A mother-of-three was pet-sitting her best friend’s cat when she noticed something strange about the animal’s behavior. In a video shared on TikTok, the Russian blue cat appeared to be staring angrily at her as she tried to communicate with it. The poster asked the cat if it was angry at its parents, to which the feline responded by hissing. The poster then tried to list things that the cat should be grateful for, but the cat continued to hiss at her. The poster jokingly commented that the cat might be possessed, as it seemed to respond to her words in a strange manner.
Cats have historically been associated with magic and evil, leading to the superstition that they are possessed. This belief has affected black cats in particular, as they are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized in shelters than cats of other colors. Historically, cats were highly regarded in some of the biggest empires, such as Egypt and China. However, during the Middle Ages, the medieval church began associating cats with evil and witchcraft, leading to a large number of cats being killed. This had consequences during the Black Plague when the rat population increased without the presence of cats.
The video of the woman pet-sitting her best friend’s cat quickly went viral on social media, receiving over 2.1 million views and more than 385,000 likes on TikTok. Many users commented on the cat’s unusual behavior, with one user noting how the cat’s responses changed with each question asked by the poster. Another user humorously suggested that the poster should have holy water on hand. Newsweek reached out to the TikTok user for comment but was unable to verify the details of the case. The video sparked discussions about cats’ behavior and beliefs surrounding them being possessed.
Overall, the video of the woman pet-sitting her friend’s cat and jokingly suggesting that it might be possessed due to its unusual behavior garnered a large amount of attention on social media. The superstition surrounding cats and their association with magic and evil has had negative consequences for black cats, who are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized in shelters. Despite this, cats have been highly regarded in many cultures throughout history, with Egypt and China being just a few examples. The video sparked conversations about cats’ behavior and beliefs surrounding them being possessed, highlighting the continued stigma that affects felines today.
