So we all know that black cats bring about luck, sometimes good or sometimes bad. But what do the different countries think about the cats?
- In old Egypt, a black cat signifies a great goddess and was then thought to bring good luck
- In Asian countries and the UK today, owning a black cat is lucky
- In Japan, if a woman owns a black cat, it is believed she will have many suitors
- In Scotland, if a black cat appears on the doorstep, it will bring prosperity
- A black cat in England is considered lucky unless you live in Yorkshire
- In 18th – 19th century Northern Europe, a fisherman’s wife would seek out a black cat to ensure that her husband returns safely
- In Yorkshire, it’s considered lucky to own a black cat, but still unlucky if one crosses your path
- In 16th century Italy, if a black cat lays on someone’s bed, then that person will die
- In North America, it’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path, but lucky if a white cat does the same
To find more about the good luck of cats, visit Care2: Healthy Living
To find more about the bad luck, visit BlackCat Folklore: Longtime Superstition
From top to bottom: Twitter from Humanitarians of Pet Education; Krittah from Cat’s Cradle; and Sheldon from Fancy Cats Rescue Team
Black Cat Superstition 