign of fate when a black cat is born among a litter of kittens. This may be connected to the story of King Charles I's furry talisman. As soon as his cat died, the ruler's luck deserted him. Among the Scots and Australians, black cats are a symbol of good luck and wealth.

The black cat is also respected in the Land of the Rising Sun. Due to its rare color, it, like tricolor, are revered most of all.

All this remains superstition, as scientific research increasingly confirms the uniqueness of animals with this color. It is known that members of the feline family can generate electromagnetic radiation, which has a positive effect on the human body. Moreover, black cats possess a stronger energy than cats with other colors.

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