1. Cats as Witches’ Familiars
For centuries in Europe, cats, especially black ones, were thought to be the loyal companions of witches. People believed they weren’t just pets, but supernatural “familiars” that helped witches cast spells and carry out dark deeds. Their silent movements and piercing eyes only added to the suspicion that they were more than ordinary animals. Villagers often claimed that witches could even see through a cat’s eyes to spy on their enemies.
This belief was so strong that cats were frequently persecuted during witch hunts. Many were burned or drowned alongside accused witches in the Middle Ages. Ironically, the decline in cat populations is said to have worsened rat infestations and possibly even contributed to the spread of the plague. What was really just a case of superstition gone wild ended up having deadly consequences for both humans and felines alike.
2. Cats and Nine Lives
One of the oldest and creepiest cat myths is that they have nine lives. This idea likely came from their uncanny ability to survive falls, accidents, and close calls that would kill other animals. Seeing a cat leap from a rooftop and land gracefully on its feet seemed nothing short of magical to people centuries ago. That resilience turned into a legend about multiple lives.
But in some cultures, the number isn’t always nine. For example, in Spain it’s seven, and in parts of the Middle East, it’s six. The variation shows how widespread the fascination with cats’ survival skills really was. Still, the idea of multiple lives gave cats an almost supernatural aura, suggesting they walked between worlds in ways humans couldn’t fully understand.
3. Cats Stealing Babies’ Breath
In 18th-century England and beyond, there was a chilling belief that cats could smother infants by stealing their breath while they slept. The superstition often warned mothers never to let a cat into the nursery. People claimed cats were drawn to the milk smell on a baby’s lips and would climb into the crib at night.
Of course, there’s no truth to this idea, but it fueled a great deal of fear. Any tragedy in the home involving an infant might unfairly be blamed on the family cat. Sadly, it led to many cats being banished or killed out of misplaced terror. It’s a haunting example of how folklore can turn an innocent pet into a scapegoat.
4. Cats as Harbingers of Death
In some cultures, a cat entering a sick person’s room was thought to predict death. The animal’s presence near the dying was seen as eerie confirmation that the end was near. Cats, with their quiet way of slipping into rooms and curling up near people, often made it easy for such beliefs to take hold.
Hospitals and homes even developed traditions of keeping cats away from patients because of this myth. Yet, in reality, cats may have simply been drawn to the warmth of a bed or the stillness of someone resting. What looked like supernatural foresight was probably just feline comfort-seeking behavior. Still, the myth persisted for centuries, casting cats as grim messengers from the other side.
5. Cats and Shape-Shifting Spirits
In Japanese folklore, cats were sometimes believed to transform into supernatural creatures called bakeneko. These shape-shifting beings could take human form, talk, and even curse families. Legends claimed that when a cat lived long enough, it gained magical powers, including the ability to grow taller and walk on two legs.
Stories about bakeneko were often told to explain strange happenings in the home. If dishes broke or food went missing, people might suspect their cat had changed shape and caused trouble. This eerie idea made cats both fascinating and feared in Japanese culture. Even today, bakeneko legends remain popular in Japanese ghost stories and art.
6. Cats and the Afterlife
In ancient Egypt, cats were associated with the goddess Bastet, who was connected to both protection and the afterlife. Killing a cat, even accidentally, was considered a crime punishable by death. Egyptians believed cats could carry messages between the living and the dead, making them deeply mystical figures in daily life.
Some households even mummified their cats to ensure they joined them in the afterlife. These beliefs gave cats an almost divine status, but also tied them to the mysteries of death. The combination of reverence and fear kept the myth alive for centuries, long after Egyptian civilization faded.
7. Cats Crossing Your Path as Bad Luck
The idea that a cat crossing your path could bring misfortune has roots in Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages. People thought it meant the cat was blocking your good fortune or leading you toward danger. Since cats were already linked to witches, their unexpected appearance was seen as a sinister omen.
Even today, many people hesitate when a black cat crosses their way, especially at night. While some cultures eventually flipped the belief and considered black cats lucky, the shadow of bad luck still lingers in others. The persistence of this myth shows how deeply ingrained cat superstitions have become across generations.
8. Cats Guarding Hidden Treasures
In old European and Middle Eastern folklore, cats were sometimes believed to guard buried treasure. Stories circulated about cats who would appear at night near hidden riches, warning or even attacking anyone who tried to steal them. People thought these cats had been enchanted to serve as guardians.
Because cats often lingered around barns, cellars, or caves, their presence seemed mysterious to people already prone to superstition. Treasure hunters would sometimes interpret a cat’s sudden appearance as proof that gold or jewels were nearby. While it sounds fanciful today, the myth gave cats a reputation as keepers of secrets and protectors of wealth.
9. Cats as Weather Predictors
In seafaring cultures, cats were thought to have the power to control or predict the weather. Sailors believed that a cat grooming its fur meant a storm was coming, while a restless cat could warn of high winds. Having a cat aboard was considered both lucky and dangerous depending on how the animal behaved.
These beliefs gave cats an eerie control over nature in the minds of sailors. Some even thought angering the ship’s cat would curse the entire voyage. In reality, cats probably reacted to shifts in barometric pressure or the behavior of other animals, but to humans, it seemed like they had supernatural knowledge of the seas.
10. Cats and Vampirism
In Slavic folklore, there was a disturbing belief that if a cat jumped over a dead body, the deceased might rise as a vampire. Families would go to great lengths to keep cats away from wakes or funerals. The idea was that the cat’s supernatural energy could reanimate the corpse.
This belief added an extra layer of fear to an already emotional time. Villages developed rules about locking cats away during funerals to avoid any accidental encounters. It shows how easily everyday animal behavior could be twisted into terrifying superstition.
11. Cats and Demonic Possession
During the height of medieval superstition, some people thought cats could be possessed by demons. Their sudden mood swings, glowing eyes in the dark, and strange vocalizations fed into this belief. If a cat hissed at nothing or stared into empty space, it was seen as evidence of a spirit within.
Priests and healers would sometimes perform rituals to “banish” demons from cats. Sadly, many cats were killed out of fear that they were harboring evil forces. This cruel myth reflected people’s need to explain the unexplainable, turning innocent animals into symbols of the devil’s work.
12. Cats and Soul Theft
One of the eeriest myths was the idea that cats could steal souls. Some cultures believed that when a person was asleep, a cat might sit on their chest and draw out their spirit. The sensation of sleep paralysis, where people wake unable to move and feel pressure on their chest, may have fueled this fear.
For those who experienced such moments, a nearby cat seemed like a natural culprit. The belief made cats seem like sinister beings capable of robbing humans of their very essence. In truth, cats probably just liked the warmth of sleeping bodies, but the myths painted a much darker picture that lasted for generations.