Did you know October is International Black Cat Awareness Month? Here are some reminders of the misconceptions and dangers that cats face — especially black cats, and especially at Halloween. Please keep your cats safe!
Black cats — and to some extent, cats in general — have had an undeservedly bad reputation since the days of the ancient Greeks. Some people have believed that black cats are a sign of bad luck since the god Zeus’ wife, Hera, turned her servant, Galinthias, into a black cat. Galinthias then began to assist the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate. Black cats have been associated with witchcraft ever since.
Incredibly, some modern people still seem to be influenced by that superstition. Here are some statistics: 71 percent of cats in shelters are euthanized, and the majority of them are black; black cats spend 40 percent more time in shelters than other cats.
And during the Halloween season, black cats are especially vulnerable to cruel pranks and abuse from misguided humans and should be kept safe inside.
Black cats can be just as sweet and appealing as other cats, and some cultures honor them. They are considered to bring good fortune in Ireland and Japan. In Great Britain, sailors and their wives have kept black cats on ships and in their homes for luck and safety.
Layla Morgan Wilde started International Black Cat Awareness Month to dispel the superstitions about black cats.
Please consider adopting a cat during International Black Cat Awareness Month.
And remember, if a black cat crosses your path, it’s not a portent of bad luck — it just means the cat is going somewhere.
