Some sailors believe black cats are good luck on ships

British and Irish sailors considered adopting a black "ship's cat" because it would bring good luck.

Cats eat rodents, which can damage ropes and stores of grain on board, and they are intelligent animals, so a high level of care was directed toward them to keep them happy. A ship's cat would also create a sense of home and security to sailors who could be away from home for a long time.

Cats were believed to have miraculous powers that could protect ships from dangerous weather. 

Sometimes, fishermen's wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea. 

It was believed to be lucky if a cat approached a sailor on deck, but unlucky if it only came halfway, and then retreated. 

Another popular belief was that cats could start storms through magic stored in their tails. 

If a ship's cat fell or was thrown overboard, it was thought that it would summon a terrible storm to sink the ship and that if the ship was able to survive, it would be cursed with nine years of bad luck. 

Other beliefs included: if a cat licked its fur against the grain, it meant a hailstorm was coming; if it sneezed it meant rain; and if it was frisky it meant wind.

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