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| The '''{{lang|gd|cat-sìth}}''' ({{IPA |
The '''{{lang|gd|cat-sìth}}''' ({{IPA|gd|kʰaʰt̪ ˈʃiː|lang}}, plural {{lang|gd|cait-shìth}}), in Irish '''{{lang|ga|cat sí}}''' ({{IPA|ga|kat̪ˠ ˈʃiː|lang}}), is a ] creature from ], said to resemble a large ] with a white spot on its chest. Legend has it that the spectral cat haunts the ]. The legends surrounding this creature are more common in ], but a few occur in ]. Some common folklore suggested that the {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} was not a fairy, but a ] that could transform into a cat nine times.<ref name=ScotSuperstitions>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=John Gregorson |title=Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/61730/pg61730-images.html |access-date=29 November 2024 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=Scotlore>{{cite web |last=MacGillivray |first=Deborah |title=The Cait Sidhe |url=http://deborahmacgillivray.co.uk/scotlore_caitsidhe.htm |access-date=14 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821034420/http://deborahmacgillivray.co.uk/scotlore_caitsidhe.htm |archive-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cats-celtic-folklore-scottish-wildcat-cait-sidhe-sith-samhain-halloween |title=Meet the "King of Cats" From Celtic Folklore |date=28 January 2015 |author=Robin Mudge |work=Catster |access-date=11 March 2019 }}</ref> | ||
| The {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} may have been inspired by the ] itself.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures |last=Matthews |first=John |author2=Caitlín Matthews |year=2005 |publisher=HarperElement |isbn=978-1-4351-1086-1 |page=91 }}</ref> Furthermore, it is also possible that the legends of the {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} were inspired by ]s, which are a distinctive ] between Scottish wildcats and ]s found only in ] (the Scottish wildcat is a population of the ], which is now absent from elsewhere in the ]). | The {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} may have been inspired by the ] itself.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures |last=Matthews |first=John |author2=Caitlín Matthews |year=2005 |publisher=HarperElement |isbn=978-1-4351-1086-1 |page=91 }}</ref> Furthermore, it is also possible that the legends of the {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} were inspired by ]s, which are a distinctive ] between Scottish wildcats and ]s found only in ] (the Scottish wildcat is a population of the ], which is now absent from elsewhere in the ]). | ||
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| ==Summoning== | ==Summoning== | ||
| The demonic {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} called Big Ears could be summoned (Gaelic {{lang|gd|taghairm}} {{IPA |
The demonic {{lang|gd|cat-sìth}} called Big Ears could be summoned (Gaelic {{lang|gd|taghairm}} {{IPA|gd|tɤrʲɤm}}) to 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.<ref name="ScotSuperstitions"/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Cat Sìth in Celtic Mythology |url=https://www.scotclans.com/cat-sith-celtic-mythology/ |date=August 15, 2018 |author=Rowan Moffet |website=scotclans |access-date=24 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192356/https://www.scotclans.com/cat-sith-celtic-mythology/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 15:48, 17 January 2025
Cat spirit in Celtic mythology This article is about the Scottish fairy. For the Final Fantasy VII character, see Cait Sith (Final Fantasy).
 | |
| Grouping | Legendary creature |
|---|---|
| Sub grouping | Fairy, witch |
| Similar entities | Phantom cat |
| Folklore | Scottish, Irish |
| Other name(s) | Cat-sidhe, Fairy Cat |
| Country | Scotland |
| Region | Scottish Highlands |
The cat-sìth (Scottish Gaelic: [kʰaʰt̪ ˈʃiː], plural cait-shìth), in Irish cat sí (Irish: [kat̪ˠ ˈʃiː]), is a fairy creature from Celtic 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.
The cat-sìth may have been inspired by the Scottish wildcat itself. Furthermore, it is also possible that the legends of the cat-sìth were inspired by Kellas cats, which are a distinctive hybrid between Scottish wildcats and domestic cats found only in Scotland (the Scottish wildcat is a population of the European wildcat, which is now absent from elsewhere in the British Isles).
Appearance
The cat-sìth is all black with the exception of a white spot on its chest. It is described as being as large as a dog and chooses to display itself with its back arched and bristles erect.
The King of the Cats
In the English folk tale "The King of the Cats", a man comes home to tell his wife and cat, Old Tom, that he saw nine black cats with white spots on their chests carrying a coffin with a crown on it. One of the nine cats says to the man "Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum is dead." Old Tom then exclaims, "What?! Old Tim dead! Then I'm the King o' the Cats!" The cat then climbs up the chimney and is never seen again.
Witches
Some people believed that the cat-sìth was a witch or demon in the guise of an animal, and that cat-sìth had no connection to fairies.
Summoning
The demonic cat-sìth called Big Ears could be summoned (Gaelic taghairm Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [tɤrʲɤm]) to 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.
See also
- Aos Sí
- Beast of Bodmin
- Cù-sìth
- Cath Palug
- Grimalkin
- Kellas cat
- List of fictional cats
- Phantom cat
- "The Black Cat" (short story)
References
- ^ Campbell, John Gregorson. "Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland". Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- MacGillivray, Deborah. "The Cait Sidhe". Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- Robin Mudge (28 January 2015). "Meet the "King of Cats" From Celtic Folklore". Catster. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- Matthews, John; Caitlín Matthews (2005). The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures. HarperElement. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-4351-1086-1.
- ^ Grimassi, Raven (2000). Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft. St. Paul: Llewellyn. p. 76. ISBN 1-56718-257-7.
- Jacobs, Joseph (1894). "The King o' the Cats". More English Fairy Tales.
- Rowan Moffet (15 August 2018). "The Cat Sìth in Celtic Mythology". scotclans. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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