Cat symbolism can be found just about anywhere. A cat is a common creature to run into, but if you’ve seen the felines more often than usual lately, you might wonder why.
Perhaps you’ve run into them when out on a morning walk or afternoon run. Maybe they’ve appeared in your dreams recently, or you’ve been out for a drive and noticed road names like Catamount, Persian, or Abyssinian.
You might even have cats in your home. If they’re spending more time with you than usual or being more affectionate, you’re probably wondering why. There are many reasons cats might appear in your life and things their presence might be trying to tell you.
What Does a Cat Symbolize
- Curiosity
- Mystery
- Independence
- Magic
- Protection
- Mischief
- Companionship
- Serenity
- Elegance
- Self-Respect
- Cunning
- Grace
- Intelligence
Types of Cats and Their Spiritual Meaning
Siamese
- You need to be more active
- You should engage more with others
- Be more extroverted
Persian
- Take some time for self-care
- Focus on your needs rather than those of others
- Slow down and reflect on your life and decisions
Bengal
- Looks can be deceiving
- Don’t fear the unknown
- Trust your instincts, but verify what you believe
Angora
- Enjoy and appreciate your surroundings
- Don’t take the things you have for granted
- Luxuriate in your senses
Sphynx
- Remain youthful
- Celebrate your differences
- Embrace your creativity
Cat Totem Animal
Invoking the cat totem animal means seeking resilience and new opportunities. Like the cat, with its nine lives, you are willing to take risks to achieve your goals in life.
But you are also cautious and want to understand a situation’s potential complications before jumping into something new.
Call upon the cat totem to add magic and mystery to your life. Or if you are seeking some relaxation and an opportunity to recharge.
Cats are fully invested in napping and taking time to spoil themselves. If you feel burnt out, consider invoking the cat totem to encourage yourself to take time for much-needed self-care.
Cat Spirit Animal
If the cat is your spirit animal, you are fiercely independent and don’t like to be tied down to a person, place, or situation. You listen to your instincts and seek out the most suitable conditions based on your own priorities and not on the expectations of others.
People with the cat as their spirit animals are also resilient. They bounce back quickly, always landing on their feet. But it also makes them cautious and considerate, calculating each move beforehand.
The cat might also appear to you to encourage you to get out of your shell and explore the world around you. It could indicate things have gotten dull, and you need to shake things up.
Consider the cat who keeps knocking things off the table or counter. What do you need to rearrange to change your perspective?
Pros of a Cat Spirit Animal
- Cats do what they want when they want to. If the cat is your spirit animal, you have a strong sense of independence.
- Some cats are domesticated, but many more are strays. They relish their liberty, as do those with the cat as their spirit animal. Even domesticated cats like to do things on their own terms.
- Cats are excellent at balance, both physically and mentally. If the cat is your spirit animal, you are probably good at juggling many responsibilities while keeping everything in line and under control.
- Despite their tendency to nap, cats can be very active animals. Those with the cat as their spirit animal tend to like physical activity and find it beneficial to maintaining their physical and mental well-being.
- Cats are also symbols of grace, as they are able to complete delicate balancing acts and keep themselves in check. Those with the cat as their spirit animal will likely stay calm in even the most stressful situations.
Cons of a Cat Spirit Animal
- Independence can go too far, causing you to become aloof, one of the negative traits of having the cat as your spirit animal. Be careful you aren’t cutting yourself off from others and becoming too remote.
- Another negative aspect associated with cats is their unwillingness to forgive. If the cat is your spirit animal, you could be prone to holding grudges. An inability to forgive hurts you and those who you haven’t forgiven. Set yourself free by letting go of that anger.
- As the saying goes, “Curiosity killed the cat.” If the cat is your spirit animal, you might be too willing to take risks or investigate things that might be better left alone.
- Cats, particularly black ones, have long been associated with bad luck and witchcraft. If the cat is your spirit animal, people may be wary of you. Try meeting them halfway and assuring them of your good intentions.
Cat Color Meaning
Black
Despite what you may have heard or long believed, seeing a black cat is not bad luck but often indicates a change is coming. This change could be positive or negative.
A black cat signifies you should keep your eyes open for impending changes and keep an open mind about their potential outcome.
Black cats symbolize gratitude and indicate you should take stock of your life and realize its abundance. It’s a sign that you shouldn’t take things for granted.
Trust that things are what and where they should be and that you are moving in the right direction, even if it may not seem that way.
White
White cats indicate purity and spirit. If you see one in a dream, it is a sign that you should pay attention to what is happening in your life and look for messages about what to expect next.
It could indicate a higher calling is on the horizon or that you need to return to your spiritual roots. Like a cat, trust your intuition to know what is right and to guide you in the appropriate direction.
Gray
Gray cats are a sign of intellectualism. But the actual message they are trying to convey can be challenging to interpret.
Some believe seeing a gray cat indicates harmony. Others think it is a sign of uncertainty. Others still believe it is a spirit trying to convey a message, which could be that you are on the right path or the wrong one.
A final interpretation of the gray cat is that it crosses the path of someone who is easily flattered and can be manipulated. Men who see gray cats are rumored to be subject to influence by deceitful women who will lead them astray.
Yellow or Orange
Yellow or orange cats – also known as ginger cats – most often indicate financial success and masculinity. They can also mean strength, decisiveness, or the capability to lead. Or that a change is coming and a new chapter is beginning.
Brown
Brown cats are a sign of stability; seeing one indicates you need to stay grounded. They also demonstrate wisdom and appreciation for life.
Tabby cats consist of multiple shades of brown. Seeing one can signify good news, practicality, or harmony. Ensure your communication with loved ones is honest if you see brown cats.
Calico
Seeing a calico, or tri-colored cat, indicates a change is coming to your life. As with most changes, it will be unexpected. And it will affect your day-to-day life in many ways.
If you encounter a calico, keep your eyes open for new friends, projects, or developments in your life.
Are Cats a Good Omen?
Whether cats are a good or bad omen depends on spiritual and cultural beliefs. The ancient Egyptians believed cats brought such good luck that the animals were worshipped as gods. They were entombed with their owners to bring peace and prosperity in the afterlife.
Those in medieval Europe had the opposite opinion. Like many early cultures, they believed cats were associated with witchcraft, making them bad luck.
Different cultures have different reasons for their beliefs, but most current societies consider the cat to be either good luck or utterly absent of it.
Dead Cat Symbolism
Seeing a dead cat could indicate that a period in your life is ending or that you must make changes and regain your independence.
It could suggest that a painful or challenging part of your life has finally ended. Or it might mean that personal growth or change is required. It might indicate that you must let go of old habits that no longer serve you or that you need to be open-minded about what the future holds.
The color of a cat can have significance here as well. Seeing a dead white cat could mean the end of innocence or purity. It may signify the loss of naivete and an awakening to some of the less pleasant truths of life.
On the other hand, seeing a dead black cat could mean a spiritual cleansing or the end of a period of negativity.
Cat Tattoo Meaning
Often, cat tattoos are memorials of beloved past pets but can also indicate spirituality or femininity. Other meanings include an independent or an untamed spirit.
Or its wearer could choose the tattoo for another of the cat’s meanings: grace, mystery, luck, protection, spirituality, or magic.
What Does a Cat Symbolize in the Bible?
Domesticated cats are uncommon in the Bible, and where they are mentioned, they are associated with paganism. Cats were routinely killed in Europe during the Middle Ages because of these messages, ultimately leading to an overpopulation of rats, causing the bubonic plague.
Cats also appear in The Last Supper, likely as a sign of the betrayal of Jesus.
What Does Seeing a Cat in Your Dreams Mean?
Cats Scratching You
Cats scratching you in a dream are an indication there is a betrayal happening in your life. This could be in any of your relationships. You must address the issues you have avoided.
Injured Cat
An injured cat in a dream is an indication of inner turmoil. Something is wrong in your life, and this dream is trying to tell you to recognize and address the issue.
Kittens
Dreaming of kittens is your inner child’s attempt to contact you. It is a sign you should consider the direction your life is going. You may be working too hard. Remember to take time to play.
Cat Eyes
Dreaming of cat eyes is a sign of confidence. It can also indicate vision and intuition, but it always means you are on the right path in your life and relationships and should stay the course.
A Cat Attack
A cat attacking you in your dreams indicates disagreements with close friends or family members. It often means you are avoiding confronting these situations, and it is time to finally face them.
Your Own Cat Companions
Dreaming of cats you’ve had as pets over the years could just be a sign that you are missing them after they’ve passed. Some people believe it is the spirit of your passed pet that’s come back to visit you and set your heart and soul at ease.
How to Interpret a Cat Encounter
Crossing paths with a cat could have positive or negative meanings, but it is always significant, indicating that reflection and change may be necessary. Different cultures have different beliefs about what it means when you and a cat come face to face.
A Cat Shows Up at Your Door
A cat showing up at your door is a sign of good luck. You should take it as a positive omen because it means good fortune is in your future.
A Cat Is Licking Its Paw and Cleaning Its Face
The Japanese believe a cat licking its paw and cleaning its face might indicate that you should tidy up. Visitors are coming, and you should be ready for their visit.
What Should You Do When You See a Cat?
According to The Humane Rescue Alliance, there are several things to consider when encountering a cat. Get down to his or her level and extend a hand slowly and cautiously. Allow the cat to proceed at its own speed and comfort level.
Don’t stare at him or her; this is a sign of aggression in cats. Observe the body language. Tail flicking, an arched back, and pinned ears indicate fear or anger and mean the cat is not ready to meet you. Don’t force the interaction.
If owners or caretakers are present, ask for and follow their advice. And don’t assume that a cat will remember you in the future. Introduce yourself again with caution.
Cat Symbolism and Spiritual Meanings
Italian Culture and Cat Symbols
Italians believe sneezing cats are good luck. It is a good omen to everyone who hears it.
Cat Symbolism in French Culture
The French believe dogs are prose, but cats are poetry. This speaks to the multifaceted and exquisite personalities of felines.
Cat Symbols in Indian Culture
Cats bring good luck and magic, according to Indian tradition. They are magical animals, and the culture believes that if you kill a cat, you need to repay a priest with a golden statute.
Norse Mythology and Cat Symbolism
The Norse Goddess, Freyja, symbolized fertility, love, battle, and death and traveled in a chariot drawn by cats. Farmers left offerings for the cats to ensure a good harvest.