Furthermore, in Icelandic folklore, the black Yule cat represents Nigredo and the desire to embark on a spiritual path. Black is the color of Nigredo and transformation, and winter is the harsh season of the water element.
The black Yule cat symbolizes the freedom of the feminine side of the soul and the desire to reveal the occult forces of spirituality.
It is somewhat like the feline counterpart of the wolf Fenrir, except that the cat represents punishment for spiritual inactivity and failure to work on one's soul, while Fenrir represents the release of certain energies within the soul and the transformation that occurs at the onset of Ragnarok