During the middle ages in Europe many cats were sacrificed by being burnt, beaten or thrown to their death. It is not know whether the people in the middle ages wanted to punish the cat as disturber of the peace, renounce evil or simply continue the ritual of cat sacrifices …
During the middle ages the Grote Markt in Ypres became overcrowded on Cat Wednesday (the last day of the annual fair). The city jester would throw live cats to their death from the belfry tower. Ypres has continued custom for centuries - up until 1817. In 1938 the tradition was revived by throwing velvet cats from the tower.
