The Art of Lucky Black Cats
Do you think black cats are lucky? If you don’t, we hope to change your mind over the next six weeks. Think of October as Black Cat Awareness Month. Starting this Wednesday until Halloween, Cat Wisdom 101 will feature a curated collection of black cat art from antique advertising to wacky vintage sculpture. We’ll be sharing tidbits of black cat lore and feature real black cats who need a home. We’ll also be sharing my black cat art like “Black is the new Black” one a several new pieces I created recently. During this campaign, 100% of proceeds of black cat art will be donated to the A.S.P.C.A.
It’s hard to believe but not everyone thinks black cats are beautiful or desirable. The truth is black cats in North America are the least favored for adoption. Why? For no good reason. These sleek, smart house panthers are mired in superstitions dating back to the Middle Ages when all cats but especially black cats were wrongly associated with witchcraft. The witch hunt, sanctioned by the Roman Catholic church raged on for 300 years, killing millions innocent women and cats. With the cat population decimated, vermin with fleas carrying Y.pestis spread bubonic plague killing over 25 million Europeans. But hello, aren’t we in the 21st Century? Isn’t it time we put this old myth to rest?
Ironically, black cat grew to be considered lucky in England, Scotland and Ireland. This collection of vintage of “lucky black cat” souvenirs are from the U.K.
Meet Mercedes. A sweet black beauty
She had a beautiful little family of three kittens and was a very good mother. She nursed them, taught them good kitty manners, and they were all adopted right away. That was in November of 2008. She’s been at the PAWS shelter for five long years and still waiting for a forever home. She’s shy and quiet and would do best in a quiet home without kids or dogs. Enjoys the company of other cats, and likes to be gently brushed. She is about 6 years-old and is spayed, current on all her vaccinations, micro-chipped and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. If you’d like to learn more about her, visit or Apply to adopt Mercedes
Thank you for loving black cats!
29 Comments
Celestia
i had a black cat but over the summer he had crystals and passed away ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! It was the saddest day of my life
Texas, a cat in... Austin
My human’s first cat was a black cat and a lot of people were very unreasonable (like, not using reason) around her and the kitty, including in her family (not the very direct one though). The cat gave my human so much happiness, she really didn’t understand the bad mouthing.
Purrs
Matt - Brisbane Photographer
I’ve always wanted a black cat but I somehow ended up with a white one lol
Emmy Scammahorn
I just hope all black cats in shelters stay safe this Halloween. I’m pet sitting a semi-feral black cat this week; he looks quite a lot like the cat on the top of the page. Squeaker is my Wordless Wednesday boy today.
Andrea
I’ve always believed that having a black cat in the household was lucky but I never knew where that came from. I kinda thought my mom made it up, now I know!
Unfortunately I have a twist on that, I believe that I am unlucky for black cats. I’ve had several in my life but something bad always happened to them. But I’ve never adopted a cat with color in mind. There’s more to it than that.
Great promotion!
Oui Oui
Layla, we couldn’t have said it better! Do these people believe in blood letting and leeches? Get with the century!
Skeeter and Izzy
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we cannot fathom why anyone sees color and not heart,spirit and soul, after all LOVE IS BLIND!!!!
Thank you Layla for showing the beautiful kittys looking for love. We pray and purr that all kittys find safety,happiness,health and love.
Luvs Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang >^..^<
Layla Morgan Wilde
Let’s make love color blind!
meowmeowmans
Mercedes is SUCH a wonderful kitty! She loves being pet, and gently talked with. She’s come such a long way, and now all she needs is someone to fall in love with her. Thank you for featuring her, Layla!
Layla Morgan Wilde
I’d love to know more about Mercedes if you’d like to share. It seems like because she’s shy and black, she slipped through the cracks.
Sue Brandes
Growing up we had a long haired black kitty named Sam. He was the sweetest cat. And I used to have another long haired black kitty named Cookie. She was adorable. She passed ages ago. Black kitties are so pretty.
meowmeowmans
Great promotion, Layla. Since we just adopted TWO all black kitties, you know WE think they are lucky (and loveable)! 🙂
Janet Roper
Black is the new black…..love it! And of course, black cats rock
Carolyn
At last the UK has got something right!! If I adopt another kitty (if Austin allows me to) I hope it will be a black one 🙂
Brian
We love black kitties and thing they are wonderfully special!
maggie
We have a lot of wonderful black cats at PAWS- we’re very lucky there.
Actually the white cats seem to be hard to place too. Shedding issues?
Cinnamon
You cats are Beautiful!!! Happy Wednesday!
Tamago
I really don’t understand why some people see the color, and not a kitty.
I love the collection of vintage of lucky black cat – they are so cute!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Tamago, yes, let’s see CAT not COLOR!
Quinn, Carol, and Catitude
“before” cat Sasha was a black kitty (a small patch of white adorning her throat). And I am mostly black(at least sitting with my back to the world). Mommy thinks black cats are very elegant–and lucky!
Angel Abby
There was nothing more precious to Mom than that teeny tiny black and white Abby girl. We think black fur is so sleek and gorgeous and shiny and beautiful.
Nancy Blue Moon
We have one handsome black tuxedo guy here named Mr Chang..He is loved by everyone..
Nerissa's Life
Yup, it’s true. My peep #2 was born in Scotland and the second peep says that there, BLACK CATS ARE DEFINITELY LUCKY for sure.
Purrs,
Nissy
da tabbies o trout towne
black cats rool…..sure eye had me half milk mouse stash N sum socks…..but my mom said eye wuz… N iz…. one oh de nicest, sweetest kittehs her haz ever known…
sauce of fishbone
Hannah and Lucy
One of the “before” cats here was all black and out Mum has a love of them (of course we are from the UK!). I am black and white which Mum tells me is very smart.
Luv Hannah (from Hannah and Lucy)xx xx
Sparkle
This is an awesome idea! We love black cats here!
Tillie and Georgia
This is a really great campaign 🙂
I know I love my two black cats , Tillie and Julie
They are sweeties too!!
Kathryn
I love black cats. Had one growing up and now we have MAO!
The one growing up was all black and as sweet as could be. Never a peep out of him, but he would sleep with you wihen you were ill.
Kemal.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Purrs to MAO!