The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-01-15
u.s..
FELINEs AS DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Early Record Of CatS-Their Sacredness in
Ancient Egypt-Superstitions
Concerning Them.

Ancient Egypt-SuperStitions
Concerning Them.
In an essay on cats the first question
that meets us is: At what period did cats
become inmates of human habitations?
1t is scarcely possible to determine. but
there is good reason to believe that they
were first domcsticated in Egypt some
five hundred years before Christ. They
were held then as sacred. and death was
the penalty for killing them. The will
full destruction of a cat in Egypt is looked
upon as very serious otlensc even now.
THE SACREpNESS OF CATS.
Diana, or Pasht, as that goddess was
called iii Egypt. was the tutelary deity
of cats. Various reasons are assigned for
the curious selection Of the cat as the ami
NAL worthy of being dedicated to the
moon. One is that their nocturnal lab-
its and glossy fur "ere synbolcal of the
moon. A golden cat was worshpcd at
Syenc, and the figure of cat was fixed
on a sistrum to denote the moon. just as
the figure Of u frog on Il ring denotes
man in embryo. If a cat was found dead
shave off their eyebrows. The defunct
animals were carried into the temples,
where they We're embalmcd and solemnly
deposited in the city Bubastis. \ story
is told of a Stratagem of Il Roman gen
erai. who, besieging city of Egypt, or
dered certain number of cats to be
placed at the head of his troops. The
beseged did not dare to use their arrows
and balliste: for fear of killing one of
these venerated animals. and the city
was easily taken. Diodorous relates that
Roman who killed, inadvertently. the
cat of one of his neighbors, was taken
prisoner. tried. condemned. and sentenced
to death.
THE PROPHETS CAT.
All good Mussulmans profess great
affection for the cat and say very seri-
ously that the cat Of the prophet was 4
being preferred for heaven. In coniir-
nation of this assertion they relate the
following story: The prophet was one day
seated. listening to the voice of heaven.
The sleeve of his vestment lay upon the
ground. His cat approached, curled her
self up on the sleeve, and there lepoSed.
\ few moments after, the hour of prayer
sounded. The prophet wished to rise in
order to 20 to prayers, but could not do
it without disturbing the cat. which at
that moment appeared to be absorbed in
profound meditation and conversing with
lunar voices. What was to be done? He
toos a pair of scissors, cut of the piece
Of the sleeve on which the cat repoScd.
and went to his devotions. Upon his re-
turn the eat arose and bowed by bending
its spine like a bow. Mahomct conpre-
hended what this proceeding signiiied.
and bestowed upon the cat his benedic-
ton, and said: Thou askest me for
place in my paradise. Thou shalt have
it. Then passing his hand three times !
over the back of the animal he added
" by this sign give to thee and to thine
the power of falling only upon the feet"
One perceiveS that Mahomet was @euer-
Gus. This consideration OF the prophet |
toward felines rendered them an object |
of veneration to the Mussulmans.
THE CAT IN LAW.
Tho ,11 ",1eL l,,r -
Good CA. D. 943) laid down: THE worth |
of kitten until it shall open its eyes is |
one legal penny: from that time till it |
shall kill mice, two legal pennies: after |
it shall kill mice, four legal pence. and |
So it shall always remain. There could |
he no legal hamlet in the old Welsh con-
unless it possessed 4 cat.
CATS As SATANIC AGENCIES.
In the middle ages cats were looked on
of being the only animals that ill-famed |
old women could induce to live in their |
houses: consequently they naturally be-
came associated with witchcraft and all |
that was diabolical by the credulous peo-
pie OF those times. They were often
burned alive. In Paris. every st. Johns !
day. a number of the abhorred animals |
were heaped mp in baskets and bags in
the Place de Grevc to afford an aHto-da-
te, the sovereign himself setting fire to
the pile. This practice continued for Il
81, 1, 1
in that manner being Louis XIV.
surERsrllIoNS ABOUT CATS.
The cat has been connected With many
curious superstitions in various parts of |
the world. In some localities. Tor in
stance. it IS believed that witches in the
shape of eats are in the habit of roaming |
auout the roofs of the houses during the
month of February; hence they were
promptly Shot. In Germany, also a SINH
in consequence of which they are never
allowed to 20 near the cradles of young |
children. though it is not easy to under |
stand why the young should be more ex-
posed to danger from these SupposititiouS /
witches than those more advanced in |
years. Numerous instances might be |
given of the incredible nonsense that has
been believed and is believed about eats. |
In Sweden the peasants have a deep |
rooted faith i'll the cat carrier. This be-
lief is traceablc to the seventeenth CEN
tury. At this period there were seventy
tried who made nearly the following dec. |
laration: After compelling them to sign
4 compact with him the devil often served
hearty dinners. followed by games and
wrestling. When he was in good humor
he thrashed them with long pole. "af-
ter which he laughed heartily or played
the harp in order to divert them and make
them dance. They added that he made
each of them Il present of a cat endowed
with certain gifts. This eat comprehend
ed all that was said to it. and would 90
out and steal objects that We're indicated
without the poSsesSor being able to per
ceive him. At the present time the peas
ant does not complain, whatever object
is stolen from him. They attribute the
theft to 4 cat carrier. In Sicily. where
the cat is looked upon as sacred to St
Martha, there is Y superstition that any
one who willfully or accidentally kills
eat will be punished by the serious retri-