What did black cats do to deserve the bad luck rap?
Nothing. Historically, it seems they were the victims of bad luck more than the perpetrators. Way back in 1348, middle agers were convinced that black cats were responsible for helping to spread the Black Death pandemic. Sadly, black cats were killed on sight and practically exterminated. The misguided humans paid dearly for that fatal mistake, as the plague was actually spread by rodents, who flourished with fewer cats on the prowl.
The black cats who did survive still couldn't shake the bad luck rap. As black magic and witchcraft spread across Europe in the 16th century, presumed witches often took in alley cats as companions. Rumor spread that witches could turn themselves into black cats, who were not spared in subsequent witch hunts.
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