The Black Cat - Edgar Allan Poe
Critics consider it one of the most chilling horror stories in literary history.
The story centers on a young married couple who lead a peaceful domestic life with their pets, including a cat, until the husband begins to succumb to alcoholism. The alcohol makes him irascible, and in one of his fits of rage, he kills the animal. A second cat appears, the family situation worsens, and events spiral out of control, culminating in a horrific ending.