Cat Facts 25

•  85. Prophet Muhammed
• Fond of felines, the prophet blessed his pet, Meuzza, by placing his hand on its head. After withdrawing, an “M” pattern appeared on the forehead that can still be seen today among tabby cats.
• 
  
• 86. Chinese Goddess
• Who said cat-worship is exclusive to Egypt? The Chinese goddess Li Shou is depicted as a cat who controls pests and fertility. Farmers routinely spoiled her with their sacrifices.
• 
  
• 
  
• 87. Legendary Laziness
• In another Chinese myth, gods gave cats the power to speak and told them to manage the world. However, cats being cats, they simply slept under cherry trees and played with falling blossoms. Humans got the job instead.
• 
  
• 88. Japanese Beckoning Cat
• A temple cat raised her paw to acknowledge the passing emperor. Intrigued, he entered the temple and narrowly missed a lightning strike. He honored the cat for saving his life. Since then, the image of the “Beckoning Cat” became a symbol of good luck.
• 
  
• 89. Freya’s Cat-drawn Chariot
• In Norse mythology, the goddess of love and war rides a chariot drawn by cats. Artists across the centuries depicted these in various forms, from adorable house cats to intimidating beasts.
• 
  
• 90. Cats and the Goddess Hecate
• Greek god Zeus got Princess Alcmene pregnant. A clever maid-servant prevented his wife, Hera, from killing the princess (who would give birth to Hercules). Angry Hera transformed the maid into a cat and made her serve Hecate, the goddess of death, darkness, and witchcraft.
• 
  
• 91. Pope Gregory IX’s Evil Cats
• Unsuspecting cats were demonized during the Middle Ages. The pope linked them to satanism and witchcraft in 1233, particularly targeting black cats. Large-scale hunting followed.
• 
  
• 92. The Black Death
• With fewer cats remaining, rats multiplied and spread diseases across Europe and beyond. The pandemic known as the Black Death is the worst ever recorded with fatalities estimated between 75 and 200 million.
• 
  
• 93. Enlightenment and Revival
• Fortunately for cats, reason won over superstition during the Enlightenment. Great Britain’s fascination over Egyptian culture led to adoption of cats among the royals and other prominent personalities.