78 CAT 



Wall penny-wort, viz., " Lamhan cat-leacain," the hill-cat's glove ; 

 elsewhere Cameron calls it leacan or loan (? Ion) cat. The herb 

 wild melilot is called " Cruban cait." Small headed cats are 

 said to be the best hunters. The smallness of the wild cat's head 

 in comparison with its body is notable, also the fact that the real 

 wild-cat's tail is thicker at the " small " or point than at the rump 

 is worth mentioning. 



Cats had their value of old, though perhaps this is nowadays 

 unknown or more honoured in the breach than in the observance ; 

 for instance, an old law actually existed among our Welsh cousins 

 fixing the price of a cat, which was "as much corn as would cover 

 her (note the sex) if hanging by her tail and touching the ground," 

 this was exacted from the slayer. The natural life of a cat is 

 said to be ten years. 



Superstitions as to cats are, as is pretty generally known, 

 somewhat numerous. For instance, a male cat coming into a 

 house and being friendly to any one, is deemed a lucky omen. 

 To meet a cat as the first animal for the year is lucky, but only 

 to Mackintoshes (and members generally of the great Clan 

 Cattan, it is said), for others it is untoward or rosadach, especially 

 if the cat be black ; a good antidote is to throw a nail or other 

 piece of iron at it. If met first thing (outside) in the morning 

 nothing will go well that day, and the party need not prosecute 

 any projected journey, etc. It is unlucky for a cat to die inside 

 a dwelling-house, and to shoot one is equally so — this fate game- 

 keepers seem to escape. If a cat is cast over a fever patient it 

 will effect a cure, but it should not be left alone with the patient 

 or with an infant, as it is apt to lie on the mouth and suck the 

 breath. By a cat's motions storms are foretold, washing her face 

 always before rain, but she must make her paw go over her 

 ears, and her back must be to the fire ; cold weather may also be 

 looked for. To make a cat stay at home oil or grease her paws, 

 probably the effect will be that she will spend all her time at 

 home licking them. 



A cat should always be taken, according to one — the humane — 

 version, when a family removes from one house to another. It is 

 thought unlucky not to do so, and said to be a preventative against 

 disease. Pussy should be "thrown" into the new house first, 

 this is supposed to bear the burden of any disease, etc., left 

 therein. Another — the inhuman — version is, in Ireland however, 

 that it is best to leave poor pussy behind when flitting, though she 

 may be taken to the new house in a few days. In Ireland a saying 

 is, on entering a house, " God save all here except the cat." A cat 

 sneezing indicates rain, and to dream of being bitten by one 

 means the plotting of enemies. If a cat goes into a pot it is a 

 presage of fish coming — or being brought into the house. These 

 beliefs are common all over the North and West Highlands, and 

 the Folk-lore Journals have secured several lately, one of which 



