Before we even learned how to write, cats were already hanging out with us. Archaeologists say our love for them goes back almost 10,000 years, and for nearly as long, the Egyptians carved it in stone — cats were just plain cool. But our view of cats has changed over time, depending on the culture and the moment in history.
How many lives does a cat have?
If you’re reading this from the UK or the USA, you probably know cats have nine lives. Or maybe not, because in Spain, Brazil, Greece, or Germany, cats only get seven, and in Turkey and some Arab countries, the belief is that they have six. Of course, if I had to choose, my cat would have infinite lives, but one thing is clear: cats’ amazing ability to narrowly escape danger or come out unscathed has sparked admiration and amazement in practically every culture.
Each culture loves its own myth, though. When we decided Kimchi, the cat in The Purring Quest, would have 7 lives, we had no idea the reactions we’d get from our fans: some were upset that he didn’t have 9, while others felt he should’ve had 6! What most people don’t realize is that the number isn’t random: 6, 7, or 9 are all considered lucky numbers, depending on the culture. So don’t worry: whether it’s 6, 7, or 9, what’s clear is that we all want cats, wherever they live, to have the best of luck.
How many languages does my cat know?
You’re walking down the street, and a cat crosses your path. Being a cat lover, you try to get its attention and approach it, but what sound do you make to call it? The way people call cats varies almost as much as the countries they live in.
In many places, people call cats by name: “minou-minou” in France or “here kitty, kitty” in the US. But in lots of other places, it’s more common to make short, repetitive sounds that might catch a cat’s attention, like pss-pss-pss in southern Europe, kss-kss-kss in many eastern European countries, or puss-puss-puss in Australia.
Some cats only respond to one sound (probably because that’s what they’re used to hearing), but plenty of others will react to more than one. So, your cat might just know more languages than you do—well, at least cat languages!
Do black cats bring bad luck but calico cats good luck?
Almost every culture has its contradictions when it comes to cats, like people couldn’t decide for hundreds of years whether they loved them or hated them.
In Japan, for example, there’s a widespread belief that cats can bring good fortune (which is part of the origin of the adorable maneki-neko), but there are also countless terrifying stories in Japanese folklore about giant, demonic cats (kasha and bakeneko).
Similarly, in European folklore, black cats are considered bad luck and associated with witches, the devil, and Walpurgis Night. At the same time, having a cat on board a ship is thought to bring good luck, and in some parts of Scotland, finding a black cat on your doorstep is said to be a sign of good news.
Setting aside the folklore, how much each culture believes in their superstitions and historical legacy affects how cats are treated today. In many Arab countries, where cats are seen positively and are symbols of protection and good fortune, people usually feed stray cats, and they’re just part of city life. People feel responsible for them and treat them with care and respect. In fact, stepping over a cat (especially if it’s sleeping) is considered bad luck. In other countries where, especially during the Middle Ages, cats were thought to be evil, linked to witchcraft, or just plain bad luck, cats are still hated by many and continue to suffer because of it.
In Stars in the Trash, we wanted to show how hard life can be for many cats in such tough conditions and tell that story through our game. If you’re as into cats as we are, you can add the game to your wishlist right here and experience it firsthand.
The latest from Valhalla Cats and things I found interesting this week:
- We’d like to congratulate our fellow cat-devs at @GameCopycat for their release of Copycat!
- Marionettes inspired by medieval cat paintings? I love them!
Have a wonderful day,
Jose
