Why Adopt A Black Cat

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat

Marley & feather

Did you know that black cats have the lowest adoption rate and the highest euthanasia rate? Why? We're not quite sure. Maybe it's the superstition factor. Some people say they can't see or make a connection with a black cat in a poorly lit kennel. And for folks browsing the internet for pets, black cats don't always show up in photographs as well as their lighter colored brethren. For whatever reason, black cats are statistically less likely to be adopted than more brightly colored felines. Kindness For Cats loves black cats and has several in their own personal household! We especially love them for their fun, quirky personalities! Black cats are also most often ignored by many rescue groups because they are so hard to place. These cats are often left waiting in pounds and shelters with hopes of finding a loving home, only to be destroyed once their time is up. Kindness For Cats does not discriminate based on color. It is true that our black cats often take longer to find homes – and that they take up much needed foster space during this time. But our philosophy is that Black Cats need Love and a Safe Home Too. Therefore, if you are thinking of adding a kitty to the family, here are the top 10 reasons to pick a black cat!

Janet & Ezra 10. You can always find your black cat in the snow. OK, no snow in Florida ... but you can find them easily on any light colored surface such your carpet or your floral bedspread.

9. Black goes with everything - It's true. You know it; we know it. You've got your black power suit on, your white cat jumps on your lap, it's all over. But if your black cat wants a little love and affection, no harm done--your look is only enhanced!

8. Black cats are distantly related to the black panther. Their regal breeding is very apparent: majestic, mysterious, incredibly loving & loyal, intelligent, AND a little piece of the wild for your home and heart!

7. A black cat will match any décor. You won't have to redecorate your house to coordinate with your cat. They are totally willing to pose on gold velvet, white velvet, pink velvet, or your sofa cushion to add taste and beauty to any room of your home. They'll perch on the brocade chair; sleep on the rug; curl in the middle of the bed. You name it, they're willing to go to great lengths to help you make your home beautiful. They’re that kind of cat.

6. Black is beautiful. There's the deep, auburn shaded black, the blue black, the black with tiny white highlights here and there, the sleek black, the fluffy black, the black with bunny-soft fur, the black with yellow eyes, the black with green eyes, the black with grey eyes...Well, you get the picture. Black is not just black; there are as many different kinds of black cats as there are cats!

5. Bad Luck, Schmuck! When you love a black cat, luck is on your side!

A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.
- Groucho Marx

4. Black cats have more fun. You only thought blondes had more fun. Black cats are fun-loving, playful, full of spark and energy. They try harder to make up for the image they somehow got as dull and dreary. They're like the sun streaming in a window on a rainy day; like the circus coming to town; they're just plain fantastic.

3. Black cats are loving. Look, they know their reputation--scary. They've seen the illustrations--skinny cats with nasty long teeth. And they're nothing like that. They go overboard to be as affectionate and loving as any fluffy white, pink-nosed bunny kitty could be, and you get all the other benefits too.

2. Love knows no color! Your cat doesn't care what color YOUR hair is!

And the # 1 reason to adopt a black cat is that Black Cats are the least likely to get adopted!

Marley on ladder

Do you need even more reasons??!! Okay here you go ....

Black cats have a stronger immune system because their lineage has not been diluted by other breeds.

People of Scotland consider the black cat as a sign of prosperity.

If you live in the United Kingdom or Japan, black cats crossing your path will make you smile and think that good fortune is on its way.

Latvian farmers who find black kitties near their grain bins dance with joy and look forward to an abundant harvest.

In China, the older, uglier and blacker a cat is the luckier it is for those who have it.

In Britain a black cat is considered a symbol of good luck,King Charles l of England owned a black cat. He treasured the cat so much he had his guards watch over it 24 hours a day. The day after the cat died from an illness, the King was arrested.

More Black Cat Info from Catster (http://www.catster.com/black-cats/)

Why Black Cats Sometimes Get a Bad Rap

Ever altered your course so that a black cat will not cross your path? If you have, you're in a minority. In many world cultures, the black cat is revered as a good omen or good luck charm, not a portent of evil.

Black Cats: A Brief History

This dates back at least as far as Ancient Egypt when the goddess Bast reigned in the 22nd dynasty. To court her favor, many Egyptians brought black cats into their households in the belief that Bast's spirit would become intertwined with the soul of the cat and prosperity would follow. Both rich and poor Egyptian families embalmed their deceased pets. Archaeologists have discovered entire pet cemeteries with mummified black cats.

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.

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?

A Change in Perception of Black Cats

As early as the 10th century in Wales, there were laws against the killing of cats. Welsh Ruler Hywel Dda recognized the value of cats, and even decreed that stealing them was a crime. But in 1232, Pope Gregory IX suggested that cats were diabolical associates of the devil. Religious zealots then killed cats, often by burning them alive. Black cats were especially hard hit, being associates of the devil in the minds of many.

Later, in the New World, puritans believed that black cats were in cahoots with witches. Those caught with black cats faced severe punishment, even death.

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.

In A Hungry Hoodoo (1920), an early animated cartoon, Felix the Cat experiences bad luck on Friday the 13th and believes he has himself jinxed by his coat color.

And in 1969, a black cat burst out onto the field during a critical baseball game between the Cubs and the New York Mets, ruining the Cubs playoff chances. The cat made a beeline for the Cubs' dugout where it seemed to stare down all of the players. The Cubs not only lost that game, but much of the rest of the season.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly why black cats figure so prominently in supernatural lore, but it's safe to assume that after many centuries of being bashed as evil incarnate, the black cat superstition is not going away anytime soon.