Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of a dense forest, there lived a wicked witch. Her name was Helga, and she was known far and wide for her black magic and sinister ways. Helga had a special companion, a bewitched cat named Midnight. The two were inseparable and wreaked havoc wherever they went. Midnight, a jet-black cat with piercing yellow eyes, was once a normal feline until Helga cast a spell on him. The witch had found Midnight as a stray kitten and was immediately drawn to his mysterious aura.
It’s not clear when Western Christians first picked up on this dark resemblance. While the Bible is full of felines, especially lions and leopards, it excludes house cats except for one iffy mention. In his book “Classical Cats,” the historian Donald W. Engels argues that ancient Egyptian religious traditions – which involved a whole lot of house cats — evolved into Roman-era pagan rituals, which competitive early Christians may have been eager to stamp out.
Research has shown that cats are reluctant rat-killers at best, and cats that do kill plague-infected rodents often catch the plague themselves and readily spread it to humans through fleas. Cats are almost supernaturally good at surviving Modern-day governments find it practically impossible to rid even small islands of invasive cat populations, let alone to purge a land mass the size of Europe.
The witch had found Midnight as a stray kitten and was immediately drawn to his mysterious aura. Seeing an opportunity to have a loyal companion, Helga decided to bewitch Midnight and make him her most trusted aide. Under the spell, Midnight developed extraordinary powers.
The spooky history of how cats bewitched us
Witches have always liked cats. Sure, they’ve been known to hang out with a wide variety of creatures, including lambs, hornets and crabs. But felines are their favorite consorts, according to an academic analysis that tallied up animal “familiars” from 200 historic English witch trials.
Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight
Is anybody really surprised? The hags from Macbeth didn’t dunk their “brinded” cat in the cauldron with the newt’s eye and dog tongue – they preferred to keep it alive and meowing. In America’s Salem-era scares, witches made their child victims “purr like so many cats” (which, many parents might concede, is a far more melodious alternative to normal kid noise). Today, cats – especially black ones – still pounce upon us at Halloween time, in costumes and decor.
But why are our cuddly darlings, the most popular pets in America behind freshwater fish, so persistently tied to the occult in myth and history? Superficial feline characteristics can explain some of it. But perhaps the deeper link between house cats and black magic is rooted in the very real powers they have over us.
AdvertisementObjectively speaking, felines are more mysterious in behavior and exotic in looks than most of our other pets and domesticated animals. For one thing, cats are alert and active while we sleep, making them seem more likely to take part in clandestine midnight gatherings. They are also ambush hunters, prone to hiding in odd places and then making sudden, startling movements — especially on dark and stormy nights. Exquisitely sensitive, cats seem to commune with the invisible, precisely because they can see and hear things that humans cannot. Their eyes glow at times, because a mirrorlike structure behind their retinas promotes their night vision.
Yet the glow is not the most unsettling thing about our cats’ eyes. Unlike tigers and jaguars and other big cats, house cats have vertically slit pupils, a common feature among small nocturnal predators that hunt close to the ground. What else has vertically slit pupils and also occasionally hisses? The serpent. And who made his first biblical appearance as a snake?
That’s right: Satan.
It’s not clear when Western Christians first picked up on this dark resemblance. While the Bible is full of felines, especially lions and leopards, it excludes house cats except for one iffy mention. In his book “Classical Cats,” the historian Donald W. Engels argues that ancient Egyptian religious traditions – which involved a whole lot of house cats — evolved into Roman-era pagan rituals, which competitive early Christians may have been eager to stamp out.
AdvertisementBut it was in the Middle Ages that the tension between cats and Catholics began to escalate. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX’s “Vox in Rama,” a warning against the perils of witchcraft, accused its targets of canoodling with a black cat that was actually Lucifer in disguise. Although the pope also decried frogs and ducks, anti-feline prejudice quickly swept the church. Cats were burned and hurled from bell towers – a practice that is supposedly memorialized today in a bizarre annual festival in Ypres, Belgium. (Now, only stuffed cats are hurled, a reflection of our more humane age.)
Some historians, Engels included, even blame a resulting, continent-wide cat deficit for the subsequent devastation of the Black Death, thought to be spread by rats (though some research suggests cats can transmit plague directly to people). Left in peace, the thinking goes, Europe’s cats might have pounced upon the plague-ridden rodents, saving the lives of tens of millions of people.
Share this article ShareSadly, this idea doesn’t hold much water. Research has shown that cats are reluctant rat-killers at best, and cats that do kill plague-infected rodents often catch the plague themselves — and readily spread it to humans through fleas. It’s also highly unlikely that the ecclesiastical cat assassins, however hellbent, could have killed anywhere near enough cats to alter the Black Death’s trajectory. Cats are almost supernaturally good at surviving: Modern-day governments find it practically impossible to rid even small islands of invasive cat populations, let alone to purge a land mass the size of Europe. (It recently took several years and $3 million to rid one small California island of cats, which were dining on a threatened species of lizard.)
Finally, even at the height of cat-quisition, most medieval Christians probably still liked cats as much as anybody else and safeguarded their favorites from the fanatics. Indeed, Exeter Cathedral in southwest England even had its own cat door. Note that cats are not exactly rare in Europe today – and as the animal behaviorist John Bradshaw writes, black cats, generally thought to be the wickedest ones, are especially numerous in many places, with more than 80 percent of the population carrying black-coat mutations.
But let’s play devil’s advocate here. What if Pope Gregory was actually on to something? He may have had one perfectly sound reason to suspect cats of demonic mischief: allergies. Respiratory reactions to cat dander can be sudden and crippling, as University of Pennsylvania zoologist James Serpell has pointed out. Could this attribute have given the impression that a possessed cat was actually stealing a baby’s breath? In a world of limited medical knowledge, the frightening “hecticks and consumptions” triggered by the feline presence might have seemed downright malevolent.
Good thing most of us no longer believe in magic. Except that recently, scientists did stumble upon another real power of the house cat. Doctors had long known of a mysterious parasite that can cause grave birth defects in human children, but they didn’t know where it came from. It wasn’t until 1969 that scientists realized that this creepy disease, toxoplasmosis, which has likely influenced the human constitution since prehistoric times, was spread exclusively by felines.
That’s right: Satan.
He could understand human speech and communicate with other animals. Additionally, he possessed the ability to shape-shift into any creature he desired. With these newfound powers, Helga and Midnight embarked on dark adventures together, causing mischief and chaos wherever they went. As the village inhabitants learned about the witch and her bewitched cat, fear and unease spread throughout the community. Helga and Midnight reveled in their reign of terror, using their powers to play wicked tricks on unsuspecting villagers. They would transform into frightening creatures and scare children at play, steal valuable items from shops, and create eerie illusions that left everyone questioning reality. One fateful evening, a brave young girl named Lily decided to confront the witch and her cat. Sickened by their cruelty and the misery they brought upon her fellow villagers, Lily hatched a plan to break Midnight's bewitchment. Armed with knowledge passed down from her wise grandmother, Lily set out to rescue the village from the clutches of Helga and her enigmatic feline companion. Lily ventured into the heart of the forest, following the faint whispers of the woodland creatures who were wary of the witch and her cat. As she reached Helga's dilapidated cottage, she found Midnight alone, resting near the fireplace. Sensing her intentions, Midnight approached Lily cautiously, unsure of what she had in store. With gentle words and a calming touch, Lily garnered the cat's trust and began reciting an ancient incantation. The spell was designed to break the bewitchment and restore Midnight back to his original form. As the incantation echoed through the cottage, Midnight convulsed and transformed into a small, ordinary black cat. Overcome with joy and relief, Lily scooped up the now-regular cat and made her way back to the village. News of her bravery spread like wildfire, and the once-terrified villagers celebrated their newfound freedom from Helga's clutches. Although Midnight was no longer bewitched, he continued to play an important role in the community. With his newfound wisdom and empathy, he became a beloved companion to the village children, guiding them through the forest and protecting them from harm. Midnight's transformation symbolized redemption and the power of love and compassion over darkness and evil. And so, the tale of the witch and bewitched cat came to a close, leaving behind a lesson of bravery, perseverance, and the transformative power of friendship..
Reviews for "The bewitched cat's connection to lunar energy and rituals of the moon"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch and bewitched cat". The story felt flat and unoriginal, and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot didn't have any twists or surprises, and it felt cliché and predictable. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward sentence structures and repetitive phrases. Overall, I found the book to be quite dull and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 1 star - "Witch and bewitched cat" was a complete waste of my time. The story had so much potential, but it was executed poorly. The pacing was off, with slow-moving scenes that dragged on and on. The dialogue was unnatural and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, leaving many unanswered questions and a lack of depth. This book simply did not deliver, and I regret picking it up.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch and bewitched cat", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The main character was supposed to be a powerful witch, but she came across as whiny and indecisive. The plot had potential but ended up feeling disjointed and rushed. There were also several grammatical errors and typos throughout the book, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging read.