Many black cat species have gotten quite the reputation. While they are known in the United States as being besties with witches during Halloween, other cultures celebrate black cats. Some black cats have even gotten to be quite loved by the world.
Here, we’ll check in on some of the more famous black cats and discuss how black cats have become so popular.
Perception of the Black Cat Species
The perceptions of cats in general have changed a lot over the years.
Back in Ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped because they were seen to be linked to the goddess Bastet. This goddess was often depicted with a cat’s head and was said to protect the home.
This celebration clashes with ideas from Western culture. During the Middle Ages, the black cat species was seen as being evil.
Black cats were said to be heavily linked to witches. Black cats would watch over young witches and “cunning folk” while they practiced dark magic and grew their skill. Once the Puritans settled in the New World, women who kept black cats had to watch out for being accused of witchcraft.
This has all changed today, but the superstitions remain.
Black Cat Species Superstitions
Many different cultures and regions have different superstitions regarding black cats. Check out some of the more notable superstitions about the black cat species.
Japan
In Japan, black cats are seen as good luck. When a single woman has a black cat, it is said that she will have more suitable gentleman callers. Japanese culture in general places high value on traditional family values, so ladies sometimes can be encouraged to get a black cat.
Great Britain
King Charles the First attributed much of his success to the luck from his black cat. He claimed that the day his cat died, his luck would run out. Oddly enough, the day after his cat died, he was arrested for treason. Maybe black cats really are lucky in England?
Sailors
Sailors of the past had a love/hate relationship with black cats. For the most part, they were needed to keep boats clear of mice and other pests. But if a cat came on board and jumped off, the boat was said to sink on its next voyage.
Famous Black Cats
With so much lore available about black cats, it’s easy to see why they have found their way into so many people's’ hearts. Some black cats have even become quite the celebrities.
Animated Black Cats
Black cats have found their way into some very popular cartoons. Here’s a list of famous animated black cats.
- Snowball II: Probably one black cat that is known to everyone, this cat was pet to one of the most famous TV families imaginable, The Simpsons. Technically, Snowball II has been many cats, but the Simpsons are too cheap to buy another monogrammed food bowl, so each cat they’ve owned has been Snowball II.
- Jiji: Sidekick to a young girl on her adventure to becoming a witch, Jiji is from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Jiji, voiced by Phil Hartman, is able to talk to Kiki until Kiki begins losing her powers. It’s unclear if Jiji is able to be understood by Kiki because she’s a witch or if Jiji has some power of his own.
- Felix the Cat: One of the most famous animated black cats’ as he’s been around for quite some time, Felix the Cat has been wildly popular. Started in the silent Film Era, Felix the Cat drew audiences for a number of years. He also was in comics, had toys and even stuffed animals. By the time sound cartoons were introduced, Mickey Mouse began to overshadow him in popularity, but Felix the cat is still one of the most recognizable animated characters to date.
- Luna: Luna is a talking black cat made famous in the Japanese anime Sailor Moon. Luna gives a magical brooch to Usaki, the main character, and they assemble a team of heroines to protect their world.
Black Cats on the Silver Screen
Many black cats have found their way into our hearts via film. Here are just a few black cats made famous in film.
- Thackery Binx: In the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, Thackery Binx is a boy who is turned into an immortal black cat by witches in Salem. Centuries later, he’s looking for revenge and to turn back into a human. He helps Max Dennison save his sister and Salem from the Sanderson Sisters.
- Cat from Hell: In 1990, George Romero and Stephen King worked together on film that tied together many horror shorts, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. This film contained a short about the Cat from Hell. In the short, a wealthy old man hires a hitman to kill a black cat he believes to be evil. The old man’s pharmaceutical company has killed many cats while testing medicines, and he believes the black cat is going to seek revenge. We won’t ruin the end, but it is a Romero film…
Famous Black Cats from Television
- Salem Saberhagen: Salem is sure to be on anyone’s list of famous black cats. Named to evoke an American heritage of witchcraft, Salem is a wisecracking black cat who both helps and hinders Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a witch in training. Salem is serving out a 100-year sentence as a black cat for trying to take over the world.
- Isis: Isis appeared in the form of a black cat on the original series of Star Trek. She was a shapeshifter with plans to detonate a nuclear device on Earth. The name Isis is apt here since Isis was also the Egyptian goddess believed to help people enter the afterlife.
The Most Famous Black Cat of Them All
If you’re attuned to internet culture, then you’ll know Business Cat. This meme has a picture of a cat wearing a collar and tie and incorporates humorous phrases. The beginning of the sentence is something Bill Lumbergh might say while the latter is purely from the mouth of a cat. Some memorable quotes include:
- “Get those reports to me, right meow.”
- “New office equipment has arrived, If anyone needs me, I’ll be in one of the boxes.”
- “Deficit? You’ve got to me kitten me.”
It’s easy to see how the black cat has become such a part of modern culture. You know what they say, black never goes out of style
Which black cat is your favorite?