Pied Piper

Even in ancient times, cats with a black coat color were brought to Phoenicia. They were perfect for the role of rat-catchers. Thanks to the black fur coat, the hunters were almost invisible in the darkness of the temple cellars, where they were diligently exterminating small rodents. However, the prosperous life of animals lasted only until the Middle Ages.

The beginning of superstition

With the advent of the XIII century. The Christian Church began to gain strength. The persecution of heretics, the Inquisition, burning at the stake - rivers of blood flowed in Europe. It was then that superstitions about black cats appeared. They somehow did not please Pope Innocent IV, and in 1250 he issued a bull in which he accused the unfortunate animals of complicity with Satan.

According to the priests of the Vatican, sorcerers could take on the form of black cats in order to get into people's houses and exterminate them under the cover of darkness.

Burning at the stake

At that time, any actions of the Christian church were beyond doubt - and the "spawn of Satan" began to be actively destroyed.

They were tortured in the hope that the witches would not endure the torment and take on their true form. Naturally, the torture did not give the desired results, and the priests decided to cleanse the world of filth by burning cats at the stake. This led to the fact that there were almost no black cats left in Europe.

The presence of light spots in the color could save the cat from death. Sometimes one white hair was enough for the tormentors to release the victim to freedom.

Plague

With the gradual disappearance of black cats, church ministers began to exterminate animals of other colors. This led to the almost complete extinction of the species in Europe. And then came the punishment for all the suffering that people caused to animals. Flocks of rats began to raid grain storage facilities and destroy stocks with might and main. In the middle of the XIV century. people died of exhaustion in agony. Very often no one buried the corpses - and the rats feasted. They brought the plague.

«Healing» drugs

It would seem that in the Renaissance, nothing should have threatened cats. But no, new misfortunes awaited the animals. In the middle of the XVII century. one English scientist suggested using a decoction from the head of a black cat to treat blindness. As a result, all healers began to create all kinds of drugs using the blood, fat and even urine of animals gifted by nature with the ill-fated dark color.

Signs

And now there are many prejudices associated with black animals.

According to Americans, a meeting with a black cat promises trouble.

In Japan and England, people tend to see it as a harbinger of good luck. For example, one English belief claims that a black cat sneezing next to the newlyweds will bring them happiness.

In China, a black pet symbolizes hunger and poverty.

Italians are wary of letting a black cat on the bed of sick people. There is a sign that this promises death. Together with the patient, the harbinger cat will also go to another world.

In Russia, all beliefs have a negative connotation. As in Italy, a black cat at the bedside of a sick person is considered an omen of imminent death. To see such a creature in a dream on the night before Christmas is a disease. An unfamiliar black cat that appears in the house is considered a harbinger of disaster.

Unlike other countries in Scotland, they are happy to see the appearance of a black cat on the doorstep of the house - this brings prosperity and prosperity to the owners.

Someone, seeing a black cat crossing the road, crosses to the other side of the street, others kick the animal or throw a stone at it. Such cruelty has led to the fact that in Italy November 17 is called the Day for the Protection of Black Cats.