In North America, it is considered unlucky to cross paths with it.
Many shelters during the month of October ban its adoption out of concern it may be abused as a result of the image it portrays on Halloween. The black cat has come a long way since the 15th century. And though its supernatural image in the 21st century has largely been relegated to folklore and mythology, many in society still consider it a social misfit because of, well, its color, or lack thereof.
Indeed, the black cat’s main enemy is its own genetic makup.
In animal shelters across the country, black cats – and dogs - are looked upon as dull or plain, and are often passed over for more colorful pets for adoptions. As a result, they are more likely to be euthanized because no one wants them.
Julie Broadwell. of the Wood County Humane Society, a non-profit, no kill shelter in Bowling Green, says there are always a lot of black cats at the facility.
“They are seen as uninteresting in their markings, a dime a dozen. People aren’t looking at their personalities, just their coloring and they think they are boring, too much of the same,” said Broadwell.
John Dinon, executive director of the Toledo Area Humane Society, agrees.
“They’re harder to adopt because they’re more common,” said Dinon.
There are even misconceptions about their temperaments as a result of their color.
According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Southwest Michigan, some holding facilities will actually euthanize black cats and dogs on intake because of their chance of finding a new home is so slim.
“Many people find them simply unattractive,” states the SPCA’s Web site. “They don’t appear to be as unique, and, sadly, it is harder to see expression in a dark face.”
The black cat’s temperament, though, is not any different from the various dispositions displayed by other cats, said Broadwell.
“Temperaments of black cats run the gamut from playful and friendly to lazy lap kittens to outdoor cats that want to prowl, just like any other cat. That’s why we would encourage people to pick a cat to adopt based on behavior/personality/temperament, not fur color, said Broadwell.
“There are people who link behavior to color,” said Dinon. “I’ve had a couple of black cats, and they were the sweetest, calmest cats there could be. Of course, there’s always individual variations within that.”
Few would argue that the black cat is in need of a serious image overhaul.
Scientists may be in the process of doing just that.
In an article that appeared in the March, 2003 issue of NewScientist, “Black cats may be the more fortunate felines,” research showed that ebony felines may have a health advantage over other cats. The gene for melanism, which makes their fur black, may be able to prevent certain viruses or bacteria from entering their cells, making them more resistant to disease than cats with lighter-colored coats, according to scientists.
Add to that a study by researchers at the University of Minnesota this year that showed cat owners were 40 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. For reasons that were unclear, the study did not show the same result with dog owners.
Adopt a black cat month In an effort to get many more cats into loving homes and reduce the number of felines at the Wood County Humane Society, the group’s board of directors approved a year-long campaign of special pricing for cats.
December is Adopt-a-Black Cat Month.
“The board of directors voted to hold a year long campaign of a Special of the Month to help reduce the number of cats in the shelter as we are way over capacity, probably 100 cats over what we should be,” said Broadwell. “When I asked the shelter manager and assistant manager what type of cat they wanted to run first, the said in unison, `black cats.”’
Any black cat at the Wood County Humane Society in December can be adopted for half price of $40. Or the adoption of a black cat at the regular price of $80 entitles the adopter to another cat, any color or markings, for free. All cats available for adoption have been spayed/neutered, tested and vaccinated. The adopter also receives a card for a free veterinary exam.
“We’ll run a special on orange cats, calico cats, etc., but we picked b lack cats first because there are so many of them,” said Broadwell.
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. The long-haired kitty is Miss Cricket, and the short-haired kitty is MacIntosh.