Generally, humans live and view life from the following three standpoints. Black and white, Right and Wrong and Good and Evil. We also extend this same view to animals. For the purpose of this write-up, cats in particular.
Whenever we hold discussions on evil, cats are among the animals we mostly talk about. But why? Because cats by nature are nocturnal, elusive and independent. We have always associated them with dark and mysterious things. The question is – are cats evil?
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Behaviors In The Cat That Could Suggest Evil
The following are some of the behaviors that are commonplace in our feline friends that could suggest they have an evil nature.
Getting Rid Of Human ‘Stench’
Have you observed that your cat constantly licks and grooms herself after you touch her?
It is not probably because she loves to lick and groom herself. It is plainly to get rid of your supposed human stench.
A cat, when she tugs on her furs, stimulates glands that ooze its own scent. So anytime you touch her, and she starts licking and grooming her furs, she is just getting rid of your stench to smell more like itself. Humans consider this as being evil.
Imitating Snakes To Intimidate You
You may have noticed that your cat purrs and rolls its ears down. She may also bare her fangs, squint her slivered eyes and hiss. This is only mimicking a naturally feared animal, which most predators significantly avoided – THE SNAKE.
So, it is purely intentional when a cat imitates the snake to defend itself from predators or larger cats. This they do when attacked. When a cat purrs at you because you annoyed her, it is not just showing disapproval. It is actually telling you she can kill you by pretending to be a snake.
You May Also Interested In: Why Cats Purr?
Rubbing Against You To Declare Ownership
The mood of a cat by nature is usually hard to read. Generally, we believe cats purr and rub against their owners to show affection. But sometimes, it has nothing to do with friendships.
This is because when it rubs against you, it leaves a unique scent on you. The smell is a mark telling other animals that she has taken over you. So rubbing against you is just a way of claiming you as her property.
Meowing To Imitate A Human Baby
Studies have shown that the meowing of a cat is closely similar to the cry of a human baby. This is not considered to be a coincidence, but evil on the part of a cat.
Some Myths About Cats Dark Nature
Cats Are Likely To Give You Schizophrenia Or Cause A Miscarriage
Toxoplasma Gondii is a parasite sometimes found in the feces of a cat. According to research, an infection of the parasite in humans most commonly results in flu-like symptoms in healthy people. It could also result in schizophrenia. Now if pregnant women contract this parasite, they can pass it on to their fetus, and this could potentially cause a miscarriage.
Since cats like hunting, they can contract this parasite by eating contaminated raw meat or consuming an infected rodent. It is advised you keep your cat indoors and keep its paws away from raw meat. The parasite has a gestation period of about 1-5 days in the cat’s feces. So, changing the litter box daily reduces the risk of infection. However, note that cats are not the only source of infection. People can contract Toxoplasma Gondii infection if they eat undercooked meat.
Contaminated soil is another source of infection. This is why people are advised to wash their fruits and vegetables before consuming them. Also, experts strongly recommend that you wash your hands thoroughly after changing your cat’s litter box. At the very least, you should always use gloves when handling some suspect substances.
Cat Can’t Be Trained
There is a general belief that you cannot train your cats. This implies that their behavior is set in stone and that we cannot change it. This belief has prompted some cat owners to euthanize their feline friends.
As a result, we leave them to live outdoors or in shelters. Contrary to that myth, you can actually train your cats. It only requires more patience from the owners.
Some Myths And Perceptions Of Cats In Ancient Mythology
- Cats were seen and perceived to be evil. For instance; in Greek mythology and folklore, people associate black cats with the devil, as well as witches, witchcraft, and evil. We are all familiar with the story of the wife of Zeus. As punishment for interfering with her plan to delay the birth of Heracles, she transformed Galinthias, one of her servants, to a black cat. Galinthias later became an attendant of Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, magic, and death.
- Also, cats were associated with witches in the middle of the 14th century, during the time of the Black Death. As a result, they were killed en masse.
- In Europe and the United States, many still consider black cats as bearers of misfortune. But this is not the case in the United Kingdom, where the same is seen as good luck.
- It is also considered bad luck when a black cat passes in front of a person. But ironically, it is a sign of good tidings when it enters a house or a ship in the United Kingdom.
- In Africa, Ghana to be precise, people associate black cats with witchcraft.
- It is also considered bad when you sleep in the same room with a cat. Some people claim that the cat will steal the person’s soul and shorten his life.
Cats In Religious Books
The Israelites were said to be very suspicious of cats, thereby calling them the ‘demon of the desert.’ The Christian era further buttresses the links between demons and cats.
With the coming of Christ, people became weary of the influence of demons. But the said demons did not just disappear, they merely moved into a more receptive host they could find in animals; the Cat. Because cats are nocturnal, elusive and independent by nature, they are linked with dark and mysterious things. Cats are associated with the Moon, Death, and Magic. And as a result, many find it quite easy to link them to demonism and evil powers.
Cats in Movies
Most movies portray cats as a villain. Filmmakers present the cat to the viewing public as either possessed with weird eyes, which is always sometimes depicted by a black or white cat. Even worse, some other movie makers describe the cat as being cruel to rodents.
Generally, movies depict cats as either host of evil or bearers of bad luck. They are often elusive and aloof and when confronted, always deal unprecedented blows on their assailants.
Conclusion
In conclusion, is it the fault of the cat if the owners do not observe hygiene rules when handling them? Is it the fault of the cat, if trainers cannot exercise a little more patience when training them?
Or is it their fault they are naturally nocturnal in nature? Considering the above, should the cat be labeled evil? I guess this will remain an open debate for now.