For a long time, black cats have been seen as evil animals that bring people bad luck. There are plenty of superstitions surrounding these cute felines most of which are based on the “negative impact” black cats allegedly have in our lives. This is far from the truth.
In this article, we will look at 20 amazing facts that will prove that black cats are absolutely harmless.
1. What makes black cats black?
In order for a cat to be solid black, both of its parents need to have the black color gene. The allele (color gene) for black is known as B. However, you should take in consideration the fact that the ultimately dominant cat fur color pattern is tabby. So for a cat to be solid black, it must also carry a recessive gene known as a non-agouti, so that the tabby pattern doesn’t appear.
2. Black Cat Day Celebration
Black Cat Day was created in 2011 by Cats Protection in order to celebrate these gorgeous pets. It is celebrated annually on the 27th of October. There are different ways you can celebrate Black Cat Day. One way is to adopt a black cat, especially a homeless one by getting in touch with your local animal shelter Another option is to spread the word about how great black cats are on social media and via blog posts or by sharing photos of black cats.
3. The science behind their yellow eyes
You may have noticed that most black cats have another distinguishing feature: yellow/greenish eyes. This is caused by the high melanin levels in their bodies, which affects the colour of the irises.
4. Black cats in Egypt
Cats in Ancient Egypt were present in social and religious practices for more than 3,000 years. The Egyptians were fascinated by divine opposites and cosmic symmetries, and they saw this kind of duality in the cat—a fierce predator that was also a loyal guardian. Several Egyptian deities were depicted in part-cat, part-human form, including Bastet, who was the Goddess of Violence as well as of Fertility. One of her sacred colors was black, which is how the black cat first achieved its special status.
5. Black cats in Greek mythology
According to Greek mythology, a slave named Galinthias was turned into a black cat by Zeus’ wife, Hera, as a way of punishing her for trying to prevent the birth of Heracles. Galinthias was sent to the underworld in her feline form to become a priestess of Hecate, the Goddess of Death and Queen of the Witches. This association with Hecate led many to see black cats as bad omen indicating impending death.
6. Black cats in Celtic mythology
The Celtic people used to believe in a cat called The Cat Sìth which means The Fairy Cat. This particular cat took the shape of a black cat that was the size of a dog with a white spot on its chest. In most stories, they are feared by the local people but there are some stories where they brought good fortune to them.
7. Black cats in Japanese culture
In Japan, black cats are seen as a symbol of good luck, particularly for single women, as they are revered for attracting fine suitors. Additionally, the “Maneki Neko” (Beckoning Cat) is also a common symbol of good luck and its raised paw is a welcoming gesture. Each Beckoning Cat is believed to have different strengths, depending on the animal’s color. The black cat is thought to ward off evil.
8. English beliefs regarding black cats
In England, these felines have a good reputation as well. It is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors. An English proverb says, “Whenever the cat of the house is black, the lasses of lovers will have no lack.” Also, in the English Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride.
9. Sailors’ superstitions regarding black cats
British and Irish sailors considered adopting black cats, because they would bring good luck. There is some logic regarding this belief: cats kill and eat rodents, which can damage ropes and stores of grain on board.
10. The reason why black cats are commonly seen as bad luck
The main cause for this belief originated in Europe, in the Middle Ages. Back then, black cats were often associated with witches. In the 1560s in Lincolnshire, England, on a moonless night a father and son were traveling when a black cat crossed their path. They pelted the cat with rocks, until the animal fled into the home of a woman who at the time was being accused of being a witch. The next day, the father and son saw the woman who lived in the house. She was limping and bruised, so they assumed witches could turn into black cats at night to roam around unobserved. This belief started spreading to the future United States with the first settlers and was held firmly during the Salem witch trials.
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11. Nekobiyaka Cat Café – a dedication for black cats
Nekobiyaka is a café in Japan known as the only place where you can see just black cats. It opened in 2013 and has become somewhat a tourist attraction. The owner, Ms. Yagi, came up with this concept as a way of increasing black cats’ chances of finding a home. Customers get to interact with these felines and discover that the stigma and superstition surrounding them is not true at all.
12. Black cats in dreams
Whether seeing a black cat while dreaming is a good sign or not depends on your own personal views regarding this animal. Commonly, a black cat in a dream is a symbol of something unknown to us: it could mean something positive, negative, or even neutral. For example, a black cat does not necessarily mean that something good or bad is going to happen in the dreamer’s life, but it could represent a guiding sign. Sometimes, it can represent our own deepest feelings.
13. Black cats in movies and TV series
Black cats are often seen in TV shows and movies and some of them are even the main characters. For example, Lucifer from Cinderella, the cat from Coraline and Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch all played an important role in the storyline.
14. Adoption statistics
Statistics show that black cats have the lowest adoption rate and the highest euthanasia rate. Although the exact reason isn’t known, there’s a high chance this is caused by the stereotypes regarding these felines.
15. Wealthiest black cat
When Ben Rea died in May 1988, he left his £7-million fortune to Blackie, the last surviving of the 15 cats he shared his mansion with. He refused to recognize his family in his will and split the majority of his wealth between three cat charities, with the instruction to look after his beloved pet. His sister Dorothy, who died only a few days before him, also left £2.8 million to animal charities. When Guinness World Records listed Blackie as the wealthiest cat, the feline automatically became one of the most popular black cats.
16. Black Cat Appreciation Day
Besides the Black Cat Day, which takes place as mentioned before on the 27th of October, there is another opportunity to celebrate the existence of these felines, thanks to Black Cat Appreciation Day. It is celebrated in the US during summer, on the 17th of August.
17. The number of black cat breeds
The Cat Fanciers’ Association (which is the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats) recognizes 22 cat breeds that can come with solid black coats.
18. Black cats can resist diseases better
Due to the fact that their lineage hasn’t been diluted by other breeds, black cats have stronger immune systems.
19. Black cats can change the colour of their fur
There are situations in which a black cat’s coat may change its appearance and turn to a red/brown colour. The main reason for that is the deficiency in tyrosine which is caused by either a lack of animal protein nutrition (such as meat or fish) or a problem with the cat metabolising or absorbing tyrosine even if it is already available.
20. The only all-black cat breed
The Bombay cat is the only all-black feline out of the 22 breeds. The feature that makes it special is the fact that even its nose and the pads of its paws are black.
It is important to realize the fact that the only wrong thing regarding black cats is the opinion of some people about them. These felines are as pure and adorable as any other cats and deserve equal love.
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Sources: Days of the Year, Wikipedia, The Wall Street Journal, I Heart Cats, Catster, ScotClans, Mental Floss, Figo Pet Insurance, Oddity Central, Dream Astro Meanings, Kindness for Cats, Guinness World Records, Institute for European Studies, National Today, Vet’s Kitchen, Rover
