7 things you probably didn't know about Black Cats
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
By: Wendy Welch

Are you a cool cat? Take the quiz.

Some call them "panthers." Others "ebony sleeks." And yet some in our history thought of them as demonic. Love them or not, black cats have a wonderful history and mystery. How much do you know about them?

1. Should you adopt black cats out at Halloween? Though some shelters worry black cats will be abused or used as décor, then abandoned after the holiday, there’s no proof to any of these activities. Similar to the “razorblade in the apple” (That has never happened!), the “be careful of bad people adopting black cats at Halloween” appears to be scary mythology! (HSHV keeps the same adoption policies year-round, in the interest of both the animals and the people who provide homes for them.
   
    
2. Are more black cats boys or girls? Though not all cats are solid black, black fur pigmentation is slightly more prevalent in male cats than females. And most black cats have yellow eyes, thanks to high levels of melatonin.
    
3. What color is least likely to get adopted? Many shelters report that all other colors of cats find homes faster than black cats. But when the numbers get crunched, it may be more of a matter of sheer numbers; that is, there are simply more black cats than any other color.
    
4. Are black cats purebred? Black cats are fancy, too; Cat Fanciers’ Association recognizes 22 cat breeds who can have solid black coats. And their fur goes with your LBD!
    
5. Do black cats mean bad luck? Not in Japan, the UK or Scotland. Scottish lore says you’ll experience wealth if a black cat appears in your home. And in England, if give a bride a black cat, it’s rumored you’ll be giving her luck.
    
6. Do black cats have witchy ways?  Sometime in the Middle Ages, Europeans started saying the older ladies who were caring for black cats were witches—and thus associated the cats with witchcraft. Deeply suspicious Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth Rock thought black cats were not only witches’ buddies, but little devils, and would punish—or even kill—someone who was caught with a black cat.  Crazy, eh? Contrast that with Egyptian times when black cats were highly esteemed—killing one was a capital crime.
    
7. What are black cats better at? Black cats are rumored to be better hunters. We’re not sure about that one, but we do know black cats make great lovers; just ask someone who’s adopted one.