A Cornucopia of Cats

First there was Fathead, caught streaking through the backyard.

Second was Katsu (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), in search of indoor comforts.

Third was Yuki, a darling angel-devil in need of a loving home.

Followed by a motley trio of Big H, The One Yuki Chased, and The One Yuki Stared Down—all neighbourhood cats who seem to have held a meeting and unanimously decided to wander through our yard and peer into The Cabin with regularity.

(There may well be a few more cats who’ve shown their faces—they’re tricky to track, darting in and out of the yard with fleeting glimpses and sporadic visits.)

I don’t know what magic was cast last September when amidst a psychedelic adventure, Alicia commented that I reminded her of a cat—and I felt so, so seen.

But from that moment on, my life has taken a distinct turn towards the feline.

For someone who grew up with nary a cat around but has been discovering new dimensions of themself through living with 1.5 cats this year, I’ve found this turn of events rather strange, albeit welcome and appreciated from the depths of my being.

Although, as someone who fancies themself a wizard of sorts and holds a strong affinity for all things magic and mystical, perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised.

Allow me to explain:

Once upon a time, in a world filled with mysterious creatures and untold wonders, a particularly enigmatic animal prowled into human history: the cat.

Sleek, sly, and full of intrigue, cats quickly became entwined in the fabric of myth and magic. These whiskered wanderers charmed their way into our stories, homes, and perhaps most importantly, our imaginations. Throughout the ages, cats have held a place of mystical prominence, entwined with ancient beliefs and supernatural lore.

Their story begins in ancient Egypt, where cats were not merely companions but revered as divine beings. The goddess Bastet, a powerful protector of home and hearth, was often depicted with the head of a lioness or a domestic cat.

Bastet’s feline features embodies the grace, agility, and fierce protection that cats naturally exude. Egyptians believed that cats possessed the ability to see beyond the veil of the physical world, their eyes glinting with the knowledge of realms hidden from human view. This belief wasn’t unfounded—their nocturnal prowess and almost supernatural skill in hunting led Egyptians to associate them with the divine.

For a civilization that cherished harmony and protection, the silent elegance of cats made them worthy of reverence. Anyone who dared harm a cat faced dire consequences, as though the wrath of the gods might descend upon them.

As cats moved westward, they carried their mysterious reputation into medieval Europe—where cats found themselves at the centre of darker, more fearsome tales. 

Their ability to slink through shadows, dissolving into the night, fueled rumours that cats consorted with witches. Folklore swirled with stories of witches shape-shifting into cats to escape capture, or using cats as magical familiars (creatures that aided in casting spells and delving into forbidden knowledge).

The intense gaze of a cat, reflecting the flickering light of a fire or the pale glow of the moon, must have seemed otherworldly, giving the impression that cats possessed a deep connection to the mystical. In particular, black cats came to be feared, often regarded as omens of bad luck or even death.

Yet, in places like Scotland and Ireland, black cats were also considered bringers of prosperity and good fortune, a curious duality that only added to their mystique.

This mythical status didn’t come out of the blue. Their ability to melt into shadows and emerge silently from hiding gave the impression of otherworldly powers. When those glowing eyes peer out from the darkness, the line between reality and the supernatural seems to blur. For people living in times where the unexplained often led to whispers of sorcery, cats made the perfect candidates for magical association. 

No one can truly claim ownership of a cat (“stewardship” or “patronage” are better fits for the caring of cats), and that sense of independent mystery makes them appear to exist in two worlds at once: the mundane and the arcane.

As time passed, cats’ mystical allure never truly faded. 

During the Renaissance and later Victorian England, cats were celebrated not for fearsome powers, but for their elegance and mystery. Artists and writers found inspiration in their inscrutable nature, drawing upon cats’ uncanny ability to captivate. Edgar Allan Poe found cryptic elegance in cats, while Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat became the embodiment of whimsical magic, disappearing and reappearing with a grin as wide as the night itself.

Today, as cats puuurrrrr contentedly in homes worldwide, that ancient thread of mystery remains unbroken. Whether basking in the sun or observing the world from a perch, cats carry a presence that suggests an awareness of something deeper. 

Those gleaming eyes, often half-closed yet all-seeing, hold the same spark of magic that enchanted our ancestors. Maybe cats do know the secrets of the universe… 

Or maybe they just revel in the joy of keeping us forever guessing.

With love from the forest,

~ Alexander