Creepy cat mythology and cat superstitions have fascinated people around the world for centuries, shaping cultural beliefs and inspiring unforgettable moments in movies.
People from across the globe see cats as everything from ghostly protectors to omens of doom. From the bakeneko of Japan, over the spectral Cait Sidhe in Irish folklore to the Yule Cat or Jólakötturinn from Iceland, these myths highlight the unique and powerful place our favorite animals hold in our belief systems.
That’s why I’m excited to announce the Kindle pre-order release of my new book, Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. This ultimate guide explores over 250 feline-inspired films from 29 countries, showcasing the mysterious, magical, and sometimes terrifying roles cats play on the silver screen.
To celebrate, let’s explore some of the most intriguing cat mythology and superstitions from around the world. Many of these legends influenced the films featured in Meow!—proving that the connection between cats and storytelling is as timeless as it is fascinating.
Cat mythology and cat superstitions around the world
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Cat mythology in Japan
Across the globe, various monstrous and supernatural cats prowled the pages of folklore, books, and, subsequently, the screens of cinema. The most well-known are the kaibyō (怪猫) from Japanese folklore and mythology. These cats are often depicted as vengeful spirits born from a deceased woman whose blood was licked by a cat, creating a creature connected to the spirit world.
Rooted in stories and kabuki plays from the Edo period (1603-1868), which frequently featured themes of torture and cruelty, kaibyō emerged during a time of relative peace and economic stability that allowed for the proliferation of folklore and the documentation of various myths and legends. These include those of the bakeneko and nekomata, the most commonly depicted kaibyō in Asian cinema.
Bakeneko
A bakeneko (化け猫) is a supernatural “neko” (cat) that starts as an ordinary domestic feline. After living for many years, it can grow to an enormous size, often attributed to consuming large amounts of lamp oil—a superstition rooted in the fact that cats were known to lick oil lamps. Bakeneko can shape-shift into human form, speak human languages, cast curses, control fire, possess humans, and manipulate the dead. While bakeneko are often malevolent, some stories portray them as protectors.
Nekomata
A nekomata (猫又) is a specific and more terrifying type of bakeneko. This creature is typically depicted with a forked or split tail, symbolizing its power. This vengeful spirit seeking retribution for past wrongs is more dangerous than ordinary bakeneko. It can shape-shift into human form, control the dead, and summon fireballs. Legends of nekomata describe it as living in mountains or remote areas and possessing the ability to reanimate the dead, cause diseases, and bring misfortune.
In addition to bakeneko and nekomata, Japanese folklore features other cat-related yokai (supernatural beings). For example, the kasha (火車) are malevolent cat-like demons known for stealing corpses from graveyards, either to devour them or to carry them to the underworld. Another yokai, the nekomusume (猫娘), or “cat daughter,” appears as a young woman with cat-like features.
Cat mythology and Japanese cinema
Understanding these mythological creatures is crucial to appreciating the many Japanese films inspired by them. The earliest kaibyō-inspired film, The Arima Cat from 1937, is now lost. Many others followed, often with a similar premise: a wronged woman dies, and her vengeful spirit communicates with a cat, which licks her blood and seeks revenge on those responsible.
After World War II, these films benefited from relaxed censorship, particularly regarding erotic content, allowing Japan to explore more violent and sexual themes. Due to their cultural specificity, many of these have never been released outside Japan and are therefore hard to find.
However, the eerie atmosphere, suspenseful storytelling, and themes like vengeful spirits and curses became a defining feature of later Japanese horror cinema, such as Ringu (1998) and Ju-on: The Grudge (2002), and even had a significant impact on stories that do not feature cats.
Cat Sith mythology from Ireland
The Cait Sidhe – pronounced “caught shee” and sometimes anglicized as Cat Sith – is a mythical cat from Celtic folklore. It is often depicted as a spectral black cat with a white spot on its chest. Even though the Cait Sidhe sometimes helps people, it can steal souls or bring misfortune if not respected. It was believed that the Cait Sidhe could take a dying person’s soul before it ascended to the afterlife. For this reason, people used games or catnip to distract the Cait Sidhe during wakes.
Origins
The Cait Sidhe primarily originated in Scottish and Irish traditions, where it is linked to both fairies (sidhe) and shapeshifters. Its roots likely trace back to ancient beliefs in animal spirits and their connection to the supernatural world. The Irish and Scottish often saw cats as mystical creatures. They respected or feared them for their presumed spiritual significance. The Cait Sidhe embodies these dualities, appearing as both a protector and a threat in different stories.
Do people still believe in the Cat Sith or Cait Sidhe?
Belief in the Cait Sidhe as a literal being has waned over time. Still, it persists in modern folklore and as part of cultural traditions. However, superstitions about cats as omens of death or bringers of luck still echo themes from the Cait Sidhe mythos in some rural areas of Ireland. Its stories are often retold during Halloween (Samhain), a time when the boundaries between the mortal and spirit worlds are said to blur.
The Cat Sith or Cait Sidhe in literature, art, and popular culture
The Cait Sidhe is a popular subject in Celtic art, depicted as an elegant black cat surrounded by mystical symbols. It has also inspired several novels, such as Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, where it serves as a magical and enigmatic figure. Addionally, in the video game Final Fantasy VII, a character named Cait Sith was directly inspired by the folklore.
The Yule Cat or Jólakötturinn
The Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) is a giant, fierce feline from Icelandic folklore and agrarian culture. It stalks the snowy countryside at Christmastime, devouring anyone who hasn’t received new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve.
Origins
It may have been used to encourage hard work, particularly during the wool production season. Farmers expected their workers to process the autumn wool before Christmas. In return, the workers were rewarded with new clothes. Those who failed to complete their tasks were said to risk becoming prey to the Yule Cat.
Do people still believe in the Yule Cat?
While the belief in the Yule Cat as a literal creature has largely faded, the story remains integral to Icelandic Christmas traditions. It’s now more of a cultural symbol to encourage generosity during the holidays, such as giving clothing to those in need. Many Icelanders still tell the tale of the Yule Cat to children as a playful, albeit slightly spooky, reminder of the season’s customs.
The Yule Cat in literature and popular culture
Several illustrated books for children feature the Yule Cat, often portraying it in a less terrifying and more playful light. For example, the story is adapted in The Christmas Cat by Gudrun Helgadottir, where the cat is a prominent character in Icelandic holiday tales. Additionally, it has appeared in Icelandic holiday specials and is sometimes referenced in broader discussions of Christmas folklore. There is also a Swedish short film called Yule Cat, which came out in 2022.
The Wampus Cat in Appalachian mythology
The Wampus Cat is a half-woman, half-cat creature from American folklore, particularly prevalent in the Appalachian region and parts of the southern United States. Its origins, characteristics, and stories make it one of the more enigmatic and creepy creatures in American legends.
What is the Wampus Cat?
The Wampus Cat is a large, fearsome feline-like creature. Its exact appearance varies depending on the story, but common depictions include glowing eyes, a terrifying roar, and sometimes supernatural abilities like stealth or the ability to hypnotize its prey. Some tales portray it as part human, part cat (like the cat creature in the supernatural thriller Clowders)—a shape-shifting entity that blurs the line between predator and monster. Like big cats in the wild, the Wampus Cat is elusive and nearly impossible to track. Its ability to appear and disappear adds to its eerie reputation.
Origins
The Wampus Cat’s origins are rooted in Native American folklore, particularly among the Cherokee people. The legend was later adapted and transformed by settlers in the Appalachian region.
The Cherokee legend
The Wampus Cat is said to be linked to the Cherokee story of Ewah, a spirit of madness. According to one version of the tale, a Cherokee woman, curious about a sacred men’s ceremony, donned a cougar skin and secretly observed the ritual. When she was discovered, the shamans cursed her to wander the earth as a half-woman, half-cat creature, embodying the madness of the spirit she invoked.
Settler adaptations
As settlers encountered Native American tales, the story of the Wampus Cat evolved. It became a cautionary tale for hunters and travelers who ventured too far into the woods. The creature was often blamed for livestock deaths, eerie nighttime howls, and unexplained disappearances.
Do people still believe in the Wampus Cat?
Reports of sightings have been sporadic and varied over the years. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, unexplained livestock killings and strange tracks in the wilderness were often attributed to the Wampus Cat. Modern “sightings” are rare and often dismissed as misidentified animals or elaborate hoaxes. These days, the Wampus Cat persists more as regional folklore than as a literal belief. It is often discussed during ghost tours, campfire stories, and local legends. Some cryptozoologists, however, argue that sightings of the Wampus Cat may be linked to real but elusive creatures, such as cougars or jaguarundi, that inhabit the region.
The Wampus Cat in modern culture
The Wampus Cat has appeared in video games, urban fantasy novels, and even the Wizarding World franchise (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them mentions it as a magical creature).
Cat superstitions in India
While cats aren’t as prominent in Indian mythology as in other cultures, many cat-related superstitions exist, particularly around black cats. These beliefs vary by region and community, but here are a couple of well-known ones:
Black cats as bad omens
Many believe that a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck or prevents you from reaching your destination safely. People may stop momentarily or take a different route to avoid the perceived bad luck.
Cats and illness
In some Indian villages, a cat is believed to bring illness or bad health. For example, a cat sitting on a person’s chest could cause them to fall ill, or a cat’s presence during illness could prolong it.
Cats as spiritual protectors
Cats are spiritual protectors in certain parts of India, especially in homes or temples. Cats are sometimes believed to have the ability to ward off evil spirits or bad energy, and their presence is seen as a sign of good fortune. While these are some of the more prominent superstitions, it’s important to note that beliefs about cats can vary significantly across different regions and communities in India.
Cat mythology and superstitions in China
Many Chinese believed cats could see spirits, scare ghosts, and act as intermediaries between the human and spiritual realms. One example is the legend of the Li Shou, a cat deity worshipped by farmers in ancient China for safeguarding crops from rodents and evil spirits. These beliefs led to practices where people kept cats in homes and temples to ward off evil influences and ensure spiritual protection. This habit is also common in Japan’s “crazy cat” culture.
Origins of the Li Shou
The legend of the Li Shou likely emerged in southern and central China. In these regions, rice farming and agriculture were central to daily life. This reverence for cats was part of the broader belief in animism, where natural forces and animals were thought to have spiritual significance.
Do farmers still believe in it today?
While the active worship of Li Shou as a deity has faded, these beliefs persist in rural areas where cats are still seen as essential protectors of crops and homes. Some traditional Chinese farmers may still regard cats as auspicious animals. However, this is more cultural than religious in modern times. Cats are commonly welcomed in shops and on farms to control pests, continuing their historical role.
Egyptian cat mythology and legends
In ancient Egypt (3100 BCE to 30 BCE), cats were revered and worshipped, considered embodiments of the goddess Bastet, the daughter of the sun god Ra. Often depicted with a cat’s head on a woman’s body, Bastet protected home and hearth by warding off evil spirits. Killing a cat, even accidentally, could result in a death sentence.
The Greek historian Herodotus described how Egyptians’ veneration of cats was so intense that they prioritized protecting their lives over extinguishing fires or saving valuables. He also recounted an incident where an Egyptian crowd reacted violently when a Roman accidentally killed a cat. The man’s high status and diplomatic immunity could not protect him from the mob’s fury.
Another Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, provided similar accounts, highlighting how the Romans strictly enforced laws protecting cats during their occupation. Roman soldiers who harmed these animals could face execution or lynching by enraged locals.
Read more: Cats and Egyptians, a deep cultural and historical bond
Black cat superstitions
In Western horror cinema’s great saga of cats, one type of feline stands out: the black cat. The fear of these purring monsters has deep roots, stretching back to Greek mythology. Hecate was often depicted with black cats by her side, and in some versions of myth, she could transform into a black cat herself. In one well-known myth, Hera, the wife of Zeus, turns her servant Galinthias into a black cat as punishment for tricking her. Afterward, Galinthias was adopted by Hecate to serve as her companion, further cementing the association between black cats and the supernatural. This connection to a powerful and mysterious goddess contributed to the enduring fear and suspicion surrounding these creatures in later folklore.
Black cat superstitions in the Middle Ages
In the early Middle Ages, when Christian traditions began blending with older pagan festivals, black cats became associated with Halloween and Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season.
As Christianity spread, the church sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian observances. Samhain eventually evolved into what is now Halloween. During this time, folklore about witches and spirits grew, and black cats, believed to be witches’ familiars or witches in disguise, became a central part of the supernatural imagery of Halloween.
This association solidified in the 16th and 17th centuries, during the height of witch hunts and trials in Europe and colonial America. People often killed black cats alongside women accused of witchcraft because it was commonly believed that witches could transform into black cats to carry out their nefarious deeds under the cover of darkness.
This superstition lingered through the Renaissance and well into the modern era. Today, many people still hold the old superstition that crossing paths with a black cat brings a life filled with misfortune and calamities.
Unfortunately, this superstition surrounding black cats continues to impact them, leading to higher rates of abuse and lower adoption numbers in animal shelters.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat”
Edgar Allan Poe tapped into these symbolic associations when he penned his famous short story “The Black Cat” in 1843. However, rather than casting the cat as a demonic figure, Poe used it to embody justice and symbolize the protagonist’s guilty conscience. Poe masterfully uses the cat, Pluto, as a psychological symbol, reflecting the protagonist’s inescapable consequences of his actions. The second black cat, which appears after Pluto’s death, is a living embodiment of retribution, leading to the protagonist’s downfall. Using the cat as an instrument of moral justice contrasts with traditional depictions of black cats as purely evil, adding complexity to the story’s themes.
Black cats in modern culture
Poe’s “The Black Cat” spawned many cinematic kittens. In some cases, filmmakers used the title purely for commercial appeal, as seen in Edgar G. Ulmer’s 1934 film. Others created direct adaptations, starting with the 1966 TV movie The Black Cat. However, most films drew inspiration from its themes and imagery, weaving elements of Poe’s story into their narratives. You can explore all these connections and more in Meow!, which delves deeper into the legacy of this classic tale on screen.
Read more about cat mythology and cat superstitions in Meow!
Cat mythology and superstitions are always fascinating. Whether it’s creepy tales of black cats or stories of supernatural guardians, these beliefs show just how deeply cats are woven into our cultures and imaginations.
If you’ve enjoyed exploring these legends, you’ll love seeing how they connect to movies and TV shows in Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. This book dives into over 250 films from around the world, filled with behind-the-scenes detail and unforgettable feline moments. It’s the ultimate guide for cat lovers and movie fans alike—so why not grab a copy today at 50% off and see where these incredible stories take you.
P.S. Have you ever been startled by a cat scare in a movie or charmed by a magical feline on screen? Share your favorite cat movie moments in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
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