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.
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