There have been many reports of mystical and fairy cats throughout Scottish history. It is believed that many of these sightings can be attributed to 'Kellas cats'
(cait shee) The Highland fairy cat.
In Albion, Land of Faerie, (Arès number 11, November 1981), David J. Ritchie wrote:
"Great Corin the Shaper, kindred of the three ancients would also die beside the king he served in life, and on his death would be released the terrible Caith Sith, the Demoncat that would rage and raven across the field, bringing horror unto the clans of the North".
J. G. Campbell describes it as being as large as a dog, black with a white spot on its breast, with an arched back and erect bristles. This, probably, would be when it was angry. He says that many Highlanders believed that these cats were transformed witches, not fairies.
An even larger and more ferocious cat, the demonic god of the cats, appeared in answer to the wicked and ferocious ceremony of the Taghairm, which consisted in roasting successive cats alive on spits for four days and nights until Big Ears appeared and granted the wishes of the torturers.
The last ceremony of Taghairm was said to have been performed in Mull and was described in detail in the London Literary Gazette (March 1824). The account is quoted by D. A. Mackenzie in SCOTTISH FOLK LORE AND FOLK LIFE.
But Big Ears was a monstrous demon cat who had only a slight connection with the Cait Sith.
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