Cat Sidhe or Cait Sith (Pronounced caught shee)is a fairy creature from Celtic mythology said to resemble a large black cat with a white spot on it's breast. It is said to haunt the Scottish Highlands. Some common folklore suggested that the Cait Sidhe was not a fairy, but a transformed witch. The myths surrounding this creature are more common in Scottish Folklore, but a few myths originate in Irish folklore as well. The name comes from the root words "Cait" which means "Cat" in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic and "Sidhe" which is the word for faery folk or other otherworldly beings.
It is possible that the legends of the Cait Sidhe were inspired by Kellas Cats, which are probably a hybrid between European Wildcats and domestic cats only found in Scotland (the European Wildcat is absent from elsewhere in the British Isles). Typically, Kellas Cats resemble large black wildcats, but with some features closer to domestic cats, and have probably been present in Scotland for centuries, maybe even some 2 millennia or more.
In the Highlands, it was believed to be unlucky for a cat to pass over a corpse, because they believed it was a Cait Sidhe coming to steal the soul before it was claimed by the Gods. They believed the soul stayed close to the body after death until it can cross over, so it must be watched closely day and night until it can be buried. All sorts of tricks were attempted to keep the Cait Sidhe away, including leaping and wrestling, and placing catnip all over the house (except for the room in which the body rested) to distract it. Riddles were asked, but never answered, because they knew the Cait Sidhe would stop to answer the puzzles, and music was played so the Cait Sidhe would stop to dance. Fires near the body were put out, because any warmth would attract cats, and possibly a Cait Sidhe as well. On Samhain, (All Hallow's Eve) a saucer of milk was set outside the house for them, so the Cait Sidhe would bring blessings in return for the gifts. If you failed to place the offering, they would curse you by causing your cows to stop producing milk.
Many forms of media portray the Cait Sidhe in one form or another, including one of the most notable ones being a character in the game Final Fantasy VII. In the game, Cait Sidhe rides a large robotic moogle. In the animated film Final Fantasy: Advent Children, the moogle is nowhere to be seen, and Cait Sidhe talks with a thick Scottish accent.
