The Norse goddess Freyja has two cats named Bygul and Trjegul who pull her chariot around Asgard home of the Aesir gods and goddesses. She enjoys traveling to the other worlds when she isn’t too busy ruling over Folkvangr. She is the main goddess of the Vanir family. Freyja is Njordr and her brother is Freyr. She was once wed to Odr, she birthed a baby girl named Hnoss or Gersimi. Freyja would cry when her husband left on his travels due to loneliness and wold cry gold tears. Her domain is Folkvangr, her hall is called Sessrumnir. She shares half of the dead with Odin. As a Vanir goddess she is skilled in sorcery. She taught the Vanir rituals to the Æesir.
Freyja’s cats Bygul and Trjegul were given to her as kittens from Thor the Norse storm god.
The Tale of Cat Bayun (Russian Folklore)
Thor was fishing one day, he was enchanted by a beautiful singing that caused him to sleep. Suddenly, Thor awoke from a horrible noise. Vexed, Thor sought out the odd noise he discovered the magic Cat Bayun with two blue kittens. The kittens were napping, while Bayun sang to them.
Thor inquired if Cat Bayun was the father of the two kittens, and the feline acknowledged he was. Bayun was involved with an attractive female cat in springtime and together they procreated the two cute kittens. The kittens mother journeyed off and left her kittens with their father feline. He inquired if Thor would aid him. Thor had an epiphany to gift the kittens to Vanir goddess, Freyja.
Bayun transformed into a bird and soared away. Thor scooped-up the kittens and gifted them to Freyja. She named them Bygul & Trjegul eventually the two adorable kittens grew up into large cats, that drew Freya’s chariot on her journeys.
Above Illustration of Freyja with Bygul & Trjegul pulling her cart.
Some Norse farmers still leave food offerings for Bygul and Trjegul, Freyja’s large Norwegian Forest cats in order to attain a bountiful harvest.
Above two photos of beautiful Norwegian Forest Cats whose ancestors may have carted around the Norse goddess Freyja (Public Domain)
All Nifty Buckles Folklore Fun posts Copyright 2017-2020 All Rights Reserved
Source & Reference:
Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). The Poetic Edda. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0-19-283946-2.
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myth and Culture. London: Quantum Books, 2003
The Tale of Cat Bayun in Russian Folklore https://sunbirds.com/texts/fairytales/Tale%20of%20Cat%20Bayun%20or%20the%20chariot%20of%20goddess%20Freya
Val is a writer of enchanted tales, folklore and magic. Once chased by Vampire Pumpkins! 
They must have been strong cats!
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I didn’t know this! Learned something new! 🙂
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