Is It Because I'm Black?




 It has been said that black cats are the least likely to get adopted in shelters or picked in litters. Why? Do we REALLY believe the stereotype that black cats bring bad luck? In our culture, black cats are typically associated with black magic, witchcraft, and common Halloween decorations. Because of this stereotype, people typically steer away from adopting black cats because they have the association that they are mean, sneaky, or are cursed. But beyond that, they are actually extremely stunning creatures. Their shiny, sleek fur and large, jade eyes are extremely attractive, yet they are picked over for the more bright, attractive colored coats.
With the economy the way it is today, there are more cats in shelters than ever before. While for most shelters the turnover rates are pretty good, at the end of the day, black cats are still left without loving homes. Unfortunately since most shelters today cannot keep up with the amount of cats being surrendered to shelters, many of the animals are euthanized. As a result, since black cats are the ones that remain in shelters day after day, sadly they are the ones euthanized the most. Just because they are black.

I volunteer at a local cat shelter in my area, and I can tell you first hand that this is true. My husband and I volunteer once a month and each time we go we say the same thing. In a month's time there are many cats that are adopted, which is an awesome thing, but the same ones are constantly left without homes: the black cats. Luckily, there are things that shelters can do to help promote homes for black cats. Some of these ideas include giving the animal a colorful collar or giving him or her an attractive name such as "Mocha" or "Blackberry". I try and give the black cats more attention than the others, just so visitors know that they are just as friendly and loving, and so they feel loved too. It may sound stupid, but any animal lover will tell you that animals have feelings and personalities just as humans.

My husband and I also own our very own black cat, "Nikki". Since Motley Crue is my husband's favorite band, "Nikki" is actually named after Motley Crue's bassist, Nikki Sixx. "Nikki" is the "pride" of our family, (no pun intended). He is extremely smart. He can figure out how to open cabinets, open doors, and drawers. He even found a way to get into our neighbor's adjoining basement (who, thankfully, is my grandmother) through the wall. He is really amazing. He cares for us, our child, and even his younger brother, "Toto". He greets you when you come home from work or get up in the morning, and even talks to you and tells you about his day. He is extremely loving and friendly and pays attention to all our visitors. He knows a number of tricks and loves to be played with. He also protects us by catching mice and horrible insects like spiders. He's a great friend and a great cat to know.

So, get over the black cat stereotype and adopt one of your own. There are different organizations out there even organized specifically dedicated to help black cats get adopted. Human beings have spent centuries and centuries discriminating and prejudicing against another's color, culture, or religion, and it is still quite visible today. Let's not discriminate animals. They are put on this earth just as we are and deserve a chance.