According to Ruth Edna Kelley: The actions of cats on Hallowe’en betoken good or bad luck. If a cat sits quietly beside any one, he will enjoy a peaceful, prosperous life; if one rubs against him, it brings good luck, doubly good if one jumps into his lap. If a cat yawns near you…
31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN – Victorian Superstitions
The Victorians, possibly because of their concern about propriety, had numerous superstitions about death and funerals.