Hi everyone, it’s Onyx. I haven’t quite settled into my new home completely, so I don’t have any new selfies. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to remind everyone that October is Black Cat Awareness Month. They created this month to increase adoption of black cats since we are less likely to be adopted than kitties with other coloring. I’m here to assure you that black cats are not unlucky or evil.
In fact, here are some good reasons to adopt a black cat:
- Black fur is less noticeable – generally speaking, it is harder to see black fur on most clothes than lighter colored fur. (Especially from a distance.)
- You can help keep them safe on Halloween – Halloween is dangerous for black cats. If you adopt one, you are keeping them safe from pranksters.
- Some people consider us good luck – Folks in Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Latvia all consider black kitties to be lucky.
- We look amazing in pictures – Apparently some people think that black cats don’t look good in selfies. They just don’t know how to use their cameras. We are incredibly photogenic and can make you look good too.
- The only all-black cat is the Bombay cat. However, there are 22 recognized breeds that can have solid black coloring. Additionally, some mixed breeds appear black. The Bombay was developed by crossing Sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs in an attempt to create the look of a miniature panther. They even have black noses and paw pads. And copper-colored eyes.
- Lonely ladies have taken in stray cats through the ages. Black cats can remain hidden in dark places, so people thought they were good companions for witches. As witch hunts became more popular, black cats suffered because of this belief.
- Some kitties look all black until they bask in the sun. Then they get faint stripes because they are really tabbies in disguise. The sun breaks down the pigment in their fur. Similarly, black fur can get bleached in the sun, resulting in rusty red tips.
- A truly onyx-colored cat produces a lot of melanin. Melanin makes their fur black and will often make their eyes a beautiful shade of amber. They are truly stunning.
- The Egyptian goddess Bastet had the head of a black cat. All cats were considered lucky in ancient Egypt.
- Black cats were popular with sailors, fishermen, and fishwives. They believed that black cats brought the ships luck and would bring the sailors and fishermen home safely. They kept black cats on board and in their homes.
- Black cats appear to be more resistant to some diseases. They appear to have stronger immune systems than other cats. Research has shown that they are more resistant to diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
- There was a homeless black cat in Rome who was taken in by Maria Assunta. When she died, she left him 10 million euros. That’s a lucky cat!
- Most black cats are male. The gene responsible for coat color is located on the X chromosome. Females need two copies of the gene to get a black coat, while males only need one. As a result, 75% of black cats are male.
- Humans who live with black cats report that they are more likely to have gentle personalities. They don’t seem to have as many extremely personality traits. They are generally intelligent and laid-back.
- Japan has an all-black cat cafe in Himeji. Called Cafe Nekobiyaka, it has about a dozen adoptable black cats at any given time. Once one is adopted, another black cat takes its place. They have adopted out over 300 black cats.
So if you’re looking for a new companion, I hope you will consider a black kitty.
Adventures in Cheeseland 