By Magdalena Romanow
With Halloween just around the corner, what better subject to discuss than black cats.
They have been vilified over the ages, and it is hard to find a Halloween image that does not have a black cat crouching somewhere in the background.
Many Halloween images are of black cats, a sign of bad luck in many western countries for hundreds of years. Most of you have heard the superstition that a black cat crossing the road means bad luck. Hopefully all of you know by now that it just means he’s going to the other side, and wonder why a cat is out on his own crossing a road.
Maybe because of this, or maybe not, for some reason, black cats are the hardest to adopt out. Apparently this is also true for dogs. Maybe it’s the color that simply puts people off. Black being the color of night, of darkness, and in many cases of evil. Most images of the devil or death are black. Black magic, black water, black rain, black mood, black character. Black has some bad connotations. Good versus Evil.
You would think in today’s society these associations would no longer apply, but they do.
Whatever the reason, these amazing animals sit in shelters waiting for homes longer than felines of other colors.
Truth is, black cats are just as sweet, if not sweeter, than tabby’s or white cats. There is nothing mean spirited, or dark, or wicked about black cats. Feline fanciers often point out that black cats resemble miniature panthers, and are one of the prettiest cats around.
Most shelters will not adopt out black cats around Halloween simply to err on the side of caution, and keep our beautiful black cats safe with us.
Once Halloween is over, we are more than happy to introduce you to some of the most wonderful cats you can find.
A list of some obvious reasons to adopt a black cat: black cats are basically miniature panther; black cats look super cool in black and white photographs.; if you decide to go as a cat for Halloween, you will match your cat; black cats are always fashionable; black cats are the best to play hide and seek with, if you are looking for a competitive game; their teeth always look white; you can never lose your black cat in a snow storm; black cats are always appropriately dressed for cocktail parties; and no matter what you are wearing, black cats always look good on you.
On a more serious note, black cats are really wonderful animals who deserve homes just as much as any other cat, and are by far the hardest to place.
Magdalena Romanow is a volunteer at Katie’s Place, an animal shelter in Maple Ridge.