Lucky Talismans – Part 2 Black Cats

miniature animals
© F H Powell 2008

It depends where in the world you originate from as to whether you think black cats are lucky or unlucky. People in the UK and Japan believe that a black cat crossing your path is lucky. In the US and across most of Europe the opposite is true. In Germany a black cat crossing from left to right is a good omen but right to left is definitely bad for your outlook.

There are numerous associations with cats and luck. Possibly, the British find black cats lucky from the misadventure of Charles I. (1600 -1649). It is said that King Charles owned a black cat that he valued so highly it was guarded 24 hours a day. The day after the cat died in August 1648 the King was arrested by the troops of Oliver Cromwell.

A common belief was that if a sailor’s wife kept a black cat it would protect her husband on the seas. This extended to the sailors themselves who often took a cat on their voyages for luck. Many people believe that if a single white hair is found on a black cat and you pull out that hair, without being scratched, your marriage will be long and happy.

Witches were alleged to use cats as their ‘familiars’ or helpers and for this reason the black cat was associated with evil and bad luck. In Egypt the cat was considered sacred and even mummified after death. To kill a cat in the time of the Pharaohs was punishable by death.

So if you’d like some good luck for your dolls house (although we don’t have any completely black cats) check out out our web shop