In medieval Europe, black cats were cast in a sinister light. Their sleek coats and nocturnal habits made them easy targets for suspicion. Many believed they were witches’ familiars—or witches themselves in disguise.
Superstition ran so deep that a black cat crossing your path was thought to herald death or disaster. During witch trials, cats were persecuted alongside people. Ironically, this led to fewer cats, more rodents, and faster spread of diseases like the plague.
