Comments on: Everytime you toss a kitten, God pisses on a parade.

Everytime you toss a kitten, God pisses on a parade.

If I Had An Anus — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:14:23 -0800

Kattenstoet, a triennial cat parade is this weekend in Ypres, Belguim. The festival culminates with Kattenworp, the hurling of kittens from the Cloth Hall Belfry, a continuation of Europe's long ambiguous history of fascination with the feline. [more inside]

By: If I Had An Anus

If I Had An Anus — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:14:56 -0800

Venerated during pagan times, the cat became associated with witchcraft during the Middle Ages. Large-scale massacres of felines (that ironically may have helped the spread of Bubonic Plaque) began after Pope Gregory IX issued the Vox in Rama in the 13th Century, which placed the devil at witches' sabbats in the form of a large black cat. (An excerpt and analysis of Vox in Rama is in Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700.) Though individuals such as Cardinal Richelieu were cat fanciers throughout the age, the killings went on for hundreds of years. The official Kattenstoet site (here or here if you read Flemish) says live cats were last thrown in 1817, however Concerning Cats by Helen M. Winslow claims the practice was made illegal in 1618. (More Kattenstoet photos and other folk festivals in the region.)

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:21:49 -0800

Excellent post! I don't buy the 1618 date at all.

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:23:29 -0800

And nice title!

By: birdherder

birdherder — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:44:17 -0800

One of the memories I have of my visit to Brussels a few years ago was seeing a homeless guy panhandling in the city square with his cats. I'd seen a lot of panhandling, but when I saw the kitties I gave him a few €.

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Tue, 09 May 2006 09:00:29 -0800

I've heard about this atrocity...cat juggling!

By: spock

spock — Tue, 09 May 2006 09:13:43 -0800

OK. That kitten hurling link was just about the funniest thing I've seen in weeks.

By: kosem

kosem — Tue, 09 May 2006 09:20:04 -0800

From the outstanding Uncyclopedia link on "Kitten Hurling Battle": After loading their Kitten Belts, Players stand atop their pedestals and face away from each other. One (metric) minute of silence must be observed to honor Felix, king of the felines, timed by another person (known as the KatMaster). The KatMaster then initiates each round (called a "Fur") by blowing a clear, shrill note on an ivory whistle. This enrages the kittens, preparing them for battle. Indeed. (great post, btw, IHAA)

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Tue, 09 May 2006 09:38:11 -0800

They need cat herders.

By: Dark Messiah

Dark Messiah — Tue, 09 May 2006 09:52:03 -0800

Every time I read a post about kittens, I eat one. Thanks MetaFilter, my fucking cholesterol is through the roof!

By: Parannoyed

Parannoyed — Tue, 09 May 2006 10:01:47 -0800

How bad would it suck to be the guy who had to clean up all the cats back in the 1500's?

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Tue, 09 May 2006 11:03:29 -0800

I read this hoping that someone, somewhere still allowed the hurling of kittens from parapets.

By: Atreides

Atreides — Tue, 09 May 2006 11:07:42 -0800

Who said they cleaned up anything in the 1500's?

By: MotherTucker

MotherTucker — Tue, 09 May 2006 11:14:54 -0800

In a similar vein, The Danes celebrate Mardi Gras (Fastelavn) with a game innocently called "slå katten af tønden" (hit the cat in the barrel). Nowadays, it's just a piñata type affair. However, formerly......

By: Raoul.Duke

Raoul.Duke — Tue, 09 May 2006 12:53:15 -0800

The object of the sport is to force one's opponent into submission using nothing but kittens I'm always looking for new athletic challenges.. but damn. That's intense.

By: Kid Charlemagne

Kid Charlemagne — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:57:08 -0800

In Wales, in the 10th century, cats had a legislated value (which went way up the moment they killed a mouse). If you killed someone's cat you had to pay them as much grain as would be in a pile as tall as the cat would be if held by the tip of it's tail until it's paws just touched the ground. I'm not sure what percentage of a years work that is for your average medieval farmer but, given that my cat is nearly three feet at full sprawl, I'll bet it's signifigant.

By: blacklite

blacklite — Tue, 09 May 2006 15:10:40 -0800

I support cat parades.

By: rleamon

rleamon — Tue, 09 May 2006 20:03:06 -0800

*Cat got my tongue.*

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Wed, 10 May 2006 06:15:49 -0800

How bad would it suck to be the guy who had to clean up all the cats back in the 1500's? i'm sure the butchers were used to that kind of thing