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It is the custom in some European cultures to place the dried or desiccated body of a cat inside the walls of a newly built home to ward off evil or as a good luck charm. Although some accounts claim the cats were walled in alive, examination of recovered specimens indicates post-mortem concealment in most cases.
Origins
In the British Isles, as well as in northern Europe and North America, the dried or mummified bodies of cats are frequently found concealed within structures and are believed to have been placed there to bring good luck or to protect the building and its occupants from harm. In some cases, the animals are found deliberately posed as if in the midst of attack. In other cases, they are accompanied by dried rats, mice, or birds.
References
Dried cat Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA