The Black Cat Conundrum

The black cat!

A superstitious omen of evil? Do you cross the street to avoid crossing paths with one? Does bad luck befall you if you interact with one? Or do you just not like them because they aren't as pretty as a ginger or a tabby?

To those of us in rescue and cat owners, these questions seem absurd and yet we have a huge problem with rehoming black cats. Black and white cats don't fare much better either. Even our very cute black kittens are just sticking around and we can't understand why!

The history surrounding black cats is suprisingly good. Did you know that black cats were revered in Ancient Egypt and were thought to bring prosperity to any household who owned one?

In the 17th century, Charles I of England fiercely loved his precious black cat, going so far as to keep it under 24-hour guard. Eventually, the cat died. Charles I was heard to proclaim, "Alas my luck is gone!" The next day, he was arrested and charged with high treason and ultimately was executed. A coincidence perhaps but still a perceived good omen when he was alive.

In Scotland, a strange black cat on a porch is considered to bring prosperity. In Italy, a sneezing cat is good luck. In parts of Europe, if a black cat crosses your path, you are considered to have good fortune, and if a black cat walks into your home, you are truly blessed.

So when did black cats become a symbol of evil and misfortune?

 

 



 

In the New World, puritans believed that black cats were in cahoots with witches. Those caught with black cats faced severe punishment, even death and pirates of the 19th century believed that if a black cat walked toward you, you would have bad luck. If a black cat walked onto your ship and then walked off it the ship was doomed to sink on your next trip.

 

I don't know about you but I think a pirate cat looks pretty damn cool...

 

Another problem.... they don't look good on photographs...?!

 

It is baffling that this matters. When did adopting an animal come down to whether they'll look good on your next selfie? I know only too well how hard and frustrating it is to get a good adoption photograph of our black cats but it isn't impossible and really shouldn't even be considered when picking out your new feline friend.

 

 

Of course personality is the most deciding factor when you are picking out your new furbaby. Did you know that the majority of people rate black cats as neutral personalities whilst ginger and bi-colored cats are rated high in friendliness, tri-colored cats are high in intolerance, and white cats are high in aloofness according to an online study. Black and white cats seem to get lumbered in with this poor deal too and are going nowhere fast.

 

Well, we can safely say that our black (and black and white) cats are charismatic, active, aloof, bold, calm, friendly, intolerant, shy, stubborn, tolerant, and trainable - we have a black cat for every characteristic. The handsome boy you saw at the very beginning of this blog is Moodles. He is always overlooked but he is a very clever boy and is clicker trained. Can't say that about many cats can you?

 

So when you look for your next feline family member, will you look for a black or black and white cat? We promise you won't regret it and who knows, your new black cat could bring you good fortune if history is to be believed.

 

Come and meet them for yourselves and they'll show you just how much personality they really do have.

 

 



Missy's blog

Hello from the Queen of hide-and-seek. My name is Missy and I have been here quite a while now.

It's a little sad to be overlooked so often and it's not like I'm too small to notice and I don't play hide and seek in my kennel. I sit there and watch everyone walk by. Some nice people stop to say hello but they don't think I'm the dog for them because I'm too big.

I may be big but that just means I give bigger hugs and have more love to give, I just need someone to share it with.

I'm lots of fun to be with and love my walks down by the river. You wouldn't think it to look at me but I'm quite the water baby. I always come back from my weekend walks with Uncle Richard rather soggy and a little muddy but it's much fun that I just can't resist having a paddle especially in this weather, very refreshing! Uncle Richard makes sure to give me a wash down so my Aunties don't get cross with him! It's like having my own personal groomer.

The compound where we play out is looking like a jungle at the minute and it is the best place to play hide and seek! I overheard Auntie Laura saying she can always see me but pretends not to...I think she pretends that she is pretending because I'm better at the game than she is hehe! I have found the perfect spot to hide and I can peek out to check if I've been spotted but I can't tell you...you might spill my secret to my Aunties and that would be no fun! Eventually I pretend to have given up so Auntie Laura doesn't feel bad about not finding me :D

I'm pretty good with other dogs too and could live with others though I would prefer a larger dog to live with as I'd be worried I might squash a little one.
I'm rather strong too but am learning to walk sensibly on a halti harness and with a little more training, I'll be walking by your side. Until I see the river at least! You can feel free to stay next to me but you may get a little wet hehe!

Please pick me, you won't regret it
Missy x

Auntie Laura S - "Missy is such a lovely girl and it is a real shame that people let her size put them off. We just cannot understand why not a single person has stopped to ask about her. She can live with dogs, is houstrained and is a quick learner when it comes to walking. She just needs someone to take a chance and put in a little effort. There must be someone out there with a big Missy shaped hole in their life. Please share and help find that person"

With a heavy heart...

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we tell you that Billy the Bond villain cat passed away on Saturday.

As you may know if you have read his blog, Billy had Diabetes and ever since he was diagnosed we have had trouble controlling his blood glucose levels. The vets tried changing the amount of insulin he was on and it seemed to work for a week or so and then Billy would go flat again. He was admitted a couple of times when his levels dropped dangerously low and the vets at Minster did a brilliant job of getting him back on track.

Sadly, after a couple of weeks of ups and downs, Billy crashed and was admitted. The senior staff at the centre had to make the heartbreaking decision that it was neither fair or in Billy's best interest to let him suffer with an illness and further complications with his kidneys that we couldn't control.


'Billy-bobs we hope you know we did the best we could for you and hope we gave you a good life for the time you were with us. We are sorry we couldn't find you your forever family but you will forever be a part of our York rspca family. Run free over rainbow bridge and try not to cause too much chaos as cat villain of the bridge. All our love x'

June Good News

As another month comes to an end, it's good news blog time. We've had a fantastic number of animals rehomed this month and as usual we didn't realise how many until we listed them all on one page.

Duey, Huey and Luey all found their own forever homes

Tanya

Dexter

Chance

Cassie

Colin

Juno

George

Legs

Spider

Romany

 

Rosie

There was also Labrador Pippa but she was reserved so qucikly we never got chance to do her photoshoot.

 

Sidney

 LOTS of kittens...

Pearl

Robert and Eddie

Ash

There was also Flash, Rufus and Moley - all reserved and rehomed quickly :)

 

An excellent month, lets hope July is even better!

If you are one of the lovely people who have adopted any of our gorgeous residents, don't forget to send their forever home stories to york.rspca.residents@hotmail.com so we can show everyone just how they are getting on :)

 

Auntie Laura .x.