The cat of the foregoing legend had evidently charming manners, and was
well intentioned; but there are other cats of evil and wicked ways,
that are, in fact, demons or witches, who assume the cat-form, in order
to get easy entrance to a house, and spy over everything.
There was a woman in Connemara, the wife of a fisherman, and as he
always had very good luck, she had plenty of fish at all times stored
away in the house ready for market. But to her great annoyance she
found that a great cat used to come in at night and devour all the best
and finest fish. So she kept a big stick by her and determined to watch.
One day, as she and a woman were spinning together, the house suddenly
became quite dark; and the door was burst open as if by the blast of
the tempest, when in walked a huge black cat, who went straight up to
the fire, then turned round and growled at them.
“Why, surely this is the devil!” said a young girl, who was by, sorting
the fish.
“I’ll teach you how to call me names,” said the cat; and, jumping at
her, he scratched her arm till the blood came. “There now,” he said,
“you will be more civil another time when a gentleman comes to see
you.” And with that he walked over to the door and shut it close to
prevent any of them going out, for the poor young girl, while crying
loudly from fright and pain, had made a desperate rush to get away.
Just then a man was going by, and hearing the cries he pushed open the
door and tried to get in, but the cat stood on the threshold and would
let no one pass. On this, the man attacked him with his stick, and gave
him a sound blow; the cat, however, was more than his match in the
fight, for it flew at him and tore his face and hands so badly that the
man at last took to his heels and ran away as fast as he could.
“Now it’s time for my dinner,” said the cat, going up to examine the
fish that was laid out on the tables. “I hope the fish is good to-day.
Now don’t disturb me, nor make a fuss; I can help myself.” With that he
jumped up and began to devour all the best fish, while he growled at
the woman.
“Away, out of this, you wicked beast!” she cried, giving it a blow with
the tongs that would have broken its back, only it was a devil; “out of
this! No fish shall you have to-day.”
But the cat only grinned at her, and went on tearing and spoiling and
devouring the fish, evidently not a bit the worse for the blow. On
this, both the women attacked it with sticks, and struck hard blows
enough to kill it, on which the cat glared at them, and spit fire; then
making a leap, it tore their hands and arms till the blood came, and
the frightened women rushed shrieking from the house.
But presently the mistress returned, carrying with her a bottle of holy
water; and looking in, she saw the cat still devouring the fish, and
not minding. So she crept over quietly and threw the holy water on it
without a word. No sooner was this done than a dense black smoke filled
the place, through which nothing was seen but the two red eyes of the
cat, burning like coals of fire. Then the smoke gradually cleared away,
and she saw the body of the creature burning slowly till it became
shrivelled and black like a cinder, and finally disappeared. And from
that time the fish remained untouched and safe from harm, for the power
of the Evil One was broken, and the demon cat was seen no more.
* * * * *
Cats are very revengeful, and one should be very careful not to offend
them. A lady was in the habit of feeding the cat from her own table
at dinner, and no doubt giving it choice morsels; but one day there
was a dinner party, and pussy was quite forgotten. So she sulked and
plotted revenge; and that night, after the lady was in bed, the cat,
who had hid herself in the room, sprang at the throat of her friend
and mistress, and bit her so severely that in a week the lady died of
virulent blood poisoning.
* * * * *
Yet it is singular that the blood of the black cat is esteemed of
wonderful power when mixed with herbs, for charms; and also of great
efficacy in potions for the cure of disease; but three drops of the
blood are sufficient, and it is generally obtained by nipping off a
small piece of the tail.