The Rats in the Walls

In The Rats in the Walls, it is mentioned that when Delapore was found his cat was described as tearing at his throat after he is thought to have committed cannibalism. At one part in the story Delapore describes his cat as a “winged Egyptian God”. Cats in Egyptian culture were revered as gods as they exterminated pests such as rats which are representations of disease and death in many cultures.  Cats and rats are seen in constant confrontation which is a representation of the revered cats as opposition to rats which are linked to death and are associated with a demonic nature in many cultures. The De la Pore ancestral cult was associated with rats as humans were fed to rats as sacrifices.   By committing the heinous act of cannibalism like his ancestors had done, they became closer to what they worshipped and became what they worshipped through the consumption of humans.  When Delapore committed cannibalism he became a part of his demonic ancestral history and became a representation of a rat; therefore, explaining why his cat was found attacking him after he committed the heinous act and on no previous accounts.