Black cats have long suffered the stigma of being bad luck or witch’s pets, but these stereotypes have real consequences on their adoption rates.
According to the National Library of Medicine, raven-haired felines experience the lowest adoption rates and highest euthanasia rates of any cat. Black cat adoptions only make up 10% of all adoptions and 74.6% of feline euthanizations.
Adoption agencies believe these trends are the result of longstanding superstitions surrounding black cats. Black cats are considered bad luck and representative of the devil. They have even been blamed for spreading the Black Plague. This superstition led to higher transmission rates due to an unchecked rat population in urban areas.
The bias against black cats has been documented as far back as ancient Greece because they were associated with the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate. The association spread across Europe and, in the Middle Ages, the ritualistic killing of black cats was seen as a way to break spells and curses.
Even though these superstitions can seem antiquated, black cats are still affected. The felines make up one third of all cats in shelters today according to the ASPCA.
The depiction of black cats in popular media adds to this stigma. They are represented as familiars, sorcerers and other spooky things. While entertaining, these depictions are not based on reality, and many owners of black cats know them to be loving, energetic and playful.
While it is important to adopt black cats and help free them from a reputation they did nothing to earn, it is also important to adopt responsibly. Cats live for fifteen to twenty years on average and they can be high maintenance pets.
If you are not in a situation where you can adopt a cat, there are plenty of shelters in need of supplies and donations. Most animal shelters are nonprofit and volunteer-run. If you have a few hours each week to assist, you can donate your time.
If you can’t find time to volunteer, there are other options for helping. Most shelters welcome donations, although not all items donated can be used.
For example, pet food. Most shelters have a contractual agreement to feed the animals a specific diet, and are unable to use donated food. This is also not ideal, as some animals need dietary specific food, or do not react well to their food being consistently different.
So, to make sure that your donation counts the most, here are a few things that you cannot go wrong with:
- Cleaning supplies (bleach, dish soap, paper towels and laundry detergent)
- Pet carriers
- Gently used towels and blankets
- Cat litter and litter boxes
- Cat trees and toys
- Office supplies
- Pee pads
- Monetary donations
McLean County Animal Control Center recommends asking yourself these questions before adopting a furry friend:
- Do you already have any pets? How would they react to a new furry friend?
- Do you currently or do you plan on adding any children into your family?
- Do you have enough money in your budget to pay for scheduled and unscheduled vet visits?
- Does my current residence allow pets? If so, are there any size restrictions?
- Does your schedule allow you to spend enough time with your pet?
- What age of animal is best for you? Do you have the patience to train a puppy or is an older animal better for you?
- Who will care for the pet when you are away?