The movie "The Black Cat" was based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe. Having a large volume of Poe at my house (yes, I am that kind of girl), I read the story. I found it much more horrifying than the movie because the motivations of the perpetrator were explained.
Here is a rather lengthy excerpt:
   Pluto--this was the cat's name--was my favourite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets.
   Our freindship lasted in this manner for several years, during which my general temperament and character--through the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance--had (I blush to confess it) experienced a radical alteration for the worse. I grew, day be day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others. I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence. My pets of course were made to feel the change in my disposition. I not only neglected, but ill-used them. For Pluto, however, I still retained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him, as I made no scruple of maltreating the rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog, when by accident, or through affection, they came in my way. But my disease grew upon me--for what disease is like Alcohol?--and at length even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish--even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill-temper.
   One night, retruning home much intoxicated, from one of my haunts about town I fancied that the cat avoided my presence. I seized him; when, in his fright at my violence, he inflicted a slight wound upon my hand with his teeth. The fury of a demon instantly posessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed at once to take its flight from my body, and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame. I took from my waistcoat-pocket....

Yes, I left off there on purpose. But you can read the rest of the story here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=MzCKRL89dzAC&lpg=PP1&dq=edgar%20allan%20poe%20the%20black%20cat&pg=PP2#v=onepage&q=edgar%20allan%20poe%20the%20black%20cat&f=false