When moving into a new home, according to an old Russian tradition, the cat was the first to enter. Even a new house or apartment has a certain energy. If the new residence has had a previous owner, its sorrows, illnesses, and hardships may well be transferred to the new owner. If there's a significant accumulation of negativity, living in that place will be uncomfortable.
A cat, entering a house, makes friends with good spirits and drives away evil ones
The Slavs believed that spirits surrounded people everywhere. Among them were good spirits, who helped with housekeeping and protected the family, and evil spirits, capable of harming the household. The human eye cannot see the inhabitants of this mysterious world, but the eyes of felines are structured quite differently. A feline enters the house first, conducts reconnaissance, and befriends the local spirits. This allows one to enlist their support in various endeavors. Even if the spirits are neutral, they simply won't wake the household at night, hide objects, or play pranks.
Through the cat, the brownie "moves" from the old house to the new one
If the owners lived peacefully and harmoniously in their old home, they were likely assisted by a domovoi. It would be wrong to leave him with the new tenants. Such a helpful assistant is usually invited along. In this case, a cat serves as a vehicle for the good spirit. Together with the cat, the domovoi is the first to explore the new home.
The cat allows you to determine safe places
Felines are highly sensitive to subtle energies, so it's easy for them to identify areas of the house that have good or bad energy. When exploring a new space, a pet will sniff around the place first. Don't force a cat into the new space. It needs time to sense the energy flow and absorb it. A cat can also experience stress during a new move, so don't rush it. Once it's settled in, carefully observe its behavior. Places where it easily lies down, purrs, or otherwise shows it likes it are good places to place its bed.
A cat is a symbol of well-being
Since ancient times, cats have been considered a symbol of prosperity and well-being. Entering a room first, they bring favorable impulses to the apartment or house, which will become the initial step toward future well-being and prosperity for the household. According to beliefs prevalent in some regions of our country, cats absorb all the negativity left behind by previous tenants or construction workers dissatisfied with working conditions and pay. In this case, all the troubles will be transferred to the animal that entered the room first.
People who didn't have such a pet could rent one or borrow one from friends. Even in this case, the cat performed its assigned duties admirably. When the pet was returned to its rightful owners, figurines or paintings depicting cats were placed near the door. This helped protect the home from evil spirits.
A cat is used to check whether an uninvited guest is lurking in the house.
Uninhabited houses or apartments could be used by stray animals, homeless people, or criminals without the owners' knowledge. It was believed that, upon seeing such an intruder, a cat could frighten them and force them to leave. Uninvited guests from the subtle plane are also wary of cats. They would feel uneasy under the watchful eyes of a four-legged guardian.
Now you know why a cat should be the first person to enter a new home. Use these tips when moving to a new home to prevent evil spirits from harming you.
