Bless you, kitty cat

With Friday the 13th upon us, you may feel especially leery of black cats, who in the Middle Ages were believed to transform themselves into witches after so many years of companionship. There is hardly a culture that doesn’t regard cats as holy or diabolical creatures. For example,

• A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. – Scottish

• A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. – Italian

• When a cat washes behind its ears, you may expect visitors. – Dutch

• A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather ahead. – English

• It is bad luck to cross a stream carrying a cat. – French

• Dreaming of a white cat means good luck. – American

• To kill a cat brings 17 years of bad luck. – Irish