1454: "The Sordid History of Black Cats"

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Written By JC

Interesting Things with JC #1454: "The Sordid History of Black Cats" – A vanished boy. A papal decree. A plague. For centuries, one animal took the blame. But what were people really afraid of?

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title: The Sordid History of Black Cats
Episode Number: #1454
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: History, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Folklore

Lesson Overview

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Define the term "Vox in Rama" and explain its historical impact on perceptions of black cats.

  • Compare superstitions about black cats across different time periods and cultures.

  • Analyze the social consequences of fear-driven beliefs during events like the Black Death and Salem Witch Trials.

  • Explain how human behavior shaped the history of animal persecution and public health outcomes.

Key Vocabulary

  • Vox in Rama (VOX in RAH-mah) — A papal decree issued in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX that accused heretics of devil worship involving black cats, fueling widespread superstition.

  • Superstition (soo-per-STISH-un) — A belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown, often linking unrelated events, such as believing black cats bring bad luck.

  • Heretic (HAIR-uh-tick) — A person who holds beliefs that go against established religious doctrine. In medieval Europe, heretics were often accused of evil or devilish behavior.

  • Black Death (blak deth) — The deadly plague that swept through Europe from 1347 to 1351, killing millions and causing widespread fear, misinformation, and scapegoating.

  • Maneki-neko (mah-NEH-kee neh-koh) — A traditional Japanese figurine often believed to bring good fortune; black versions were thought to ward off evil spirits.

Narrative Core

  • Open
    In 1665, aboard the merchant ship Hopewell, a black cat crosses the deck. A sailor disappears. The captain writes: “Unlucky sign. Boy lost.” The chilling hook connects superstition to human consequence.

  • Info
    Introduces the origin of black cat fear, tracing it to the 1233 papal decree Vox in Rama, which accused heretics of satanic rituals involving black cats.

  • Details
    Explores the mass cat killings during festivals, the spread of the Black Death worsened by the absence of cats, and how these fears played out again during the Salem witch trials.

  • Reflection
    Highlights how superstition reveals human fear and how poor reasoning led to societal harm. The black cat became a scapegoat, showing how irrational beliefs can worsen real-world problems.

  • Closing
    “These are interesting things, with JC.”

A sleek black cat with glowing amber eyes sits calmly on a wooden surface surrounded by small orange and black pumpkins, dried twine, and autumn decor. The background is dimly lit with warm orange lights and Halloween-themed elements like spiderwebs. At the top, bold text reads: “Interesting Things with JC #1454 — The Sordid History of Black Cats.”

Transcript

In the fall of 1665, a merchant ship called the Hopewell sat low in the Thames River. A black cat walked across the deck. Sailors froze. One crossed himself. Before nightfall, the cat was gone—and by morning, so was a young deckhand. The captain wrote just four words in the log: “Unlucky sign. Boy lost.”

That kind of fear it wasn’t rare. For centuries, black cats weren’t just disliked…they were hunted. People thought they were cursed, even tied to the devil.

The story starts in the 13th century. In 1233, Pope Gregory the Ninth issued a decree called Vox in Rama (VOX in RAH-mah). It claimed heretics worshipped the devil in a form of the black cat. There wasn’t much proof, but back then, church law shaped daily life. Soon, towns across Europe were burning cats during festivals, convinced they were driving out evil.

In places like Metz (meh-ts), France, and Ypres (EE-pruhs), Belgium, people threw cats into fires or off towers in public rituals. By the 1300s, it had become tradition. Then came the Black Death.

The plague hit Europe in 1347. It spread through fleas carried by rats…but nobody knew that. They blamed cats instead. Cities like London and Basel (BAH-zul) ordered mass killings. Without cats, rats then took over. Fleas spread faster, and millions more died. Between 1347 and 1351, about 50 million people, roughly 60 percent of Europe’s population, they were gone.

Fear made the problem worse.

Even after the plague, black cats kept their bad reputation. In England and colonial America, people believed they worked with witches. During the Salem trials in 1692, witnesses swore they saw cats turn into women or vanish into thin air. One woman confessed she had a black kitten “that came on a storm night”…and that confession sent her to the gallows.

Still, superstition cut both ways. Sailors said a black cat crossing your path before a voyage was bad luck, but having one on board brought safety and full nets.

In Ireland, some farmers buried black cats under doorsteps to guard against evil spirits. The same animal meant curse or protection depending on who you asked.

By the 1800s, attitudes began to shift. Queen Victoria spoke out for animal welfare, and Britain’s new RSPCA changed how people saw cruelty. Black cats even turned into symbols of luck for sailors’ families waiting at home. In Japan, the maneki-neko (mah-neh-kee neh-koh), the little beckoning cat statue, was already a charm for good fortune, and a black version was said to keep evil away.

Even today, though, old shadows do linger…and black cats are still the least adopted in American shelters. In 2022, about one in four never found homes. Some rescues pause adoptions every October to keep them safe from abuse. Centuries after Vox in Rama, the bias hasn’t vanished. It’s still there...

The story of the black cat isn’t really about cats at all…it’s about people. It shows how fear can dress itself up as reason, and how easily we destroy what protects us. Killing cats helped the plague spread. Blaming color created cruelty. Every superstition tells us more about the humans who believe it than the creatures they blame.

A black cat crossing your path doesn’t bring bad luck. But fearing it…that’s the curse we made ourselves.

These are interesting things, with JC.

Student Worksheet

  1. What was Vox in Rama, and how did it influence the treatment of black cats?

  2. How did the Black Death spread, and why did killing cats make the situation worse?

  3. Describe how black cats were involved in the Salem witch trials.

  4. What are some examples of black cats being seen as good luck rather than bad?

  5. In your opinion, why do you think black cats are still treated differently today?

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time
45–60 minutes

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy

  • Introduce keywords using context-driven flashcards

  • Preview historical terms using a visual timeline from 1233 to present day

  • Discuss what students already know about superstitions

Anticipated Misconceptions

  • Belief that people during the Black Death understood disease transmission

  • Thinking that all cultures viewed black cats the same way

  • Overestimating the role of witches in historical legal systems

Discussion Prompts

  • How does fear shape the way we treat animals or each other?

  • What are modern superstitions, and do they have historical roots?

  • Can symbols like black cats ever truly shed their reputations?

Differentiation Strategies

  • ESL: Use image-based vocabulary and sentence stems for key ideas

  • IEP: Provide scaffolded paragraph frames for writing tasks

  • Gifted: Research cat symbolism in other cultures and present findings

Extension Activities

  • Design a “myth-busting” poster correcting superstitions about black cats

  • Write a short historical fiction story from the point of view of a black cat during the plague

  • Analyze adoption statistics from shelters and propose awareness campaigns

Cross-Curricular Connections

  • Biology: Study of disease vectors (rats/fleas and plague transmission)

  • Ethics: Human responsibility in treating animals

  • Media Literacy: How symbols (like black cats) gain and lose meaning

Quiz

Q1. What year was Vox in Rama issued?
A. 1347
B. 1233
C. 1692
D. 1802
Answer: B

Q2. What animal was incorrectly blamed for the spread of the Black Death?
A. Rats
B. Fleas
C. Cats
D. Dogs
Answer: C

Q3. In which country did people throw cats off towers during festivals?
A. Ireland
B. France
C. Japan
D. Spain
Answer: B

Q4. What is the maneki-neko in Japanese culture?
A. A ghost
B. A bell
C. A lucky cat statue
D. A witch’s potion
Answer: C

Q5. Why are some shelters cautious about adopting out black cats in October?
A. They are too expensive to care for
B. They often escape
C. They’re linked to abuse during Halloween
D. They’re thought to bring good luck
Answer: C

Assessment

  1. Analyze how superstitions influenced real-world events in both the Middle Ages and colonial America.

  2. Reflect on how the fear of black cats reflects broader themes of scapegoating and social behavior.

3–2–1 Rubric

  • 3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful

  • 2 = Partial or missing detail

  • 1 = Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

Common Core (CCSS):

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2 — Determine the central ideas of a historical text.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate in collaborative discussions.

C3 Framework (NCSS):

  • D2.His.1.9-12 — Evaluate how historical events were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place.

  • D2.Civ.14.9-12 — Analyze historical sources for perspective and bias.

NGSS (Science Connection):

  • HS-LS2-8 — Evaluate evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive.

ISTE (Technology & Digital Citizenship):

  • ISTE 3a — Students plan and employ effective research strategies.

UK National Curriculum (History KS4):

  • AQA 8145/1A — Understanding the significance of beliefs and attitudes in early modern Britain.

IB MYP Individuals & Societies:

  • Criterion B: Investigation — Use research methods to analyze historical beliefs and consequences.

Show Notes

This episode traces the dark and fascinating history of black cats through the lens of human superstition, religious influence, and societal fear. From papal decrees to plague-era panic to witch trials and adoption biases, JC explores how one animal became a cultural scapegoat. The story is not about cats, it’s about how fear warps judgment and creates consequences that ripple through time. This episode connects strongly to themes of critical thinking, public health, ethics, and media literacy. For educators, it’s a valuable case study in how myths influence human behavior and decision-making.

References

JC https://jimconnors.org
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