13. The Cat of Ypres (1560s)
In the 1560s, a cat in Ypres, Belgium, was put on trial and executed for witchcraft—an accusation fueled by widespread superstition. Cats were frequently scapegoated during witch hunts, seen as companions of witches or omens of evil. This particular case contributed to the origins of annual cat-throwing festivals in the area, a tradition that survives in altered form today. Read more
