National Black Cat Day is celebrated on October 27
London dogs and cats charity Battersea has urged the British public to ignore misconceptions about black cats before National Black Cat Day on October 27.
The annual event highlights the fact that black cats have less chance of being adopted than cats of other colours, due to widespread myths about the animals.
Now Battersea is encouraging people to look beyond black cats’ appearance and give the “sweet felines” the second chance they deserve. Black cats make up over 40 per cent of the charity’s feline admissions.
Traditional Western superstitions suggest that black cats bring bad luck and should be avoided.
Meanwhile, black cat figures and costumes have become a major part of Halloween. Countless movies show witches and other supernatural beings having black cats to help them with their devilish schemes.
Contrastingly, in other cultures such as in Japan, a black cat crossing your path is viewed as a good omen and a sign of wealth and prosperity.
Paige Havlin, Cattery Team Leader at Battersea, said: “Black cats are commonly associated with a number of misconceptions such as that they aren’t photogenic or that they bring bad luck, but at Battersea, we know this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is so much more to these beautiful, loving cats which make them a great pet for many people.
“There are many black cats at Battersea who are looking for a loving home and we hope that through events like National Black Cat Day, we can raise awareness of just how wonderful these sweet felines are and give them a second chance at life.”
On any given day, Battersea looks after approximately 200 cats across its three sites and in foster care. The charity says it already takes the average cat 27 days to find a new home, but the wait for a black cat can be even longer.
Panther, a seven-year-old Domestic Short Hair black cat, has been at Battersea for over 50 days and is looking for a calm and loving home to rest his paws, for instance. The charity says Panther is a gentle soul who loves attention and will greet everyone he meets with chirps and head bumps. With endless love to give, Battersea says Panther will make a fantastic companion for a loving family.
A kindle of black, five-month-old kittens called Salem, Thackery and Binx also arrived at Battersea this month after being found as strays with their mum in London. Typical of their age, Battersea says they are friendly and energetic kittens who love playtime and would make the ideal pets for new and experienced owners alike.
