The Strangest Superstitions About Cats From Around The World

Our feline friends come in all shapes and sizes, but some things will always remain the same. For one, they are the best breadmakers we have ever seen. They’re also the best at getting into loaf formation, finding all the sunny spots for a quick nap, and making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Of course, the idea of welcoming a cat into our lives is nothing new, but what about what the rest of the world thinks about our four-legged friends? The strangest superstitions about cats from around the world certainly have us taking another look at our pets after so long.

Indonesia: A wet cat can make it rain

It might sound obvious that a wet cat means it could be raining outside, but there is more to this superstition from Indonesia. In certain parts of the nation, cats have quite a say over the weather. So, if people wanted it to rain, they would pour water over a cat and sit back until the weather did its thing.

Japan: A cat grooming itself means someone is on the way

An unexpected guest can really throw a wrench in the works, but if you have a cat, you could have all the warnings you need. In Japan, it’s commonly believed that if a cat is washing its face with its paws that it’s not grooming - it means someone is on the way. It turns out there could be more to this than meets the eye, as other nations have their own versions of what a cleaning cat could mean. For example, in the US, you might get a visit from a member of the clergy if a cat suddenly starts to wash its whiskers.

Southern Europe: Cats can bring people back from the grave

Hearing that cats are thought to bring someone back from the grave in certain parts of Southern Europe might sound like a good thing, but it might not be all it appears on the surface. Superstitions claim that if a cat jumps onto someone’s grave, it means that they will return as a vampire. It wasn’t long before the tales spread across much of Europe and really worried a lot of people around graveyards for a time.

Worldwide: Black cats bring ships bad luck

When it comes to cats, black cats are the ones who have brought the most superstitions to life. You might have heard that they’re supposed to be bad luck, but people on ships really wanted to avoid black cats for a time. It was long believed that if a black cat walks onto a boat and then gets off, it means the ship will sink the next time it sets sail. That is unless you head to Ireland or Britain, where cats were thought to be good luck on ships.

Italy: A sneezing cat is meant to bring good luck

If you’re in Italy and you want a little bit of luck, you might want to track down a sneezing cat. More specifically, if a feline friend begins to sneeze, it could mean that money is on your way, while a bride hearing a sneeze from a cat on her wedding day means she’ll enjoy a good marriage. However, there are times when things might not be so lucky after all. If a cat sneezes three times in a row, it could mean that you’re about to come down with a cold.

The Netherlands: Cats love to gossip

Wonder how everyone suddenly knows everything about your life? You might want to take a closer look at your cat. At least, that’s what some people in the Netherlands believe, as here, it’s said that cats are some of the biggest gossips. According to the strange superstition, our feline friends love nothing more than sharing our deepest-darkest secrets with the world, which can lead to plenty of people avoiding secret conversations whenever a cat is around, just in case they spread gossip through town.

The strangest superstitions about cats from across the world show just how much influence our feline friends had had over the world for so long. Are they true? Perhaps not, but they do say that there is no smoke without fire…