Black Cats

By Crusader1307

 You did NOT want to be a ''Black Cat'' in The Middle Ages. Your “life expectancy” was VERY low. Many in the Early to Late Middle Ages looked to Cats as “demonic creatures” and “Familiars” (or Assistants), to Witches. The sight of one meant VERY bad luck. Later, if a Black Cat “crossed” your path (depending on where you are from), can mean death or very bad luck. Often, if this happened, the poor “Kitty” was hunted down and killed. A common practice was to “sack” the animal (placed in a linen bag). Tied shut, the animal was thrown into the nearest “flowing” river. This meant that your “bad luck” was washed away. Oddly, by the 17th Century, this Custom changed (especially in England and Ireland). After The English Civil Wars, it was considered VERY good luck IF a Black Cat crossed your path (much to the relief of MANY “Modern” Feline “Bloodlines”!