Celebrate National Black Cat Day And everything

Celebrate National

Black Cat Day !

It’s National Black Cat Day on October 27th! Black cats This relationship would prove to hold severe consequences need a little positive PR as their reputation as an omen of bad for owners of black cats in America in the early 17th centuluck is well-known (and unearned, frankly). In the lead-up ry. As the Pilgrims established their occupancy on the east to Halloween, National Black Cat Day provides the chance coast of the country, they maintained a strict suspicion of for feline fans to show off their love for the oft-maligned, anything remotely tied to the perils of witchcraft. The black but always iconic animal. cat served a symbol of the supposed evils and Satanic symHistory of National Black Cat Day pathies of witches, and as a result, those found harboring black cats would receive harsh punishments; some would

The black cat carries a unique status among the wide batch even be sentenced to death. of different cat breeds. In some locales, notably Scotland, While, in general, the fears surrounding the demonic Britain, and Japan, the presence or appearance of a black potential of witches has subsided significantly, the black cat is indicative of imminent good fortune and prosperi- cat will be left wondering why it still must suffer the conty. Beyond these regions, though, public favor of the black sequences of a damaged collective reputation. According cat runs sharply southward. In much of the Western world, to several animal-advocacy groups and adoption agencies, black cats are considered to be harbingers of misfortune black cats experience lower rates of adoption and higher and wickedness. This unfortunate association stems from rates of euthanization relative to other cat breeds. Because an image that will be familiar to many readers, which is of this, National Black Cat Day stands as a fantastic opportuthat of the black cat serving as a companion to potion-brew- nity to subvert these trends and demonstrate appreciation ing, spell-casting witches everywhere. for an animal that could itself use a little luck.

National Black Cat Day Timeline

1232

A BAD RAP

This 13th century Latin church document is where Pope Gregory IX first suggested black cats were associated with Satan.

1843

EDGAR ALLEN POE’S BLACK CAT

Poe published his story “The Black Cat”, about a murderer carefully concealing a crime, but eventually revealing himself because of a nagging reminder guilt.

1880

THE ANARCHIST BLACK CAT

Since the 1880s, the color black has been associated with anarchism, and the black cat in alert, fighting stance was later adopted as an anarchist symbol.

2016

ASSUMING OFFICE

The black cat Gladstone achieves the position of Chief Mouser to the Treasury in the United Kingdom.

National Black Cat Day FAQs

Is today National Black Cat Day?

It is if it’s October 27th! Show some love to black cats everywhere in the lead-up to Halloween, which is only four days after! Are black cats less likely to be adopted?

Unfortunately, they are. According to PETA, black cats are two-thirds less likely to be adopted than white cats and are fifty percent less likely to be adopted than tabby cats.

What should I name my black cat?

Whatever you think is best! There are plenty of directions to head in. You can choose to be straightforward (Blackie), ironic (Snowflake), or referential (Felix), among other options!

What breed are black cats?

Black cats can come from many different breeds! According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, there are as many as 22 recognized breeds of cat that may have a solid, black coat of fur.

National Black Cat Day Activities

Show Off Your Black Cat on Social Media

If you already keep a black cat as a pet, today is the day to celebrate it on social media. We’re sure you never post photos of it on any other day, right? Show it off, drawing particular attention to its fur color, and hashtag it with a reference to National Black Cat Day!

Watch a Black Cat

Some of the most famous cats in popular culture are black cats! Watch a TV show or movie that embraces the black cat. Examples include Salem from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” Sylvester from “Looney Tunes,” and Snowball from “The Simpsons.”

Adopt a Black Cat

If you’ve been thinking about adopting a cat, then National Black Cat Day is a great day to head to your local animal shelter and bring home a new dark-furred friend!

Why We Love National Black Cat Day

Black Can Be Lucky, Too

The myth that black cats bring bad luck persists, but we’d like to consider the fact that the opposite may hold true, too. As mentioned before, in some parts of the world, coming across or owning a black cat is just as likely to bring you good fortune. Why not focus on the positives?

Black Cats Match Dark Furniture

Cat fur proves to be a nuisance in homes everywhere. That said, if you happen to own darker furniture, then a black cat’s fur won’t show up on it! Just one consideration that can be factored into your decision of what kind of cat to adopt next…

They’re Cute!

Forgetting all their cultural ties, black cats are still just as cute as any other cat! If anything, their dark fur brings greater attention to the color in their eyes, which are often a rich gold due to their higher melanin content.