The Medieval Cats subreddit has been around since 2019 and has amassed nearly 5,000 members. But it’s no surprise that this community has been so successful. It has a simple premise, asking members only to share “pictures of medieval cats,” but it seems like they’ll never run out of images to post!
In this subreddit, you can find portraits of royal cats, hilarious looking cats playing musical instruments, creepy cats that might give you nightmares and even precious pets that must have been extremely loved by their owners. If you have cats of your own, I’m sure you’ll see some images that look surprisingly familiar on this list. And if you’re not a cat owner, well, maybe these images will inspire you to become one!
#5 There's This Cat Painting In My City's Museum That Cracks Me Up Every Time I See It
One interesting fact about cats during the Middle Ages is that they weren’t always seen as a good thing. In fact, World History Encyclopedia explains that in much of Europe, particularly areas that practiced Christianity, these fluffy little creatures were often seen as pests. And sometimes, they were even considered demons.
To ancient civilizations, cats were highly regarded and sometimes seen as royalty. But by the time the 13th century rolled around, most Europeans weren’t interested in keeping cats as pets. And as soon as the church decided that felines were associated with the devil, they were condemned and cast out.
#7 The First Cat With A Name Was An Egyptian Cat Named Nedjem Meaning "Sweetie" Who Lived During The Reign Of Thutmose Ill (1479-1425 Bce)
Despite how adorable the kitties are, black cats, in particular, have had a difficult time throughout history. How Stuff Works notes that in 1233, Pope Gregory IX proclaimed that these kitties weren’t just bad luck but an incarnation of Satan. Because of this, black cats were often burned alive during festivals, and their populations tragically dwindled.
Unfortunately, even today, we can still see the impacts of these terrible claims. It’s a common superstition that black cats are bad omens, and these cute, dark kitties are still the least likely to be adopted from rescues. So if you’re in need of a new family member, don’t hesitate to give a sweet black cat a chance!
#11 "Now, See, Those Are The Toe Beans & This Here Is A Snoot, You're Gonna Wanna Boop That"
Thankfully, however, the entire world wasn’t cruel to cats during the Middle Ages. In fact, HistoryHit reports that the Islamic world was very welcoming towards kitties. Apparently, they were very common pets for people at all levels of society to keep. And according to Islamic tradition, cats are ritually clean, meaning that they’re more acceptable pets than dogs or other animals. Because of this, they’ve been welcomed into homes and sometimes even into mosques.
Cats were also viewed more positively in Asia than in Europe. HistoryHit explains that they were first welcomed into households to help deal with the issue of mice running rampant, but by the time the Song dynasty came around, they were kept as pets as well. In fact, certain breeds, such as the lion-cat, were bred specifically to be pets due to their interesting appearance. And in Japan, cats were often seen as symbols of good luck.
#16 Medieval Cat's Paw Prints On Manuscript (C. 1100s). 900-Year Old Kitty Getting In Trouble
#18 I Saw This And Had To Share. It Made Me Laugh. Just Look At That Face
Even in Europe, though, not all cats were treated poorly during the Middle Ages. In fact, if you were a cat in a royal family, you were probably treated better than most people. Madeleine S. Killacky, PhD, wrote a piece for The Conversation discussing how cats were treated during medieval times, and she noted that the 14th century queen of France, Isabeau of Bavaria, spent exorbitant amounts of money on her pets. On one occasion, she even splurged on bright green fabric to have a custom cover made for her beloved cat.
