One of the things that made this movie interesting was the fact that Simone and Lena and her people worshipped a cat god. I love History and I don't know: are those characters and the cat religion based on anything historical. I don't think I've heard of any European countries in the 1700's worshipped pagan gods, but I could be wrong.
The Cat goddess Bastet (or Bubastis) was worshiped in ancient Egypt.
"The festival of Bubastis was the most joyous and gorgeous of all in the Egyptian calendar as described by Herodotus. Barges and river craft of every description, filled with men and women, floated leisurely down the Nile. The men played on pipes of lotus. the women on cymbals and tambourines, and such as had no instruments accompanied the music with clapping of hands and dances, and other joyous gestures. Thus did they while on the river: but when they came to a town on its banks, the barges were made fast, and the pilgrims disembarked, and the women sang, playfully mocked the women of that town and threw their clothes over their head. When they reached Bubastis, then held they a wondrously solemn feast: and more wine of the grape was drank in those days than in all the rest of the year. Such was the manner of this festival: and, it is said, that as many as seven hundred thousand pilgrims have been known to celebrate the Feast of Bast at the same time."
Tge tombs in the City of Bubastis are filled with the mummies of cats.
Yes, this is true...cats were worshipped in Egypt but I think the "religion" in the movie is made up for the movie. I can't picture an entire group of 18th Century European settlers practicing the Ancient Egyptian religion.
The "Cat God" hook is what made me dislike this movie. It was totally out of place, especially for historical reasons (I mean, come on... the colonists looked just like Pilgrims and we expect kids to accept they worshipped a CAT GOD!?), but specifically because Scooby Doo is no place to bring up a religion, especially a totemic/animistic one! Good grief!