Don't sell the domesticated cat short, for there is hardly a culture in folklore that does not have cats as symbols for something. In Egypt, they were given special privileges, and even their goddess Bast is shown as a cat, or with a cat's head. The temple cats wore heavily jeweled collars, and were treated like royalty.

In Scandinavia, the cat stood for fertility, and for the Hindu, it was the symbol for childbirth.

 IIn Ireland, a black cat crossing one's path by moonlight means death in an epidemic.

 In Normandy, seeing a tortoiseshell foretells death by accident.

 English schoolchildren believe seeing a white cat on the way to school is sure to bring trouble. To avert bad luck, they must either spit, or turn around completely and make the sign of the cross.

 Black cats are believed to be lucky, but in Yorkshire (England), whilst it is lucky to own a black cat it is extremely unlucky to come across one accidentally.