The Medieval Dutch Rule on How Many Cats You Could Own

In certain Dutch towns during the late medieval period, there are historical hints of a regulation that restricted how many cats a household could keep. While documentation is sparse and often intertwined with folklore, the rule reportedly aimed to prevent overpopulation and the spread of what was then considered disease. Cats were valued for pest control, but an excess was thought to invite bad luck or even witchcraft suspicions. This notion echoes broader European attitudes connecting animals to superstition. The custom was less about strict enforcement and more about social expectation—neighbors might have pressured cat owners to keep their feline numbers manageable. Today, this curious rule survives mostly as an anecdote in local histories and serves as an intriguing reminder of how communities have historically intertwined animal care with superstition and social order. Its exact legal status is unclear, and it should be considered more a cultural quirk than a formally enforced law.