Ancient Egyptians held cats in high regard, viewing them as representations of goddesses who should never be killed. Killing one was prohibited under Egyptian law.
Ra, the Egyptian god of order and chaos, engaged in an epic struggle by taking on the form of a cat, as did his daughter Bastet.
Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians revered cats as symbols of fertility. Bastet was one of their most revered deities with her cat head and woman body composition – she became one of their most venerated icons. Additionally, killing cats was considered illegal within Egyptian society; most cats would often be mummified after death as part of tradition.
Superstition held that cats could steal the breath of newborn babies by cuddling with them for warmth or sniffing their milk, perhaps to gain warmth themselves. Therefore it was considered unlucky to hold onto or cross with one on Friday the 13th or on any other Friday as well.
There are various strange cat-related superstitions, including the belief that if your flip flops are worn upside-down, evil will enter your home.
Greeks
As Archaic period advanced into Classical period, cats in Greek culture transformed from predators into gods and goddesses – most famously Bastet who became associated with love fertility childbirth as depicted by cats during Witch Hunts during 13th Century. Cats then later came to symbolize evil Satan black magic.
In the Middle Ages, many women would use cats to predict their future. If a cat crosses your path without harming you, it is taken as a sign of good fortune; burying stray cats brings prosperity; killing one is seen as bad omen; sailors believed that throwing one overboard would result in stormy seas.
Romans
Roman cats held an elevated place of honour within society, associated with goddesses such as Libertas and Hecate – they even featured as symbols of independence and freedom within temples!
However, during the 13th century witch hunts of this period felines became associated with darkness, transformation and witches through Hecate and Lucifer.
Cats were once thought to steal babies’ breath, perhaps because they often slept with or sniffed babies for signs of milk scent. Another superstition states that rubbing a cat will bring on rain – apparently as punishment from this cat for your sins! Additionally, encountering black cats was seen as bad luck.
Persians
Persian culture places great value on cats as symbols of luck; having one that sports tortie stripes can bring even greater fortune!
According to popular belief, it’s believed that seeing a tortie cat cross your path and look directly at you will bring good fortune! Black cats are also considered lucky; seeing one on your porch or lawn could be seen as a sign of prosperity.
Muslims across the globe hold cats in high regard. In Tomini Bay, for example, it’s believed that being kind to cats could help bring one closer to Heaven (Adriani and Kruijt 1951: 317); they also believe cats have the ability to make it rain simply by pouring water over it – their souls even entering cats as part of this belief system!
Europeans
In England, seeing a black cat walk past you from left to right in a street can be considered good luck, while turning around and walking away is considered unlucky! Furthermore, if a black cat licks your thumb before stamping it in the center of your palm and making a wish it will come true!
Medieval women often cared for stray cats, leading to their association with witchcraft; during ritualistic witchcraft practices a familiar would take the shape of a black cat at night and this belief spread across the Atlantic with early Puritan settlers resulting in Salem Witch Trials.
Azande culture regards the sighting of an adandara as an omen of death and any appearance by it should be treated with extreme caution.