27/10/2025
Today is National Black Cat Day, created back in 2011 by Cats Protection . We donโt think itโs any coincidence that it falls close to Halloween, as it was established to combat the superstitions and misconceptions that have surrounded black cats for centuries. It emphasizes the importance of celebrating and supporting these often overlooked and misunderstood feline companions.
Weโve delved a little into the superstitions around these inky kitty cats and hereโs what Wikipedia has to sayโฆโฆ..
Black cats are often a symbol of Halloween or witchcraft. In most Western cultures, black cats have typically been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the familiars of witches, or actually shape-shifting witches themselves.
Most of Europe considers the black cat a symbol of bad luck, particularly if one walks across the path in front of a person, which is believed to be an omen of misfortune and death.
The black cat in folklore has been able to change into human shape to act as a spy or courier for witches or demons. When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, they brought with them a devout faith in the Bible. They also brought a deepening suspicion of anything deemed of Satan and were deeply suspicious of other Christians, including those of the Catholic, Quaker, Anglican and Baptist denominations. The Pilgrims viewed the black cat as a companion, or a familiar to witches, who were said to "use black cats as an integral part of their craft". These superstitions led people to kill black cats. There is no evidence from England of regular large-scale massacres of "Satanic" cats, or of burning them in midsummer bonfires, as sometimes occurred elsewhere in Europe. In the present day many Westerners, including Christian clergy, have black cats as pets, and very few people attach superstitions to them anymore.
In contrast, the supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively; for example, sailors considering a "ship's cat" would want a black one because it would bring good luck. Sometimes, fishermen's wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea.
Whether you believe in superstitions or not, past statistics revealed that black and black-and-white cats took, on average, seven days longer to find a home compared to cats of other colours. Today is to boost awareness and to ask anyone looking to rehome a cat, not to automatically overlook these marvellous moggies.
