Cat Sìth
Cat Sìth
Cat Sìth
The Cat Sìth (Scottish Gaelic: [kʰaʰt ̪ ˈʃiː]) or Cat Sidhe (Irish: [kat ̪ˠ
ˈʃiː], Cat Sí in new orthography) is a fairy creature from Celtic Cat sìth
mythology, said to resemble a large black cat with a white spot on its
chest. Legend has it that the spectral cat haunts the Scottish
Highlands. The legends surrounding this creature are more common
in Scottish folklore, but a few occur in Irish. Some common folklore
suggested that the Cat Sìth was not a fairy, but a witch that could
transform into a cat nine times.[1][2]
The Cat Sìth may have been inspired by the Scottish wildcat itself.[3]
It is possible that the legends of the Cat Sìth were inspired by Kellas
cats, which are a distinctive hybrid between Scottish wildcats and
domestic cats only found in Scotland (the Scottish wildcat is a
subspecies of the European wildcat, which is absent from elsewhere
in the British Isles).
References
Appearance
The Cat Sìth is all black with the exception of a white spot on its chest.[4] It is described as being as large as a
dog and chooses to display itself with its back arched and bristles erect.[4]
Samhain
On Samhain, it was believed that a Cat Sìth would bless any house that left a saucer of milk out for it to drink,
and those houses that did not let out a saucer of milk would be cursed into having all of their cows' milk dry.[1]
Taghaim
There was also a practice called Taghaim where they believed that the demonic Cat Sith called Big Ears would
appear and grant any wish to those who took part in the ceremony. The ceremony required practitioners to
burn the bodies of cats over the course of four days and nights.[6]
Transformation
Some people believed that the Cat Sìth was a witch that could transform voluntarily into its cat form and back
nine times.[1] If one of these witches chose to go back into their cat form for the ninth time, they would remain
a cat for the rest of their lives.[1] It is believed by some that this is how the idea of a cat having nine lives
originated.[1]
See also
Aos Sí
Cù Sìth
Cath Palug
Kellas cat
Beast of Bodmin
List of fictional cats
Phantom cat
The Black Cat (short story)
References
1. MacGillivray, Deborah. "The Cait Sidhe" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120821034420/http://d
eborahmacgillivray.co.uk/scotlore_caitsidhe.htm). Archived from the original (http://deborahmac
gillivray.co.uk/scotlore_caitsidhe.htm) on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
2. Robin Mudge (28 January 2015). "Meet the "King of Cats" From Celtic Folklore" (https://www.c
atster.com/lifestyle/cats-celtic-folklore-scottish-wildcat-cait-sidhe-sith-samhain-halloween).
Catster. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
3. Matthews, John; Caitlín Matthews (2005). The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures.
HarperElement. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-4351-1086-1.
4. Grimassi, Raven (2000). Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft (https://archive.org/details/ency
clopediaofwi00grim_0/page/76). St. Paul: Llewellyn. p. 76 (https://archive.org/details/encyclope
diaofwi00grim_0/page/76). ISBN 1-56718-257-7.
5. Jacobs, Joseph (1894). "The King o' the Cats". More English Fairy Tales (https://archive.org/det
ails/moreenglishfairy00jacoiala).
6. Rowan Moffet (15 August 2018). "The Cat Sìth in Celtic Mythology" (https://www.scotclans.com/
cat-sith-celtic-mythology/). scotclans. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
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