A Black Cat Crossing Your Path
By: Chris Welsh (1 Apr 21)
It’s late and you are walking home at a brisk pace in an attempt to beat the oncoming storm. You are only a few streets from your destination when you spot a little black cat making its way towards you, angled to cross your path. Just like that you decided to risk getting a good soak rather than let the black cat cross your path, succumbing to an old superstition rooted in legends of witchcraft.
The Black Cat Superstition
Cats certainly are unique creatures. They can be soft, fuzzy and pleasant, and they can be bristling, spitting balls of razor sharp teeth and claws. Seeing a black cat is –depending on the country you are in at the time-- considered bordering on unlucky times, but having a black cat cross your path is considered by many to be an omen of doom; not only is it bad luck, it is VERY bad luck. From there the superstition goes as far as belief that the black cat is a demon in disguise trying to cut off a person’s access to heaven. What would drive people to believe such malignance would come from a kitty cat?
The origin of the Black Cat Superstition
The actual origins of the black cat crossing your path superstition is a bit of a mystery, but there are a few ideas. Cat’s ability to move silently and practically undetected put some people on edge, and their association with Egyptian religion added to the uneasiness in some Christian cultures. From here it was said that cats- and black cats in particular- acted as “familiars” to witches, creatures that are imbibed with an evil, otherworldly sentience that give power to their master. What God fearing Christian who believed in witches wouldn’t fear them, back when such rumours began?
Cats are sneaky, clever, agile hunters with a strong streak of independence- more reasons to add them into legend and wives tales. There are a lot of superstitions centred around cats, some colour specific, some not, and some even contradict each other.
In Scotland a strange black cat appearing on your porch is an omen as well- but a good one. It means that prosperity is on the way. If you hear a cat sneeze in Italy then you are in for a streak of good luck, as you are if you dream of a white cat in America. If you happen to spot a white cat in America as the sun sets, however, you might be in trouble.
Cats are not allowed in the room if family is having a private talk in the Netherlands- the fear is that the cat will spread gossip all over town, and the family secrets will be out. Don’t be too hard on the cat in Ireland, however- killing a cat there brings 17 years of bad luck.
Final Thoughts
So, a black cat crossing your path is unlucky, you say? Interestingly that is what many believe in the USA and many European countries, but that very same belief in Japan is flipped on its head- they believe it is good luck. The next time a black cat crosses your path, just say “Konichiwa” and take control of your own luck. Think black cats bring bad luck? There's a school of thought that says the same about women!
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Ask for Advice or Share Your Story...
For about 6 months i kept seeing cats crossing the road whilst i was working in care in the cimmunity the cats were mostly black they would alway be on my side of the road just about to cross to the other side never the other way round it was always about 100 ft away day . It started to freak me outi googled it and itvsaud it was a bad omen. Then about 2 months after my dad and nan died within a week of each otherthats was about 2 months ago .. i have not seen a cat cross my path since across the road.. i find this very very strange
Tina - 1-Apr-21 @ 10:59 PM
I saw two maybe three black cats on my porch one stood in front of my door way as I was knocking to get in I had no key so I walked to the corner to find a phone and I almost got hit by two cars.? I'm just a little curious please help
Sammy - 25-May-20 @ 8:27 AM
A black cat came on my patio looked in my screen door at me and I made eye contact with it then it walked away. What does that mean?
Kay Kay - 19-Apr-20 @ 3:19 AM
Came on my front porch to a black cat lying in a broken chair not afraid of me or my kids at all ....is this bad
Mom3 - 19-Nov-19 @ 5:54 PM
I had a black cat on my porch all last night sitting there was does that mean
Tootie - 22-Sep-19 @ 7:03 PM
Actually it used be that white cats were bad luck (probably more to do with alot of pure white cats being deaf). Black cats crossing your path used be good luck. As part of the witch hunts and spread of Christianity certain things were changed in societies minds and one of those was that the black cat became the witches familiar (insert healer bachelorette unusual woman pet) and it became an ill omen or sign of demons.
Moonfire - 15-May-19 @ 5:44 PM
This morning at 6 AM, I woke up from physical sounds from the desk near my bed.
something was moving the honey-cupthat was empty..
these sounds only came from the plastic foam on the cup..
these little cups are used for a small dosage of honey
there was no wind of mouse in the room..
the sounds did not stop at all, so somthing ghost-like was moving the small honey-cup.
when i turned the lights on it stopped..
immediatly opened the curtains at the window, and then I saw A black cat walking away from my window..
We dont even have Cats here in the area walking arround..
can someone please Tell me what this means..
I have alot of unhappyniss in my main core, beause bad luck always took a grasp at my chances..and now I just discovered that I have a signicant financial dept too...
feel free to leave a Comment
HOLLAND
BHOLLAND - 27-Nov-18 @ 9:06 PM
Way back long time ago, i heard this with my parents that my mom was about to give labor to me. They rush to hospital at 12midnight the streets are so strange it is a bad weather and no people around. On their way to a certain part of the street some thing was thrown on them its like we used in a bath and then a black cath passing on thier way. My mom got hard time delivery on me as i was 9.5 pounds she got goiter after she took birth on me. I think so that i was bad luck to the family
Dian - 5-Nov-18 @ 5:31 AM
My husband has Indian in him and he seems to believe that black cats are cute and you can pet a cat 3 times without a problem, but he also believes that if your find yourself in a bad neighborhood and you see a black cat on every corner that it is a bad omen. Also every time you go ahead and cross a black cats path anyway you will have something bad happen to you in the next 24 hours unless you put a crucifix on the ground where it crossed and say a prayer of protection by shedding the blood of the Lamb over you and your car. I've heard of people putting x's on the ground but he said it is not an ex it is a crucifix and you just say a prayer to Jesus for protection. But if it's like that I wouldn't even go where the cat crossed my path and I would also say a prayer. That's just my opinion. As far as killing the cats I think that that is wrong. He said you can have them as a pet but if you're out and about on a bike ride or driving your car or taking a walk and one looks at you and beans you with his eyes and comes across your path that you should go the other way because it's bad luck.
Goldielocks - 27-Oct-18 @ 2:51 PM
1st time a black cat crossed my path a few days later 3 bad things happened:
1. My car got robbed from my driveway
2. Lost my most paying job of 6 and half years
3. My son died.
2nd time a black cat crossed my path:
1. My daughter's vertigo returned and she could not attend work and she could not conduct an important presentation and almost lost her job.
2. A few days later my daughter died.
Should I be afraid when it happens next time?
Angels on loan - 26-Sep-18 @ 8:25 PM
