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Cat Sìth
A fairy cat, black with a white spot on its chest. It can steal souls from the dead. Or it might be a witch who transformed. The Cat Sìth haunts the Scottish Highlands.
Ancient - Present
Scotland and Ireland
500+ witnesses
The Cat Sìth is a fairy creature from Celtic mythology, appearing as a large black cat with supernatural powers.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
The Cat Sìth:
- Is a large black cat
- With a white spot on its chest
- From the fairy world
- Can steal souls
- May be a transformed witch
Description
The Cat Sìth appears as:
- A large black cat
- Size of a dog
- White spot on chest
- Arched back
- Glowing eyes
Soul Stealing
At wakes, the Cat Sìth:
- Could steal the soul before burial
- If it passed over the body
- People kept vigil to prevent this
- Distractions were used
- To keep it away from corpses
The Witch Theory
Some believe:
- The Cat Sìth is a witch
- Who can transform into cat form
- Only nine times
- On the ninth, they stay as a cat
- Forever
Samhain
On Halloween:
- Leave milk out for the Cat Sìth
- It will bless your house
- Neglect this, and your cows
- Will give no milk
The King of Cats
Related to legends of:
- The King of the Cats
- A ruler of all Cat Sìth
- Who attends funerals
- And has supernatural knowledge