Today is National Black Cat Day!
It’s reported that black cats in homing/rescue centres take longer than cats of other colours to find homes, but there have been some reassuring findings that this is changing.
In celebration of black cats, we’re countering some of the negative superstitions associated with them by looking at some of the positive beliefs associated with these amazing animals.
They are believed to bring good luck
Whether black cats are considered to be lucky or not varies and is attached to superstitions based in specific cultures.
- In Japan, a black cat crossing your path is a good omen and there is a black version of the famous Maneki-neko, or Lucky Cat, that is believed to ward off evil.
- A traditional belief of fishermen is that black cats are lucky and will bring a sailor home from sea. Their families often kept them in the hope that it would bring the sailors back safely.
- In Scotland, a black cat appearing on your doorstep is a sign that good luck is coming your way!
They represented a Goddess in ancient Egypt
The great respect for cats that the ancient Egyptians had is famous, and so is the image of Bastet, the Goddess portrayed as a black cat or cat-headed woman. Bastet was originally depicted as a lioness, and it is thought that the change to Bastet as a domestic cat coincided with the domestication of cats in Egypt.
They look amazing
Black cats are also sometimes unfairly accused of not being photogenic, but as you can see from some of the entries we had in our recent photo competition, this is not the case!
An entry to our 2020 photo competition
Jess submitted by Claire Padraza
If you’re thinking of getting a black cat (or any other colour), iCatCare can give you the information you need from before you bring them home, right the way through all of their life stages. A good place to start is our kitten checklist which goes through all the considerations you need to think about before getting a kitten, you can download this here.
I am the feline behaviour specialist at feline charity ‘International Cat Care’. We are about engaging, educating and empowering people throughout the world to improve the health and welfare of cats by sharing advice, training and passion.