Ailuromancy is from the Greek ailouros, also known as Felidomancy. It is the art of foretelling future events by the observation of cats or felines movements, specially the way they jump and where they land.

Since ancient times the mysterious cat has been associated with witches, the occult, and many superstitions, so it is not surprising that diviners used them to search for clues to the future. One of the oldest and most common method of ailuromancy uses the behavior of a cat to predict the weather. If it turns its tail to the fire, it foretells a change of weather, particularly rain or hard frost. If the cat lies curled up with its forehead touching the ground, it means that stormy weather is in its way.