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If you’ve ever owned a black cat, you know them for their charming, mysterious, and intuitive natures. Sadly, these cats have earned a false reputation of being considered bad luck or evil in some cultures. This is why black cats are often associated with Halloween. However, in other cultures throughout history, they have been associated with royalty and good fortune. With centuries of superstitions and folklore surrounding them, there are several interesting things about these dark-colored felines. That’s why we compiled a list of ten mysterious facts about black cats.
Facts About Black Cats
1. Black Cats Are Considered ‘Bad Luck’ in Some Cultures
The false narrative that black cats bring bad luck dates back to the Middle Ages, when the belief that black cats were the Devil in disguise spread throughout Europe. Black cats also got a bad reputation from the Medevil “Witch Craze,” when they were thought to be witches in disguise. They were also believed to be a witch’s “familiar,” or, an animal companion that witches would use to communicate with the spiritual world.
Today, black cats are still associated with witchcraft and black magic in some cultures. As a result, they continue to experience the ramifications of this damaging stereotype. For example, in Italy and Germany, an old superstition claims that a black cat sitting on an ill person’s bed is a sign of imminent death. And in North America, if a black cat crosses your path, it’s considered bad luck.
2. Black Cats Are Considered ‘Good Luck’ in Other Cultures
On the flip side, even with the superstitions and negative stigma surrounding black cats, they symbolize good luck in many other parts of the world! For example, in England and Scotland, black cats are considered good luck and in Ireland, seeing a black cat on your porch also signifies good luck. In Japan, single women that own black cats are believed to have more luck in the romantic department. And in Russia, cats of all colors and breeds are considered good luck. From a historical perspective, black cats have long been considered to bring good fortune in cultures that weren’t affected by the witch craze or the Salem witch trials. So, the fact of the matter is, black cats are just as “lucky” as any other cat.
3. There Are 22 Recognized Breeds of Black Cats
To date, only 22 cat breeds can list ‘solid black’ as a color option. Norwegian Forest Cats, American Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, Exotics, and Bombays are some of the most common breeds that can be a solid black color. A notable breed is the Bombay cat, which is the most common black cat in the world. This breed resembles a mini panther, and that’s no coincidence.
In 1958, in Louisville, Kentucky, breeder Nikki Horner wondered how she could domesticate a cat to resemble its wild cousin. She bred sable-colored Burmese and black American Shorthairs and it resulted in the American Bombay. In Britain, the Bombay was a result of breeding Burmese and Black Domestic Shorthairs. Now, these “mini panthers” are globally recognized as the most common breed of black cats.
4. Black Cats Were Sailors’ Good Luck Charms
Back in the day, cats were regular crewmembers on ships to keep mice and rats at bay. What’s more, is sailors and their wives have long believed black cats were good luck throughout history. While sailors believed having black cats aboard would bring them good luck on the high seas, their wives would keep black cats at home to ensure the safe return of their husbands. Cats have always brought sailors and maritime crew members companionship while hunting rats and mice to preserve food.
That brings us to the story of Blackie, a black cat with white boots, who was a beloved and famous crew member on the HMS Prince of Wales during World War II. In 1941, Winston Churchill was getting off the boat to meet with President Roosevelt. Then, Blackie walked up to Roosevelt and received pets from the Prime Minister. In fact, Blackie was renamed Churchill after his rise to fame as the photo made headlines in newspapers around the world.
5. The Ancient Egyptians Worshipped a Black Cat Goddess
Bastet is known as the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, childbirth, and home. This Goddess is depicted as either a black cat or a woman with the head of a black cat, and is believed to protect the home from evil spirits and diseases. In ancient Egypt, cats were believed to be magical creatures that brought good luck. Black cats in particular were worshipped for their resemblance to Bastet. In ancient Egypt, cats were treated like royalty and were adorned with jewels and food fit for kings and queens. In fact, they were considered so sacred that when they died, they were mummified. Cat owners would even shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. And if cats were killed, their murderers were sentenced to death. As you can gather, the Egyptians thought highly of cats!
6. Some Shelters Won’t Adopt Out Black Cats Around Halloween
The stigma around black cats is most prevalent around Halloween, as a result of the persistent myth of black cats being linked to witchcraft and bad luck. Due to these superstitions, there is a long and disturbing history of black cats being used for ritual sacrifice. To keep black cats safe, a lot of shelters halt adoptions of black cats during the month of October. Additionally, owners of black cats are strongly cautioned to keep their black feline friends indoors around the spooky holiday. Since black cats have been long associated with witchcraft, there’s even fear of black cats being adopted out during the month of October as ‘live decorations’ and then being abandoned or returned to shelters after the holiday is over. As a PSA: Black cats deserve loving homes just as much as any other pet, and any negative beliefs about them are completely false.
7. Black Cats are Affected by Melanism
We may be biased, but we think black cats are some of the most beautiful felines. Up against their stunning, silken black coats, black cats’ golden eyes complete their sleek look. If you’ve ever wondered why black cats almost always exclusively have golden eyes and black coats, it’s due to melanism. Melanin is the pigment found in skin, fur, and feathers. From house cats to black leopards and jaguars, black cats naturally have a lot of this pigment, which is what causes their coats to be a striking black color. Their dark fur coats seem to match their mysterious personalities, don’t you think? Oftentimes, the prevalent amount of melanin turns their irises yellow. But as a side note, aside from yellow, their eyes are also commonly green or orange.
8. Black is the Most Common Coat Color for Cats
The black gene is a dominant gene in cat coloring. According to PetMD, melanism occurs in 13 out of 37 domesticated and wild cat species. There are three different variants of the gene, including black, brown, and cinnamon. This is why most black cats seem to have a “rusty” coat undertone when they bask in natural light.
Since black is the most common coat color for cats, they enter shelters at higher rates. This ultimately leads to higher euthanasia rates of black cats over other colors. For this reason, it’s important to consider adopting from a shelter. Even the adoption of one black cat can help overpopulation in shelters and prevent unnecessary euthanasia. So if you’re looking for a black cat to love and lean on, be sure to check out your local shelter!
9. They May Be More Resistant to Certain Illnesses
The genetic makeup responsible for giving black cats their raven-colored coats could possibly make them more immune to certain diseases, like feline immunodeficiency virus. According to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as FIV, is a common and consequential infectious disease among cats all over the world. The scariest part of FIV is that it can lay dormant for years before it begins to attack the immune system – resulting in symptoms like fever, depression, loss of appetite, and recurring bodily infections. It can also leave cats susceptible to other illnesses. And it turns out that black cats are less likely to contract FIV. So it’s possible that blacks cats have lucky immune systems!
10. They Have Their Own National Celebration Day
For all the facts we’ve listed about why black cats are mysterious yet wonderful creatures, they have their own national celebration day! In the United States, National Black Cat Day is observed on October 27th every year. This special day was designed to help break the stigma surrounding black cats and appreciate them as the loving, adorable, and loyal cats they are. Everyone can celebrate National Black Cat Day by spreading awareness about how lovely these dark-coated felines are. National Black Cat Day was established in 2011 by Cats Protection and we have them to thank for celebrating these incredible felines.
As you’ve probably gathered after hearing this list, black cats don’t deserve their negative stereotype, because they are no different than any other cats, except that they look like mini panthers. If anything, black cats are special, because those charcoal coats and golden eyes are especially mysterious and beautiful. So the next time a black cat crosses your path, rest assured that it probably just wants to be your friend!
References
https://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/working-dogs/black-cat-superstition/
https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/bombay-cat/
https://www.rd.com/list/black-cat-breeds/
https://www.worldanimalprotection.us/blogs/black-cats-6-interesting-facts
https://www.petmd.com/cat/6-hair-raising-facts-about-black-cats
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/cats-rule-in-ancient-egypt
https://www.ethosvet.com/blog-post/where-did-black-cats-get-their-bad-rep/
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/us/national-black-cat-day-trnd/index.html
https://leadervet.com/10-black-cat-facts-everyone-needs-to-know/
https://www.nationaldaystoday.com/national-black-cat-day/
https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/blog/why-black-cats-make-best-pets
https://animalfoundation.com/whats-going-on/blog/black-cats-good-bad-and-misunderstood
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
