Mummified cat under house to ward off witches
Published: November 2, 2005
A MUMMIFIED cat discovered under the floor of a Highbury house (UK) was probably buried there more than 100 years ago to ward off witches, say experts.
The bone-dry moggie was brought into Islington Museum, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, Islington, by Andy Shallowe.
He has had the cat in his home in Sotheby Road, Highbury, for nearly three years after being given it by his disgusted neighbours who discovered it below their house.
Museum experts - who have nicknamed the cat Thierry - reckon it was buried under the house in 1894 to ward off witches.
They say the cat was probably dead before it was buried but there is a chance it may have been pinned down and buried alive.
It was found lying next to a Lloyd’s weekly newspaper article dated June 3, 1894, suggesting it was buried that day.
Trainee tree surgeon Mr Shallowe, 39, said he had grown very attached to the 111-year-old dead cat. “I think it’s fantastic, I really love it,” he said. “I just think it’s fascinating and over the years I’ve become very attached to it.
“I tried to think of a name but I couldn’t come up with anything so I just call it the mummified cat.
“People either love it or hate it. It has a bit of a musty smell which can be a bit off-putting but it’s in perfect nick.”
According to experts from the British Museum, Mr Shallowe is the only person in the country to own such an old mummified cat. He is considering selling it on online website eBay but wants to find out more before he does that.
“If any Gazette readers have any more information about the practice of burying cats under homes to ward off witches I’d love to hear about it,” he said.
The cat will be on display at the Islington Museum until the end of next week.
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