*coven (kùv´en, ko´ven) noun An assembly of 13 witches.

(Perhaps from Middle English covent, assembly, convent. See convent.)

Cat covens are found primarily outdoors and involve more than one cat (usually 13).

Note: The first roll of film with pictures of various coven members preparing for their rituals (seen here) developed with only a few minor problems; however, the second roll of film with pictures of the coven actually engaged in their rituals (not seen here) developed completely blank. We regret that we don't have any pictures or descriptions of the actual rituals to present at this time.

Sacrifices are performed by cat covens to mark significant events such as birth, death, or when new members are initiated. Antelope, armadillos, bats, beetles, birds, chickens, cockroaches, cuttlefish, deer, democrats, dingoes, dodos, dogs, doves, echidnas, emus, ferrets, fish, fruit flies, gerbils, goats, grasshoppers, hamsters, impalas, Jehovah's Witnesses, kangaroos, kiwi, lice, lizards, llamas, mice, mongoose, mosquitoes, moths, opossums, ostriches, oysters, penguins, pigeons, poodles, pumas, rabbits, rats, republicans, salamanders, salesmen, sharks, sheep, shrimp, silverfish, sloth, slugs, small children, snails, snakes, squid, squirrels, swallows (African and European), Tasmanian devils, Tories, turtles, water buffalo, wombats, worms, and zebras are among the animals sacrificed. The sacrificed animal may be pre-cooked, except when it is used in healing and/or death rituals.**

*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.

**Eating uncooked sacrifices sometimes leads to healing and/or death rituals.