Cultural Depictions Of Cats

The cultural depiction of cats and their relationship to humans is as old as civilization and stretches back over 9,500 years. Cats have figured in the history of many nations, are the subject of legend and are a favorite subject of artists and writers.

Ancient Egypt: Cats, known in ancient Egypt as the mau , played a large role in ancient Egyptian society. They were associated with the goddesses Isis and Ba'at . Cats were very commonly depicted in art and routinely mummified.

United States and Europe: Black cats are generally held to be unlucky in the United States and Europe, are however to portend good luck in the United Kingdom. In the latter country, a black cat entering a house or ship is a good omen, and a sailor's wife should have a black cat for her husband's safety on the sea. Elsewhere, it is unlucky if a black cat crosses one's path; black cats have been associated with death and darkness. White cats, bearing the color of ghosts, are conversely held to be unlucky in the United Kingdom, while tortoiseshell cats are lucky.

Africa: Cats are considered a delicacy by the West African Ewe people, who believe that eating cat meat, particularly the head, brings good luck to the eater and would prevent them from dying in a foreign land. In Ghana, cats are often associated with witchcraft and evil. Thus, seeing a black cat in one's dream is considered a bad omen.

Modern culture: Cats have also featured prominently in modern culture. For example, a cat named "Mimsey" was used by MTM Enterprises as their mascot and features in their logo as a spoof of the MGM lion. As of 1990 cats were the most popular subject depicted on gift items, such as coasters, napkins, jewelry, and bookends. An estimated 1,000 stores in the United States sold nothing but cat-related items.



Written By:
Niya Mahad