What was the significance of cats in the middle ages?

Answer 1

No they liked them because they ate the rats and mice. Ships also carried cats for the same reason. Columbus when he sailed in 1492 ( much later than the middle ages) had at least 25 cats onboard.

Answer 2

There is a story to the effect that some time in 1233 or 1234 Pope Gregory IX issued a bull, called ''Vox in Rama'', claiming that cats were instruments of the Devil, with the result that cats were killed all over Europe, which allowed the rat population to grow out of control, eventually leading to a situation where the Black Death could spread easily among the population.

There are elements of mythology in the story, which may be partly or entirely untrue. The alleged Bull was not intended for all Europe, nor did the text claim all cats were evil; it was aimed at a sect in Mainz and talked of a particular cat.

There is no record of suppression of the sect or of the widespread killing of cats. Nor is there any record in the Vatican of the bull, of which three purported copies exist. The whole thing has been regarded as a hoax by some historians. It does make an interesting myth, however. I have seen artwork from the 14th century showing cats in houses, and personally believe the whole thing is a fake.

There is a link below.

Answer 3

Yes they did. Cats were seen as working animals that helped control the population of vermin such as mice and rats. Medieval farmers in particular would be pleased to have a cat or two prowling their barnyard to keep rodents from the grain storage.