Black cats bringing bad luck is a dying superstition. Even today there are not a few people who reject cats with black fur for a series of completely irrational reasons. An undeserved reputation, theirs, because these cats with night-colored fur are as adorable as white kittens or kittens with different shades of coats are.
Summary
- Do black cats bring bad luck?
- Black cats and superstition
- Black cats are less likely to find a family
- The fear that their shiny black cloak arouses
- A black panther in a reduced size
- The official day dedicated to black cats
Black cats have to deal with all sorts of prejudices: for centuries in Europe they have been persecuted because they are considered accomplices of the devil. Even today, superstitious people consider them to be the bearers of misfortune. For this reason, even in animal shelters, cats with completely black coats wait longer than others for a family to welcome them into their home.
On the other hand, these particular animals are also seen as mysterious and somewhat mystical. Where does this fascinating point of view come from and what does it refer to?
Do black cats bring bad luck?
The nineteenth-century French writer Max O’Rell answered this question very clearly: “Whether a black cat brings good luck or bad luck depends on whether you are a human or a mouse.”
Only mice need to be afraid of them, as they have to stay away from cats in general. People, on the other hand, have nothing to fear. Rather, the opposite can be said: looking at European history, in fact, black cats have had a lot of misfortune meeting people over the centuries.
Black cats and superstition
Unfortunately, the superstition that black cats bring bad luck has a long tradition in Europe. In fact, already in the Middle Ages, they were associated with black magic and witchcraft.
At the beginning of what is called modern history, the witch hunt began. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 people, mostly women, were executed for suspected witchcraft activity during this dark historical period. It can be assumed that at least as many black cats are burned at the stake with them.
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Black cat from the left
If a black cat from the left crosses the road, superstition has it that it brings bad luck. It is a popular belief that goes back to Christian thought.
In fact, in the Bible it is written that, on the day of the Last Judgment, the good ones will stay on the right while the bad ones on the left (Mt 25: 31-46). That is why the black cat that comes from the left takes on a dark and menacing aura.
White hair as a lifesaver
In the course of history there were many cruel customs with black cats as protagonists that lasted for many centuries. On June 24, the day dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the poor black cats were burned alive because they were considered “diabolical beings”. However, to be deemed affiliated with the devil and then burned alive in the bonfires on St John’s night, the cats had to be completely black. They were only considered devil animals if they didn’t even have a white coat.
As a result, completely black cats have become increasingly rare over time. Conversely, the specimens with white spots managed to survive and were therefore able to pass on their coloration to subsequent generations. Even today it is very rare to find a cat with a completely black coat: most of them have a white spot somewhere on the coat.
The danger on Halloween
Fortunately, these cruel rituals are a thing of the past. In any case, the volunteers committed to defending animal rights recommend keeping black cats at home on Halloween night, so as not to take risks. Unfortunately, in fact, it still happens that animal molesters and Satanists abuse black cats, during the night of Halloween, to engage in “black magic”.
A good luck charm in England
In the UK, on the other hand, there is a belief that these cats bring good luck, especially to women. The same in Japan. According to a well-known English proverb, the presence of a black cat in the home of a single woman is a guarantee for many suitors. “Whenever the cat of the house is black, the lasses of lovers will have no lack”.
Also in the United Kingdom, this time in the Midlands, giving a black cat as a wedding gift to a couple is the ideal gesture because it brings happiness and eternal love to the bride.
Black cats are less likely to find a family
Usually these cats with such a unique coat stay longer than the others in shelter for the animals that hosts them, before being able to find a new home. In a survey by the German Animal Welfare Association, 48% of animal shelters surveyed confirmed that black cats are more difficult to adopt.
When asked about the reasons for this refusal, almost half of the catteries and shelters (47%) mentioned the superstition and prejudices that remain towards these beautiful animals. 32% mentioned aesthetic aspects. In other words, it seems that many people find black cats less beautiful and prefer cats of other colors instead.
They are less “instagrammable”
Another obstacle to their adoption seems to lie in the fact that black cats are more difficult to photograph . Conspecifics of other colors are probably best suited for photos and selfies to post on Instagram and other social media.
The fear that their shiny black cloak arouses
Some people are afraid of black cats, which are also commonly considered less friendly and even aggressive. These are just biases, as there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.
Perhaps, due to their dark color, these beautiful animals are just harder to deal with interpret at the level of expressions and mimics. This characteristic could be at the origin of misunderstandings between them and us humans, which could have contributed to their reputation as mysterious and dark beings.
A black panther in a reduced size
Black cats, however, also have their admirers. In the United States, for example, a cat breed has taken hold that seems to refer to the aesthetic model of the black panther Bagheera from “The Jungle Book”: it is theBombay cat .
Bombay Cats are medium-sized animals and have short hair. They are considered very suitable for family living, thanks to their curious temperament and their intelligence. The only coat color approved for this feline breed is black.
The official day dedicated to black cats
In order to eliminate prejudices and dispel the bad reputation of these splendid animals, some associations of the English-speaking world have devised something specifically dedicated: every August 17th, in fact, the “Black Cat Appreciation Day” is celebrated worldwide. the day of the enhancement of the all black cat. In Great Britain there is also another anniversary: on October 27 of each year we celebrate the “National Black Cat Day”, that is the national day of the black cat.
We hope that even in our country there will be more initiatives to enhance these splendid felines, definitively eliminating the silly superstitions of human beings that have made life difficult for them for far too long.
