Black Cat

To find out what you think: Are black cats good luck or bad luck?

Please share a black cat story if you've got one...

Whether you believe black cats to be good or bad luck could depend on where it is in the world that you live, and even within different countries, there exists differing beliefs, and superstitions concerning black felines.

If you live in the United States or most European countries, then black cats passing in front of you will likely make you believe that no matter how dismal things are now, things are going to get worse. However, if you live in the United Kingdom or in Japan, black cats crossing your path will probably make you smile and think that good fortune is on its way.

If you live in Germany, you will probably believe that black cats crossing your path from right to left is a bad omen. But from left to right, the cat is granting favorable times for you.

In Italy, many hold the superstition that if an inky feline lays on a sick person's bed, death will follow. In China, there are those who believe black cats to be harbingers of famine and poverty. Latvian farmers who find black kitties in their grain silos dance with joy. They believe these felines to be the spirit of Rungis, a god of harvests.

Crossing the path of a black cat, as opposed to it crossing yours, is generally thought of as inviting the very worst of luck. In Scotland, folks believe that finding b;ack kittens sitting on their porch is a sure sign of riches and happiness to come.

In most parts of the world, it is thought that a black cat walking towards you is a certain sign of good luck coming your way. Should the cat stop and turn away before it reaches you, then don't take any risks or place any bets; fair fortune is not to be yours.

Chasing black cats out of your house is a definite way to ensure that yours will not be a lucky house. Stroking the fur of black cats will bring you both health and wealth. In some fishing communities, the fishermen's wives keep their cats indoors, believing that this will keep their men folk safe while at sea.

Many people around the world believe that there is a single white hair to be found, on even the blackest of cats. Pull out that hair without getting a scratch, and yours will be a long, happy and prosperous marriage.

Whatever the local superstitions about black cats, most owners of these cats consider themselves lucky and blessed. And indeed it is a blessing to own a cat, black or not!