William James Wintle (1861-1920) was a Welsh writer who established himself as an author before becoming an Oblate for the Abbey of Caldey Island in Wales. It was there that he wrote a series of horror stories for the enjoyment of eight boys who attended the abbey.

Wintle noted that the stories were originally told on Sunday nights while "crouching over a wood fire on a wind-swept island off the Western shore".

'The Black Cat' tells the story of a man who hates cats and finds himself haunted by a mysterious spectral black cat which gradually becomes more powerful and threatening. Before long he realizes that the cat aims to kill him and in an exceptionally horrific fashion....