Folklore across Europe and beyond built upon these associations. In medieval Germany, it was said that if a black cat jumped on a sick person’s bed, death would follow. In Italy, seeing a black cat near the deathbed of someone ill meant death was near.

In Scotland, a black cat arriving at a house was considered a sign of prosperity, revealing the inconsistencies of superstition across regions. In England, black cats were both feared and loved: they could bring luck to a fisherman’s wife, ensuring her husband’s safe return from sea, but might also curse a traveler if one crossed his path.

The phrase “a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck” seems to originate in Western Europe, where it was thought that the cat was blocking your way to heaven or that it was a demon or spirit interfering with your fate.

 The Superstition Travels: Black Cats in Colonial America

When Puritans and other European settlers arrived in the New World, they brought their superstitions with them. In colonial New England, fear of witches was acute. The infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 demonstrated the paranoia of the era, and animals played a part in the hysteria.

Cats—especially black ones—were associated with suspected witches. Just as in Europe, they were thought to be witches’ spirit companions, helping them perform dark deeds. Black cats were killed or shunned, their presence considered a dangerous sign.

This legacy of fear endured long after the trials ended. Even into the 19th and 20th centuries in parts of rural America, black cats retained their ominous reputation. Seeing one at night could still evoke fear of sorcery or misfortune. shutdown123