As Halloween festivities begin, many spooky myths and old traditions appear with the holiday’s decorations. One myth is the bad luck surrounding black cats.
Black cats are often associated with witchcraft and dark magic. In Greek mythology, black cats are seen as a symbol of Hecate, the goddess of magic and witchcraft. The belief that black cats are servants for witches continued into the Middle Ages in Europe.
One popular superstition about black cats is that crossing paths with one is considered a sign of bad luck.
These associations may have consequences that harm these felines. Called “black cat bias,” cats with black coats are seen in a more negative light compared to cats with other coat colors.
Because of this, many people believe that black cats struggle to be adopted during October or have higher euthanasia rates.
One study published in PubMed Central found weak evidence to support black cat bias and suggested black cats “receive extra consideration for rehoming” when in public shelters.
Portage Animal Protective League Executive Director Chalan Lowry has not seen the bias against black cats during adoptions at the APL.
“Black cats are well-loved and popular at our shelter,” Lowry said. “We do not really see any negative bias towards them.”
Jake Wherley, volunteer coordinator at Paws and Prayers Pet Rescue, noticed black cats tend to be adopted out at a slower rate than other types of cats, such as tabbies or calicos.
Instead of superstitions, Lowry believes people may shy away from black cats due to color preference.
“Orange cats and calico, or cats with a more striking appearance, seem to be popular,” Lowry said.
Another misconception about black cats is that they are adopted around Halloween and used for sacrificial reasons or rituals.
“Some shelters used to stop adoption of black cats around Halloween for fear of them being harmed. This idea was not based on facts,” Lowry said.
Despite popular belief, there is no evidence stating black cats are at a higher risk of sacrifice or harm during the spooky season.
“We used to avoid adopting out black cats from our shelter during the month of October due to concerns of people harming them,” Wherley said. “We haven’t done this, though, for about five years.”
National Black Cat Appreciation Day on Aug. 17 and National Black Cat Day on Oct. 27 raise awareness for these cats.
The adoption of black cats saves lives and reduces the risk of euthanasia. Owning a cat may have positive impacts on health, and some studies have shown that petting a cat can reduce stress.
“From our personal experience, black cats tend to have very mild temperaments and are very docile and friendly,” Wherley said.
Despite the misinformation around black cats, Lowry and the Portage APL have seen success in black cat adoptions and their abilities to find homes.
“We do not have any issue with black cat adoptions,” Lowry said. “I personally feel like black cats are more popular than they used to be.”
Wherley has found that in the past two or three years, there has been an increase in black cats’ adoption time. He also believes that the “taboo” surrounding them is becoming outdated.
In other countries, black cats are considered to bring good luck, he said.
“What’s interesting is that the black cat superstition is very niche in America. For example, in Scotland, spotting a black cat on your doorstep means luck is about to knock!” Wherley said. “They’re seen as harbingers of prosperity.”
Loreal Puleo is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
