Witches Are Actually Helpful And Black Cats Need Your Help

Witches and black cats go hand-in-hand, especially on Halloween. Do black cats and black dogs get adopted less frequently at animal shelters because of their “spooky color”? 

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Creative Challenge

Child writing the challenge prompt; young girl wearing a witch hat and holding a cat.
This week’s creative challenge is to write a story about a witch and her black cat that save the day using magic, witchcraft or teamwork.

What is a Witch?

Witches, historically, are defined as women who work with herbs to create magic. 

Herbs in jars

The Salem Witch trials happened in 1692, where in early America, some women were accused of witchcraft and put on trial.

Why Do Witches Always Have Black Cats?

During the bubonic plague in the 1350s, people hypothesized that cats were spreading the plague. Unfortunately for both humans and cats, the cats were actually helping to kill the rodents that were spreading the plague.

Rodent

One theory on why witches lean towards black cats is because black cats are able to hunt more stealthily at night. Aside from witches having a deep connection with animals and nature, there is no particular reason why witches are associated with black cats.

Black cats can hunt easily at night.

Black cats are less likely to be adopted from shelters due to the superstitions that surround black cats.

Black cats also make up the majority of all cats. Black fur is a dominant gene, meaning that it is more easily passed down when a cat has kittens.

Although two of these kittens are gray, black fur is a dominant gene.

Are Black Cats Good Luck?

However, some cultures do believe that black cats are good luck. The good luck belief dates back to ancient Egypt, where Egyptians worshiped the black cat-goddess Bastet.

Bastet, god of “healthcare” in ancient Egypt

The very first picture of a witch on a broom comes from France in 1451. Witches are associated with brooms because a long time ago, farmers would dance around with brooms and pitchforks under the full moon to get their crops to grow more.

First illustration of a witch on a broom in 1451.

Witch costumes were the most popular Halloween costumes for at least the past six years. 

What is the Wicca Religion?

Today, the Wicca religion still exists. Wiccans practice modern witchcraft. 

food coffee dark industry
Herbs and crystals can be used in modern witchcraft.

Wicca became recognized as an official religion in the United States in 1986. Thanks to the first amendment on the US Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Witches and black cats may still be suffering from the same superstitions that existed back in the times of the Salem Witch Trials. Next time you visit a shelter to adopt a cat, be sure to give some extra love to the black cats.

Witches and Black Cats Printables

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