Many people often wonder if black cats are synonymous to witches, and it’s easy to see why. Ever since the olden days, black cats were believed to be the familiars of witches. Now if you’re a Wiccan, you know it’s not exclusively cats that can be familiars, but not everyone is Wiccan (not everyone is awesome like that)!
This association is not all positive. People who fear witches 9 times out of 10, also fear black cats because they think of them as bringers of bad luck. Anyone who has ever invited a cat into their lives know the joy and positive luck that a black cat brings. I mean, there is no NORMAL and AVERAGE black cat. They are just special in their own way that cannot be likened to any other animal or familiar.
So where did this fear and connection come from?
When Rome became Christian, anything that had anything to do with pagans and Paganism were demonized. This gave birth to the concept of the Devil.
Pagan practices were usually passed down by women, and that's why women were believed to be more susceptible to evil than men. Women are also more likely to have a closer relationship with black cats than men, probably because they stayed home most of the time! Women kept cats as pets and loved them and talked to them.
Cat Familiar Amulet from The Moonlight Shop
This association persisted in the Middle Ages. Cats are nocturnal in nature. Witches honor the Moon Goddess and perform spells and rituals under her light. This probably strengthened the connection between black cats and witchcraft.
During the Salem Witch trials, ownership of a cat was already considered evidence of worshipping the Devil, which to them, was synonymous with witchcraft. So Witchcraft became equivalent to Devil Worship. Cats were believed to be messengers of evil or the Devil taking the form of a cat; and they were punished accordingly: by being burned alive.
There is still a popular Christian belief that if a black cat crosses your path in the street, you should either choose a different direction or walk around the cat's path. This is still widely believed today, probably because Christianity is now widely spread.
What is up with black cats and witches then? Why do we go so well together? Well, because we have the knowledge that the black cat actually represents the Divine. We also know that goddesses took the forms of black cats, namely the Egyptian Goddesses Bast and Isis. The priestesses would even spoil cats back then because they were representatives of the goddess. I think this explains the “royal” nature of cats.
The black cat is also associated with the goddesses of the Moon like Hecate, Diana, and Luna. The daughters of Diana, her priestesses, would dress in black robes made from the fur of black cats due to their association with the goddess.
The Egyptian Cat Goddess Necklace from The Moonlight Shop
If there is one animal that shares the same fate as the witches, it would be the black cat. We both have an understanding of the black cat completely and vice versa. Black cats, just like witches, were all part of the natural order of things until we both became maligned in folklore and superstition.
Just like the black cats, witches became symbols of evil when the people let themselves be ruled by the fear of the Devil. The Church lumped black cats and witches together in their war against Pagan traditions and customs.
Black cats are our familiars because a black cat and a witch are two peas in the same pod. Because more often than not, it is the black cat who forms a psychic bond with us witches, us human beings. And our black cat familiar becomes our assistants in our magick and rituals.
Do you have a black cat in your life? We would love to hear about you and your little one in the comments section below! :)
I have a black and white cat,but still considered my familiar and my assistant. She sits by me while I’m working. If she had a witch name it would be “Hekitty”.
My cat is A black-and-white Tuxedo Bombay. Got her from my aunt and Uncle As a kitten. They said If we get rid of any of the cats she’s the one that has to be kept, because it was her favorite. My mom’s friend named her Sabrina, which which I nicknamed her Sabrina The teenage Kitty. She likes to cuddle especially when you’re having a hard time.
17 years ago on November 1st, a black kitten was found in the in my barn. Just one little pure black kitten. INKY is doing great and is still with me today. I think she was a Halloween present from a sister witch.
I had many cats all my life, tabby’s, Siamese, and black cats, a tortoise shell, her name was Luna, and my black cats, Midnight, Oprah, Mortisha, and Spooky, I still have Mortisha she is 16 and Midnight 16 years old as well. I have never gone without a cat beside me. My main love is Meow Ying, a tuxedo, he is with me all day and night. and I’m 65 years old now. I collect Egyptian statues of cats, and am really thinking of ordering that necklace..Thank you..Deb
I have 3 now one has passed. I love my black cats they are the most affectionate of all of my 12 cats.
I had 25 lb black main coon seven toes on all for feet he was just hours old when I found him he was awesome would take a shower with me and loved to lay in the bathroom sink with the water running on him would lay around my neck when driving he lived to be twenty when he passed (cancer). My friend gave me another the new guy weighs I at 18 lbs and is a little over 3 foot tall standing on hind legs he is only 5 yr also have a feral cat someone tossed out living in our barn When ever one of them passes on another shows up how lucky am I
My first cat when I was 10 was a beautiful black cat, the runt of the litter, and I named her Raisen. She slept around my head with her paws on my forehead. Protecting me. My mom would come in and move her off and roll me over, she would then get on the middle of my back. Mom said she glared at her, daring her to move her again. I had Raisen for 17 years. She passed 4 months before my daughter was born.
I’ve had a few cats but non were black. My little boy now is a Russian Blue, beautiful blue gray named Relay. My daughter’s honey has a black cat named Stinky. He hangs around me and sleeps in my room. We also have 2 other cats. We love cats!!!
I have a tuxedo female cat,her name is Pudgy. She is my shadow because she’ll follow me wherever I go. Also,I ve always noticed that when I would be in deep contemplation she’ll stare at with such intensity.Its like she knows what I’m thinking. She’s my love.
When I was a child a tiny black kitten showed up at my Auntie’s house. This was in the day when milk was delivered in bottles to your doorstep. This sweet boy was waiting by the door and my mom fell in love with him and named him Smut. Sadly, he was badly injured by a car and my parents sent him to The Summerland. Later, when my mom was older and my dad was in The Summerland. my daughter found a beautiful black cat at the shelter and knew he was for “MeMa.” His name was Baghera and stayed by my mom’s side all the time. He even detected when her sugar was dropping. They loved each other so much. I believe my mom was a witch and didn’t know it. I believe she was a Hearth Witch, a Kitchen Witch AND a Green Witch. She loved to have cats around her but Baghera was more than her familiar. He kept her safe.
Mine is Lunar mooncat. I’ve had him for 4 years.
I came home last week and when I walked in the door my lady and my kids were all staring at the couch and there was a small black kitten under it they had gotten for me. I named her T’Challa after the character played by the late great Chadwick Boseman. She is actually my first feline companion. I am surprised she doesn’t scratch or put her claws in me. She is just so loving and comforting and sleeps on my chest at night. Not to mention she has doubled in length in such a short time.
I had a black and white tuxedo cat and I named maiden because she came into my life around Halloween unfortunately maiden has passed but she still comes to me in dreams.
A friend of mine saved my new baby. He is a black baby. His name is Houdini
Hi, Midnight was abandoned by someone where I was living until this week. She picked me, I treat her with grain free food, and I give her a lot of purr.
I have always kept pet cats. Currently I have 3—one’s a tuxedo cat, not pure black. The others are a calico and a silver tabby. They all have very different personalities. Whatever I’m doing, those cats are never very far away, quietly watching me and keeping me company. There’s a lot of company in a cat, and my personal experience has been that they are far better companions than any of the specific men who have infested my life!
I wasn’t a cat person until I moved on to a farm and me and my boyfriend needed to get a couple of cats to help with the mice problems around the farm I adopted two black cats from a friend and ever since then my life has changed these cats have done so much for me emotionally and mentally. Whenever I’m feeling not quite right or emotionally not good she knows to sit on my lap her name is Breeze and the other one’s name is Jinx. They know what I need when I need it they know me so well I love them very much I couldn’t imagine my life without them… and they are always there when I need to do a full moon ceremony👌
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Maria
October 10, 2022
My hubby and I have 2 cats. A Russian Blue named Smokey, and a little black short-haird cat named Onyx. Smokey is the alpha and the smartest cat I’ve ever known, and Onyx is our little cuddle bug 💖