In the Middle Ages,
cats were often thought to be witches' familiars
(e.g. graymalkin of the first witch in Macbeth's
famous opening scene), and during festivities were
sometimes burnt alive or thrown off tall
buildings.
The human killing of cats in the middle ages has
also been cited as one of the reasons for the
spread of the plague, which was spread by the
increased rodent population caused by the death of
so many cats.
