The Art of Kindness is Color Blind: Black Cats Count
Kindness is a lifestyle we learn at home. Kids can be cruel: teasing, throwing rocks at cats or worse. Kindness is contagious and kids quickly learn what is acceptable behavior by observing the world around them. Little boys often get a bad rap for animal cruelty but for every bad apple there’s many more who love and not hate cats. I love this vintage photo of a boy and his black cat who doesn’t need convincing how wonderful black cats are!
If you’ve been following our black cat awareness series, you’ll know we’ve been helping Mid-Hudson Animal Aid, a shelter north of us in Beacon, N.Y which needed to evacuate 150+ cats recently after a tragic fire. Their October Newsletter is tribute to the kindness of strangers and community. It memorializes the eight cats who lost their lives and the power of kindness or evil. If you read nothing else, please read the story of Atlas a cat who couldn’t catch a break but died a hero. Or the story about Phoenix, a little ginger tabby found in a gutter near death from kids throwing rocks but survived.
Our tale of two kitties spotlight is on two rescued black cats from Mid-Hudson who need forever homes. Many shelters do not adopt black cats before Halloween but it’s okay to meet with them. Bashful is a handsome black cat. Look at those eyes! Rescued from a feral colony as kitten, he’s come a long way and is very adoptable. Check him out in action in this short video clip.
Meet Destiny. She’s a tiny, affectionate gal who has only known shelter life since kittenhood, but hopes a forever home is her destiny. She’s a bit shy at first and then warms up. To learn more about either of these black beauties, email [email protected]
OUR BLACK CAT AWARENESS SERIES CELEBRATES BLACK CATS WITH ART AND VINTAGE COLLECTIBLES.
A lucky black cat teapot dates for the 1950s. An adorable cat with goldfish are mid-century salt and pepper shakers. Black cats, long considered lucky have graced cards, postcards and ephemera of every kind since Victorian times. Black, white, orange, gray or brown, it doesn’t matter what color cats are.
Let’s be color blind in our love of cats no matter what their stripe.
19 Comments
Kathryn
i love black kitties; have one here, as you know.
i also love the vintage tea pots!
Penelope
What gorgeous cats yous has in your blog! We LOVES black cats here at our house.
Kisses
Nellie
Cathy Keisha
Great images. Beautiful kitties. This week in the news here a bunch of kids in Queens were playing catch with a kitten until one of them threw the cat into oncoming traffic. This was a 12 year old girl who told onlookers she’d do it again.
meowmeowmans
We adore black kitties. How shameful that some people let superstitions and prejudice prevent them from looking beyond cats’ color.
Skeeter and Izzy
May St Francis bless and protect all the kitties everywhere.
Our children learn by what they see and hear…………cruelty and aggression in our children speaks volumes about our society.
There isn’t an evil cat that has ever been born nor ever will be born,that distinction is one that only applies to the human species…you know the ones that are supposed to have the advanced intelligence….
Bless everyone that fights for animals and helps them and teaches others to do the same.
Luvs Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Peanut and Twig >^..^<
george welsh
im 78yrs old and on 10/15/2013 my wife and i lost our beautiful black cat to age and illness.we are brokenhearted. ive never had an animal show me such love. we are having alots of trouble dealing with it. any suggestions???????????????????
Layla Morgan Wilde
My deep condolences to you and you wife. Losing a beloved cat like yours is hard and your grief is fresh. There’s no quick fix to heal a broken heart. Please know all the feelings you have are normal and the pet grieving process goes up and down like a yo yo and can be very similar to losing a human. I’m writing a book of pet loss and will have a questionnaire available soon if you’d like to participate in my study. I might be helpful.
Ann Staub
Great pictures and love all the vintage black cat stuff. Especially that teapot!
Alana Grelyak
Black cats are fabulous. We have one here and, last night, he insisted on holding hands with me while we slept. Even when I turned over, he relocated and stuck his little paws back in my palms. People CAN be cruel sometimes, but we can hope to educate them and change the future for black cats in America. Shared. – Alana.
The Island Cats
Black cats rock! Did you know our mom has a huge collection of black cat stuff. 🙂
Maxwell, Faraday & Allie
It’s reeeeally disturbing to hear about a cat near death from CHILDREN throwing rocks. *shudder*
We’re total black cat enthusiasts at our home. It would be a toss-up who we would choose to add to our ranks next: a differently abled cat or a black one.
Brian
Poor sweeties. I hope anyone who hurts an animal meets Mr. Karma right quickly.
Angel Abby
I do not understand any cruelty towards animals, children or the elderly. All groups that need our protection. Sadly each one can become a victim all too easily.
Kitties Blue
I am a huge fan of black cats and if I ever have a windfall of money, I am starting a sanctuary for black cats. Of course, all cats would be welcome, but I would make sure no black cat went unwanted. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Austin Towers
Some humans are truly evil. Thank goodness there are many who are not. If only every one would think outside of themselves once in a while!
da tabbies o trout towne
de veree best oh fishes two ewe bashful N destiny…we hope ya both finds yur forevers home like quik…even quiker…like rite now…
Nerissa's Life
The quote in that first picture? Words have never been more true. NO cat is evil. No cat at all.
Purrs,
Nissy
easy rider
I agree with you, cats aren’t evil – but humans can be. I cross my paws for Destiny and Bashful, they deserved a wonderful family.
Sparkle
That fire was such a heartbreaking thing to happen. The newsletter made me sad, but it also made me glad for humans who go beyond the call of duty for kitties in need.