Today’s their lucky day!
Those of you with black cats, dish them out an extra treat tonight – because October 27 is National Black Cat Day in the UK. Anyone with American friends will know that they celebrate their dark-furred moggies on August 17th, though their day exists for the same reason. Cats Protection asked for a specific day to celebrate the good qualities of the black cat, after finding that all-black and (to some extent) black and white cats left in their care take much longer to find homes than those with brighter fur colours. That’s a sad fact that rings true in the UK and America.
Research to find out why turned up some strange ideas. There was a fair sized minority saying that ‘black cats are difficult to photograph’. Many others claimed that black cats brought bad luck, or were associated with evil deeds in their minds. There were comments to the effect that other colours were ‘prettier’.
Superstitious…
Black cats have had a lot of folklore to contend with. They are sometimes said to foreshadow death or bad luck, and to have been the most likely to accompany witches or be used to carry out black magic work. The main superstition I heard while growing up was that black cats were lucky in a lot of situations, such as crossing your path while you were going somewhere. Anyone who’s tripped over a black cat determined to dart across your path at exactly the wrong moment would probably want that superstition challenged.
Black cats – like cats in general – have had good times and bad times over the centuries, depending on where they live. The ancient Egyptians were famous for revering their cats, with their goddess Bast taking the form of a black cat. Early American settlers often associated them with witchcraft. Sailing with a black cat is said to improve your chances of returning home safely, and in Scotland and Japan a black cat is claimed to foretell prosperity.
Black cats in the news
Anyone following the tabby mouser to No 10 Downing Street (Larry, you have a fan club!) might not be aware that he has a black counterpart patrolling No. 11. Gladstone the black cat was hired from Battersea Dogs and Cats home in June 2016 and killed his first mouse at Number 11 within 48 hours. Not bad for a stray who was caught trying to gate-crash a Battersea staffer’s cat-flap.
I know some people claim to have seen huge black cats in the wild all over the UK – including sightings near Braintree and Witham. Those who have seen these cats are adamant that they saw a creature the size of a panther – others are sceptical. I’m not making a comment either way.
Not just for Hallowe’en!
You know it and I know it. Black cats are – just black cats. Some have a wicked sense of humour, some are happy idiots and some are reserved and gentle creatures. If you look at them in sunlight, you will rarely see your black cat as completely black – almost all have dark chocolate brown fur, often in a ‘tabby’ marking. Most will have black toe-pads, and their eyes are startling in that dark face. Beautiful, and deserving a better reputation.
Although cats are treated well by most people in modern Britain, rescue centres are very reluctant to re-home black cats around Hallowe’en, in case they are used as Hallowe’en decorations and then abandoned or returned. Yes, you can buy a set of bat-wings for your cat. No, please don’t send us a photo of the poor creature wearing them. We like our cats to be cats, and I think they prefer just to be cats as well.
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