Lavish funerals held for favorite cats included tiny coffins and even mummified mice for snacking on in the afterlife. Many cultures include deities who either are represented by, or associate with cats. Bast, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and love appeared in feline form. In Scandinavia, the fertility goddess Freyja was linked with felines. In the Hindu religion the goddess of childbirth, Shasthi, rode upon a cat.
Cats have a controversial past, with black cats being considered both good and bad luck.
If a black cat crossed your path and nothing bad happened, it was then considered a positive omen. Their long history of magick and reputation of having nine lives stems also from this skill. The favorite prey of domestic cats includes rodents, birds and rabbits. Though they have many natural enemies, the dog is most often sited. Tigers' strength and fierceness have long frightened people.