Black Cat Appreciation Day

[vilakins]

Apparently it was Black Cat Appreciation Day yesterday (17th) in the US. They're adopted last there (my Sebastian, shown here, was at the Lonely Miaow months after his sibs, but that may have been shyness) and are five times more likely to be put to sleep at shelters in the US because of this, but why? Stupid superstition? [Edit: yes, apparently, they're regarded as bad luck there.] Going by the black cats I've known, they're stunningly beautiful, sweet-natured, and so loving and faithful. Adopting Sebastian was one of the best decisions I've made.


Just after we adopted him


In a snuggler


In the garden

What's not to love?

Comments

[kalypso]

How strange! I'd never heard that people didn't like black cats - who wouldn't want a good luck symbol around them all the time?

[vilakins]

Apparently some people think they're bad luck. A friend in Ely with two lovely black girls said someone asked her how she could have black cats. I've always loved their magnificent glossiness and friendly personalities.

Another theory proposed on FB is that you can't see their expressions easily, but I certainly can. I think it's the US where they're so disliked, but certainly Sebastian was at the foster home a while. Anyway, I've found homes for two rescues I'd have kept if Tessa and Claudia would have let me, and finally I have one, so I've shown my appreciation.

[redstarrobot]

Oh, what a handsome little fellow.

[capri0mni]

Yes.... That's an American thing. In American folklore black cats are exclusively bad luck, and even seen by some as the Devil in disguise.

Ironically, it comes from the same root in folklore: Black cats were seen as companions to the goddess Hecate (though before the Greeks got to Egypt, it was black rabbits), who was goddess of roads and highways. So if a black cat was walking alongside the road, in the same direction you were, that was a sign that good luck was ahead. But if a black cat crosses your path, than that means bad luck is ahead.

So... Some cultures kept the first half of that belief, and hold that black cats are good luck... But Americans kept the second half, and expanded it, so now, the belief is that a black cat crossing your path causes bad luck, rather than just warns of it...

Then again, some of the first American settlers were Puritans, who thought all association with magic and luck is evil, so that was probably a factor in the belief's evolution.

[capri0mni]

Great pictures! And I've got to say: that third pose, beside the white cat statue, made me LOL.

[gwendraith]

Sebastian is just so adorable and it was a lucky day when you adopted him. How can anyone not love a black cat? As you say they are so sweet natured and loving. My girls are the best companions anyone could ask for. For me they are a symbol of good luck and everything about them points to that :)

[vilakins]

I'm glad it's mainly the US. That's yet another custom (valentine's day and halloween are others) I do not want to see imported more than they are already. [rolls eyes]

[vilakins]

He is, and so sweet with it too!

[vilakins]

So did I when I saw it. I took it through the kitchen window; if I'd gone outside, he'd have run to me.

[vilakins]

The black cat thing is from the US, but Sebastian was slower being adopted, I think for two reasons: he was a bit shy and other kittens got more attention, and young black kittens aren't as cute as others. They grow into their magnificence; by the time I met him, he was beautiful. I wish I'd known him as a little kitten though so I've downloaded a few black kitten photos to give me an idea. :-)

Awww, your gorgeous girl in a tiara! (Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? "It's a tiara, it's a tiara, put it on, put it on, put it on!")

[gwendraith]

There no doubting black cats grow into real beauties but most have that wonderful friendly and sociable personality as well.

Hehe yes, I watch the Big bang Theory. My elder son loves it, too.

[pebblerocker]

Isn't he lovely! I recognise the first picture as a photo reference you used once :)

One day I'll get around to posting the story of my cats, with pictures. Monty's mother Gloria is a black cat (semi-longhaired, and rusty-reddish on her shoulders) and was at the SPCA for a month with nobody interested in adopting her after her kittens were taken away. If we'd known that when we adopted Monty we'd have taken them both at the same time! But she still remembered her son when we re-introduced them. She is a gorgeous cat and I'm glad to have given her a home.

[pebblerocker]

(Ha. I used this because it's the closest I have to a cat icon. Only after I posted did I realise that the pictured Cat is black.)

[vilakins]

Yes, I did! He was very easy to do, only needing a little grey shading. :-)

How lovely that they were reunited! I did notice when I was looking that the SPCA here had black cats who didn't stay long, and one little girl at the Lonely Miaow went very quickly before I could meet her. However I don't think it could have worked out better: Sebastian is adorable and full of personality and all three got on very well.

[vilakins]

Of course he is; he's the coolest! :-D

[mab_browne]

He looks a handsome fellow. Our old lady is similarly marked, and a very social little creature.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

HIS WEE FACE. <3

And it's funny; I could think of a lot of people who'd want to adopt black cats exactly because of what they're associated with. Also, I could be happy with a house full of black cats because I mostly wear black clothes. The fur wouldn't be nearly as much of a nuisance as it is with Noki, whose every single hair goes from pure white at the root to black at the tip so it shows up on *everything*.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

When I decided I wanted another cat, I definitely had a black one in mind. I've always liked and admired them and they seem to have very sweet natures. Sebastian is an absolute darling I could spend hours in bed cuddling him if I could (I did this morning). When I wake up in the night, he's either right there between our pillows or further down the bed and immediately comes up when he sees I'm awake and I go back to sleep smooching him with his happy purring in my ear. [loves]

And I know what a beautiful and loving cat Noki is!

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Eeee, Noki does the same. The moment I wake up, she hops in next to me and curls under my arm and purrs and purrs and purrs. Every morning starts with snuggles:3

[katriona-s.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, he is cute! You know, I have lived with with rabbit or finch all my life therefore never been a cat-lover. Still I found he is very sweet :)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

That last photo is brilliant. Sebastian is obviously a natural poser - maybe even a bit of a poseur. :)

[gracewillow.livejournal.com]

Have never had a black cat, but here's my closest effort--a variety of grays. :) I think the superstitions about black cats are ridiculous. People are weird.

Gorgeous photos!

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely nothing! I LOVE black cats. People are really silly to assign a superstition to any animal.

These are all precious photos.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Aww, your Sebastian and my Jack could be sibs - they've both got the same little sprinkling of white hairs!

Alex and I adopted Jack from the county shelter in an October and they almost didn't let us have him because they had learned the hard way to NOT adopt black cats during the run-up to Halloween. People either did horrible things to them, or used them as accessories for a party and then returned them to the shelter (which ran a 30-days-no-questions-asked return policy)

But when the lady behind the counter saw Alex and I splutter with outrage at hearing this, she decided we must be legit and so the cat later known as Bowling Ball Butt joined the household. ;)

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Youngest's cat Jenson looks like your Sebastian. Her Sebastian is mostly white.