Tradition / Region: Belgian Mythology
Alternative names: Three Blonde Cats
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Blonde Cats of Denderleeuw appear as three pale blonde cats that roam country roads at midnight. Although they resemble ordinary cats, they can speak with human voices and possess the supernatural ability to multiply endlessly, surrounding and overwhelming anyone they choose to follow.
According to the legend, a man named Jan Saeys was walking home around midnight after drinking. Along the road he encountered three blonde cats and jokingly greeted them, asking, Where are you going, beautiful little blonde cats?
To his horror, the cats answered him in human speech, repeating, Jan Saeys asks me, little blonde cat, where are you going? As they walked beside him, they continued repeating the same words over and over.
Meanwhile, the number of cats steadily increased. Three became many, and soon countless blonde cats surrounded him so densely that he could barely move his feet. Terrified, Jan instantly sobered and hurried home as fast as he could. With one final leap he threw himself inside his house and shut the door behind him.
No sooner had he entered than three tremendous knocks struck the door with such force that the entire house shook. The mysterious visitors never entered, but the terrifying encounter remained one of the supernatural cat legends of Denderleeuw.
Sources
De Cock, Alfons. Vlaamsche sagen uit den volksmond. Amsterdam: Maatschappij voor Goede en Goedkoope Lectuur, 1921, p. 40.