Celebrating Black Cats

Autumn is officially here, and stores and restaurants are offering lots of seasonal items and pumpkin-flavored treats. Have you happened to notice a lot of products with black cat motifs? There’s a good chance that you have. While we love kitties of all different colors, black cats are often unfairly stigmatized by old myths and superstitions, which often come to the forefront around trick-or-treating time. Read on as a local Fort Collins, CO vet discusses some of the myths surrounding black cats.

Black cats often have a harder time getting adopted than other kitties. This is very unfair to Fluffy. These adorable kitties have wonderful temperaments, and make great pets!

Black cats are so wonderful that they actually have a few special days dedicated to them. August 17th is Black Cat Appreciation Day, while October 27th is Black Cat Day in the UK. November 17th is also associated with black cats. We’re not in any hurry to see one official date chosen: these kitties deserve love and attention all year round!

Superstitions about black cats being associated with witches are nothing more than old wives’ tales, but unfortunately, these misconceptions are still quite common. For instance, black cats often appear on seasonal Halloween decorations, and often appear as familiars in movies. Fortunately, this isn’t a worldwide issue: in many places, such as Japan, Ireland, and England, black cats are actually considered good luck. Actually, in Scotland, if a black cat shows up at your door, you may be about to win the lottery!

Our adorable feline friends come in a variety of colors and patterns. While 22 of the AKC’s officially recognized cat breeds can be black, only one is always all black. That would be the Bombay, a sweet, friendly furball that looks quite a bit like a miniature panther.

Do you have a black cat? We strongly recommend keeping Fluffy indoors, especially around Halloween. Not only do those old superstitions sometimes endanger cats, the increased amounts of traffic and pedestrians can also put your pet at risk.

Do you have questions or concerns about your kitty’s health, diet, or care? Is Fluffy due for an exam, vaccines, or parasite control? Contact us, your local Fort Collins, CO animal clinic, anytime! We are here to serve all of your pet’s veterinary care needs.