Once upon a time, a mummified cat was found between two walls in the Reformed Protestant church called Grote Kerk in Breda, Netherlands. It was determined that the cat most likely was what was called a “foundation sacrifice” or a “building sacrifice”. In the Middle Ages cats were associated with the devil or witches. In order to protect buildings like churches, a cat would be buried in the foundation of the building. Cats were supposedly guardians against evil, witchcraft, fire, and pests. Don’t ask why an animal associated with witches and the devil was used to protect against witches and the devil. It was the Middle Ages. It was weird back then. Sometimes the cat was posed as though it was pouncing. Some may have been buried alive. It is not believed that Polleke was alive when she was bricked in. The practice was popular in Germany and England. Over one hundred mummified cats or cat skeletons have been discovered in England alone. The one in Grote Kerk has been carbon dated to around the years 1440 to 1460. In 1906, the cat was discovered by an architect named van Nieukerken. He kept it in a glass display case in his home. In 1916, he allowed it to be part of a cat show at the Hague Zoo. The dead cat drew more attention from kids than the live ones. After that, it disappeared for over a century. In 2020, it was found in an attic. There was a contest for Dutch schoolchildren to name the cat. A 12-year-old boy named Daan suggested Polleke in honor of John II, Lord of Polenan. He had founded Grote Kerk church in the thirteenth century. Daan’s suggestion beat out 847 entries. Today, you can see Polleke in the church that he protected for over 400 years. It is a proven fact that when Polleke has been on duty in the church there have been no incidents involving Satan or witches. Good job, Christian cat.
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