The black cat is a popular icon of Halloween and Friday 13th, one that comes with a pretty unlucky stigma; but we believe black cats are awesome. Here are a few reasons to love a black cat.

Doesn’t matter if you’re black or white

A black cat

Why are some cats black? It’s called melanism, which is black pigmentation, and is the opposite of albinism, which is no pigmentation making fur and skin look white. Melanism is not only seen in domestic cats, but also in about a third of wild cat species. Melanism also produces yellow irises due to the high levels of melanin in the pigment of black cats. So it doesn’t matter if cats are black or white, in the end they’re just as excellent on the inside.

Australians love the lucky black cat

The unlucky tag that accompanies black cats actually stems from a Middle Ages myth when black cats were believed to be associated with witches. Yet many cultures actually worship the black cat – they were worshiped in ancient Egypt where owning black cats was thought to bring good luck. Black cats are also considered lucky in Australia, Asia and the UK where there have been no reported sightings of witches.

Unlucky? Only in love!

Due to common misconceptions around them being unlucky, black cats are only half as likely to be adopted as cats of other colours. This is why we give a big thumbs down to hurtful black-cat myths. This unfair reputation means the scariest thing about black cats is that they have the hardest time finding home. Where is the love?

Stealth mode is great

Black cats were also feared in ancient Druid society, because of a belief that they were humans reincarnated as a punishment for misdeeds in a previous life. The truth is that cats are very intelligent and need to be both mental and physical stimulation. Their stealth-mode behaviour simply replicates the skills ingrained in them from days of their wild ancestor. Imagine if humans had stealth mode? We’d all be sneaking around the kitchen for a late night snack!

 

At Petbarn we love all animals. We recommend that you bring all of your pets inside on Halloween to keep them safe from the few individuals who would mean harm towards them, as well as reducing possible stress. At the end of the day, while black cats continue to have an unfair reputation, they’re just as loveable as any other cat. Not to mention the fact they look cool! So why not come and visit your local Petbarn Adoption Centre or share this article with your friends and together we’ll change the stigma surrounding black cats.