[Sophia M.]

A War Against Cats?​

It sounds unbelievable—but in medieval Europe, belief sometimes outweighed reason.

Did a Pope truly declare war on cats? Image source: Adobe Stock

In 1233, Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull known as Vox in Rama, responding to sensational claims of devil worship in Germany. One striking accusation: that a satanic figure appeared as a cat or half-cat during ritual ceremonies.

Folklore—and some historians—interpret this as a direct link between the Church and widespread cat killings, especially of black cats, believed to be associated with witchcraft and evil. Some suggest these tragedies even contributed indirectly to the rise of the Black Plague by removing predators of disease-carrying rats.

But more recent research casts doubt on whether the Pope truly ordered mass exterminations. The text of Vox in Rama doesn’t command the elimination of all cats, and there’s no strong evidence to confirm widespread, Church-led killings.

Still, the bull shaped centuries of superstition: black cats became enduring symbols of bad luck and demonic power in many cultures.

Learn more about this curious medieval episode

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