Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-07-10
THE CAT IN FOLK LORE.
PROMINENT IN THE MYTHoL ocy
OF THE EARLIEST NATIONS.

The Cat Naturally Considered a Weather
Maker-Feiine Weather Wisdom in Va.
rious Ls.nds--Omens, and Superstitions.
In Nursery Lore-The Nine Lives.
The cat has figured in folk lore and ponu-
lar superstitions more than any other ami
NAL, except perhaps the serpent. and is
prominent in the mythology of the earliest
nations. In Egypt, especially, it was re-
garded with peculiar veneration, or with
superstitious fear. The presence of thou-
sands of mummies of cats testify To this
alteration of the feline tribe The ancient
"Book of the Dead" speaks of Mau, the Great
Cat, meaning the sun-the eye of that ami
NAL glowing and contracting in the light.
being taken to represent the orb of day. The
feline tribe is also prominent in India.
As an instrument of power in the hands of
Satan and his witch subjects, the cat would
naturally become a weather maker. Its early
connection with Diana, the moon goddess
would also indicate the same power over the
elements possessed by that orb. Witches fire.
quently used it to raise storms The cat is
particularly regarded with distrust bv sail
ors, who say; 1T carries a gale in its tail.n
and that it will surely provoke a storm to
throw one overheard. Even while on board
if it is unusually frolicsome, a gale of wind
is thought to be imminent. Many stories ore
told of storms caused by the sacrifice of a
cat. These animals are said to smell wind.
while pigs see it. This storm raising power
is not confined to witches familiars. nor To
cats at sea.
The cat is universally weatherwise. In the
west of Ireland you may obtain a good wind
by burying cat up to its neck in sand on the
seashore, with its head opposite to the desired
direction. There is an old story told in Block
Island of a man who shut cat up in a bar
rel to prevent a hostile skipper from sailing.
and no fair wind came until pussy was re-
leased. In Lancashire, stormy and wet
weather is coming when puss frisks about the
house. In Ireland, if she stretches so that
her paws touch bad weather will ensue
Scotch fishermen declare that if she sneezes
or ticks her paws rain will surely come In
Shetland, the cat ''gaanin in da uftn fortells
wind and ''sleepin On her harms" with the
back of her head DOWN indicates Gains. An
old English writer says: ''When the cat
washes her face over the ears we shall have
great store of rain"
A German proverb says, eff the cat basks
in the sun in February she will go back to
the stove In March" Seats counting the
fire." says the author of Natures Secrets
''more than ordinary, Or licking their feet
and trimming the hair of their head and
mustaches, prognosticates rainy weather."
In our own country if the cat sneezes it is a
sign of rain; if it snores, of foul weather
When cats wash themselves fair weather is
lInIeASs tba fapa iC h.
ear, in which case foul weather is imminent,
and rain if it is the head behind the ears.
If pussy washes her face after rain wind
will come from the point to which she turns,
and thaw will occur if she washes her face
with her back to the fire in winter Rain is
also Indicated when the cat scratches itself,
a storm when it claws chair or table legs.
lies on its head with its mouth open, or sits
tail toward tie fire. A change of weather is
indicatedI5y the identification of the cats
fur, and wind is coming when her tail is
bushy and stiff
The presence of the cat in the house is 1su-
ally deemed an omen of good luck ''Who
has a cat has happy married life," says a
German proverb In antiquity omens were
drawn from the entrance ard exit of strange
cats, and it was then bad sign TO have a cat
many places. In Ireland persons entering a
house say God save all here except the cat"
And if any one, in setting out upon jour
ney, should meet a cat and look it squarely
in the face, the journey must be postponed
1t is also an Ill omen for cat to cross your
path when You first go out in the morning
In Sussex, if the cat sneezes she must be sum-
marily elected from the house, for three such
explosions would bring misfortune upon the
family.
The cat has figured extensively in nursery
lore. The well known tale of "Puss in
Boots has been recognized in the popular
tales of many countries widely separated. In
Japan the Wind God is figured with cats
face and claws, and in China wooden cats
adorn the ridges Of the houses to ward off
storms and tempests. The Irish say there is
king of the cats who may be discovered by
nipping off a bit of his ear He will then
speak and declare his authority.
The cat in folk lore is commonly diaboli-
cal, and in the bag Of proverbs has probably
a diabolical allusion. The popular idea that
it has nine lives expresses its mystical char
acter.-F. S. Bassett in Globe-Democrat