Ah Yin and the Cats Eye
A Fatal Superstition: The Man Who Swallowed a Cat’s Eyes
Throughout history, animals have featured prominently in traditional beliefs, magical practices and superstitions across many cultures. In parts of Asia, certain animal body parts were believed to possess medicinal or supernatural properties, capable of curing ailments, attracting wealth or transferring desirable qualities to those who consumed them.
Tigers, in particular, have long been associated with traditional Chinese medicinal beliefs and folk magic. Some practitioners have attributed healing properties to various tiger body parts, claiming they could treat conditions such as impotence and joint pain, while others believed they could bring prosperity and good fortune.
Many of these beliefs reflect the principle of sympathetic magic — the idea that something resembling a desired quality, or possessing it in nature, can transfer that quality to another. As a powerful apex predator, the tiger symbolised strength, courage and vitality, leading some to believe that consuming its body parts could impart those attributes. Such beliefs have contributed to the demand for tiger products and the threat to wild tiger populations.
A far more unusual example of animal-related superstition was reported in Braidwood, New South Wales, in 1881. A Chinese immigrant named Ah Yin was reportedly suffering from progressively worsening eyesight. Convinced that a cat’s eyes possessed magical healing properties, he believed that eating them would restore his failing vision.
According to the account, a man named Ay Pong purchased a cat and took it to Ah Yin, who drowned the unfortunate animal. He then removed its eyes, coated them in sugar to make them more palatable and swallowed the first one. Believing that each eye would cure its corresponding human counterpart, Ah Yin proceeded to swallow the second eye.
Tragically, as he swallowed it, he began coughing and choking. He was unable to dislodge the obstruction and died.
The subsequent post-mortem examination reportedly revealed that the cat’s eye had become lodged in the cavity above his vocal cords. The eye was said to have been large enough to obstruct his throat, causing him to suffocate.
What Ah Yin believed would restore his sight instead cost him his life. His story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of relying on superstition for medical treatment, particularly when it involves practices that can cause serious physical harm.
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