A common superstition surrounding black cats is that it's considered a bad omen if they cross your path. Not necessarily so! In some European folklore, black cats are thought of as bringers of misfortune, in which case wearing a black cat charm is a way to cast off the evil eye. However, in Welsh folklore, black cats were thought to bring luck to a home and could even be a reliable weather predictor. And the maneki neko - the ubiquitous waving lucky cat seen in shops of all varieties - is painted in various colors which correspond to the principles of Feng Shui - the black version is believed to ward off evil, disease, and toxic people.