It’s that wonderfully spooky time of year again with Hallowe’en decorations going up and weather temperatures cooling down.

And into the spotlight once more comes the magnificent, but wildly misunderstood black cat. These beautiful glossy felines often get a bad rep due to their supposed links with witchcraft and shape shifting and such like, but really, I have known hundreds of black cats and I think the stereotype is a little unfair. (Apart from a black cat named Pookie who is the very devil, but that’s another story.)

I was curious to know where this dark history came from, so I did a little research. It wasn’t always bad for black cats. In Ancient Egypt, the goddess Bastet was worshipped. She was depicted as a woman with the head of a black cat and was synonymous with protecting the home from evil spirits and disease, especially diseases associated with women and children.

The supernatural powers of a black cat were viewed by 8th-century sailors and fishermen as a positive thing and they would often choose a black “ship’s cat” to bring luck to the voyage. They were also handy at keeping the rats under control and could arguably predict the weather.

It was in the Middle Ages in Europe that things went sideways for cats. A black cat crossing your path was first synonymous with bad luck in medieval France and Spain and these poor creatures have failed to shake the legacy ever since.

In the 12th century it was believed that during satanic rituals the devil would descend as a black cat and would shape shift nine times into human form. Heretical groups were accused of associating with and worshipping cats. Lonely elderly women who cared for cats became identified as witches.

The witches of Pendle Hill in northwest England, who were hanged for witchcraft, had their pet black cats used as evidence of their certain witchlike nature.

Some believed a black cat crossing your path in the moonlight was a sign of an upcoming epidemic. In Italy, a black cat lying on the bed of a sick person meant that person would die.

You can see why these poor creatures were shunned for many years.

This rather unfair character assassination was continued across the pond in the US when the Pilgrim fathers arrived at Plymouth Rock and brought with them a deepening suspicion for anything satanic, including the poor black cats. Their association with the symbolism of Hallowe'en was cemented at this time.

In more modern times welfare shelters have recognised a trend of black cats being difficult to adopt, often staying in the shelter much longer than their colourful counterparts. This happily triggered the start of Black Cat Appreciation Day, which now occurs annually in the UK and US and has become a popular time to adopt a black cat.

Personally, I think there is something very special about a lovely black cat. Their yellow/green eyes shine brightly like jewels against their glossy dark fur and they have a knowing look about them, implying knowledge and serenity. (Apart from Pookie, of course; he is the very devil, but I love him all the same.) Happy Hallowe'en.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. Dr Lucy is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda