Page 22 - FWG October Issue 2024

Animals Matter

A FUR-RIGHTFUL HALLOWEEN

s we approach the advent of Halloween, many children sanitation was, the first Bubonic Plague hit England in 1348, known
(and adults) will start looking for spooky costumes, wear as the Black Plague. The plague killed an estimated 25 million
scary make-up and share ghoulish make-believe stories people overall, sweeping through Asia and Europe, and lingered for
Aaround a campfire. I thought I would share a real horror centuries in cities, killing one in five residents in the second Great
story that keeps with this theme. It is not for the faint-hearted, but if Plague of London (1665 – 66). These were only two of the nearly
you enjoy a bit of history, make a cup of coffee and settle down for forty plagues suffered between these dates.
a read.
The Black Death was caused by the bites of the fleas of the native
Cats and humankind black rat, and the only possible control of the rats would have
Many centuries ago, with the advent of villages and towns and the been the cats. Despite this fact, as people had no idea where the
various human settlements, cats had begun to live harmoniously plague came from and had no reference between the number of
with man in a mutualistic relationship. In other words, man provided cats, rodents, and disease, they believed that cats had caused the
the shelter, scraps and filth that attracted the rats and mice and cats outbreak. There was an order by the Lord Mayor of London to kill all
provided fur, meat, pest control and companionship. Nevertheless, of them, in turn leading to the further loss of human life.
humanity’s relationship with cats has also been tumultuous.
Witches
The persecution of the cat dates back many centuries and had a lot There is no question that the cat has gone through horrific, tortuous
to do with how the Christian Church in Europe depicted them. It was times in the name of the Medieval Church, being positioned in
during the Middle Ages, which lasted about 1000 years when beliefs society as a symbol of heresy. Cruelty in the name of Christianity
in witches abounded, and women were tortured and put to death, was carried out; those who harboured or kept them were thought
along with their cats, especially black ones. to be Devil-worshipers, casting evil spells on innocents.

Understanding the psyche of the society at the time is necessary to In northern Europe, Folklore believed witches went to their
understand the horrors of the cruelty levelled against humans and meetings on the backs of demons disguised as cats and had “animal
cats alike. It was an era filled with violence and paranoia, disease, familiars” who did their evil bidding in return for shelter and food.
and famine outbreaks. Above all, it was a society subjected to the The witch could transform into a cat at night, and in her cat shape,
absolute autonomy of the Church, which expected obedience and she could come into a house and smother someone whilst they
unquestioning faith. In addition, penance for someone’s sins required were sleeping – this was a “medical” rationale for asthma attacks or
confession in public, contributing to the mass hysteria of the time. allergic reactions.

Biblical scholars have mentioned that during this period, the Rumours were plentiful that if a cat was wounded in a particular
authority of the Church took over from the scriptures of the Bible, as a area of his body, then the witch had the same wound the next day.
supreme authority, challenging the state. Faith depended less on the Cats’ eyes were seen to be particularly evil, with their eyes glowing
Bible and more on the Church, which was becoming a cultural force in the dark. They believed that light was stored during the day and
in society. A mindset of a fusion of pagan and biblical enforcement. that the animals could shine their eyes at will.

The plague On feast days, which were celebrated to promote the casting out
With man not having had an awareness of how important of the Devil, cats were tortured in awful ways, they were thrown on

Fourways Gardens • 20 • October 2024