Taigherim

The rites of Taigherim consist of a magical sacrifice of cats that originated in pagan Scotland as a ritual to appease the subterranean gods. Beginning with the Christian era in Scotland, the rite was performed by sorcerers to invoke a special shapeshifting demon which would manifest as a very large black cat. The rites themselves involved the systematic roasting of live black cats on a spit slowly turning over a fire. As each cat was dedicated to the demons of darkness, its terrible howls of pain were believed to summon a particular monster of demonic power.

After the cruel sacrificial rites had been conducted for many hours, small demons would begin to materialize in the form of black cats and match their cries with the yowls of the unfortunate true cats that were being roasted alive. As the sacrifices continued, celebrated by the screeching of the cat-demons, the sorcerer would at last behold the materialization of a frightful catlike creature of great size, much larger than a black leopard of the jungle. The appearance of the great demon signaled demonic acceptance of the sorcerer's sacrifices, and he was now permitted to make his demands of the huge black cat, whether it be the gift of prophecy, a bag of gold, or the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or black cat.

Sources: Spence, Lewis. An Encyclopedia of Occultism. New Hyde Park, NY: University Books, 1960.