Ancient Egyptians believed that at the end of the year, Khonsu wrote the names of those destined to die during the next year. The last five days of the year were considered to be particularly unlucky, when Bastet and Sekhmet (the feline solar goddesses called "The Eyes of Re" - their duty was to punish wrongdoers) traveled the lands with a pack of demons and inflicted disease and disasters.

To avert their anger, the Egyptians gave gifts of cat and kitten amulets and small flasks with Bastet's name and other cat items.

The god, Seth, has stepped in with a suggestion for avoiding deity-caused disasters.