News
Get Lucky – Adopt a Black Cat
September 01, 2008, 8:47AM MT
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Don’t overlook these sleek and regal beauties when looking for a new furkid for your family
Don’t overlook these sleek and regal beauties when looking for a new furkid for your family
By Barbara J. Koll, Best Friends Network Volunteer
Studies show that black cats are about half as likely to be adopted as other cats. On average, they stay several months longer in shelters than any other cats. And they are often ignored by rescue groups because they are so hard to place. Black cats are frequently left waiting in pounds and shelters hoping to find a home only to be destroyed when their time is up.
Black cats are routinely overlooked by potential adopters for a variety of reasons – superstition, they don’t photograph well, they aren’t distinctive, and there are so many of them in shelters that they just don’t stand out like the colorful calico or orange tabby. In many cases, the black cats simply don’t make a connection with potential adopters in a poorly lit cage and they don’t show up as well in photographs on Internet adoption sites.
Black cats are considered bad luck in many cultures and have been associated with witchcraft for centuries. Edgar Allen Poe portrayed a black cat as a beast who seduced its owner into committing murder. The cats themselves may not cause bad luck but their bad reputation has caused them to be unlucky at adoption events.
Black cats need love and a safe home just like other cats in shelter. Potential adopters need to be aware of the equally large number of GOOD reasons to adopt a black cat. Black cats have a common characteristic of being easy-going and good-natured. They have so much love to offer and ask for so little in return. Black cats often have sturdy builds and thick, full coats.Black cats do not all look alike and if you look closely you will see that they are truly gorgeous and regal creatures. The glossy satin sheen of a black cat is unlike any other. When their fur catches the light, it shimmers. There are many different kinds of black cats and all are beautiful - auburn shaded black, blue black, black with tiny white highlights, sleek black, fluffy black, soft black, and colorful eyes – green, gray, yellow, copper. Some black cats even have tabby markings.
Nevertheless, many black cats never get the opportunity to show people how perfectly they would fit into the family’s household. They try harder to make up for the image they have of being dull, dreary and unlucky. Shelters encourage potential adopters to give a black cat a chance – their playful, easygoing attitude will charm you into making them a permanent part of your family.
What you can do:
Good Mews Animal Foundation, a cage-free cat shelter in metro Atlanta which has adopted over 5000 cats since it began operations 20 years ago, is hosting a Black Cat-a-Thon - a special adoption event for its black cats on September 13 from 10 am to 4 pm. Many beautiful, sleek black cats will be available at a reduced adoption fee of $113. New cat parents will also receive a gift bag with goodies for their new family member. At this special adoption event, you can change the luck of a black cat by giving it a new and loving home. The Shelter is located at 736 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-3, Marietta, Georgia. Click here to visit the Good Mews website.
Photo courtesy of Petfinder.com. The cat pictured above is Samantha who will be available for adoption at the Good Mews Black-Cat-a-Thon on September 13. Click here if you are interested in adopting Samantha.