Did you know that it takes longer for black cats to be adopted out from shelters than their colored counterparts?
For many years, black cats have been associated with bad luck, sorcery, and witch craft, with written records of this dating all the way back to the 13th century.
This fear was worsened during the Salem Witch Trials. Some of the women accused of being witches coincidentally owned black cats, therefore the assumption was made that they worked alongside them to serve the devil. Tales of black cats transforming into women, and vise versa, as well as them being a symbol of bad omens (similar to crows) were prevalent during this time and many years to follow.
Black cats haven't always had such a bad rep, however. Many cultures and stories actually praise black cats for the good luck and prosperity that they are said to bring. The most commonly known is the Egyptian culture, which placed cats of any kind on a pedestal of worship, black cats included. Other cultures believed black cats symbolized good luck on voyages, from cats wandering onto ships and joining the crew, to staying by the side of the wives as they awaited their husbands' return.
Despite the association between black cats and Halloween/witches still being quite common today in shows and movies, many people are unlearning the association between black cats and their unfair negative reputation.
Some evidence shows that black cats may even outlive other breeds, thanks to the gene that gives them their black fur. Research has shown that this gene is linked to attributes that boost the immune system, making them less susceptible to certain illnesses found in cats.
If you're thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, remember that black cats are just as lovable and deserving of a good home as much as any other cat. And will silently judge you just the same.
