Cats, especially black ones, became suspect. Their nocturnal habits, glowing eyes, and aloof demeanor made them perfect candidates for superstition. As Christianity emphasized the duality of good and evil, animals that operated in the shadows were increasingly seen as aligned with darkness—and thus the Devil.
This suspicion deepened in medieval folklore, where cats were believed to possess supernatural powers. Some believed cats could steal a baby’s breath, a fear likely based on misunderstandings of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Others thought black cats could shapeshift into witches or were witches’ familiars—demonic spirits that aided them in sorcery.
Witches, Demons, and the Black Cat Stigma
The link between black cats and witchcraft solidified during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period (c. 1300–1700), especially in Western Europe. As fear of witches swept across the continent, fueled by religious hysteria, misogyny, and social unrest, animals became victims as well.
Cats—especially black ones—were said to be witches' familiars or even reincarnated witches themselves. In many tales, a black cat was a witch in disguise, escaping persecution or spying for the Devil. The color black, already associated with the Devil and death, reinforced these fears.
In 1233, Pope Gregory IX issued the papal bull Vox in Rama, which linked black cats to Satanic rituals and condemned their association with heretical cults. This document arguably triggered cat massacres across Europe, particularly of black cats.
During the European witch hunts—most intense from the 15th to 17th centuries—black cats were often burned or drowned alongside women accused of sorcery. In this era, even owning a cat could be used as evidence of witchcraft. shutdown123