Black Cats Tell All: Nonprofit Anthology Fights Prejudice
Update: September. We have new Black Cats Tell All community pages on Facebook and Google+. We’ll update news about our progress on the book. Join, follow, tag @blackcatstellall and share your photos. Let’s celebrate our love for black cats everywhere. Check also our BCTA TAB in our header.
Update: August. We did it! Black Cats Tell All: Amazing Black Cat Stories & Images is funded! We reached our goal on day one of the campaign. But we still need your support for each our important stretch goals. Check out our All new nonprofit campaign on Kickstarter.
We are expanding the original premise of black cat stories to include more photos and mini-panther profiles. Your cat could be included! Email us for submission guidelines or visit the link above to see the two “make your cat famous” perks.
Coming soon! Excerpts from the Black Cats Tell All nonprofit anthology
campaign will be included on a separate page to keep backers abreast of the book’s progress. And check out the new shareable graphics and enjoy the testimonial video from Cole and Marmalade.
If you’d like to make a donation or buy me a much needed coffee, many thanks.
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Black Cats Tell All: Nonprofit Illustrated Anthology seeks to rebrand black cats as more adoptable.
Direct link to Past Kickstarter Black Cats Tell All
Update: since writing about the tragic shootings in Orlando and since launching our Kickstarter campaign, there were several more heartbreaking and tragic events. Race is a volatile issue and there is no politically correct hashtag other than #blacklivesmatter. Out of respect, we will stop using any reference to “black” “cats” “lives” in a hashtag
For a long time, I’ve wanted to do a fun project that tackles a serious issue concerning cats. What kept coming up was the polarized love/hate black/white views about black cats. They’re lucky and beloved in some cultures and reviled consorts of the devil in others or at least less adoptable. No matter what the opinion, the facts don’t lie: black cats are half as likely to get adopted in a shelter.
Why? Simply because of the color of their fur. The more I thought about it, the more it felt like garden variety prejudice.
We live in a world full of hate fueled by fear and prejudice. We fear don’t understand, what is different, unfamiliar, what is “other”. It could be new technology. It could be another race, creed, belief system. It could be religion, the color of your skin or your gender preference. Layer the possibilities like a black, gay, Wiccan and it’s ripe for aversion. Prejudice makes no sense just as terrorism makes no sense except when couched in foreign ideology and fear of “other”.
I’m not a political animal but the recent massacre in a LGBT night club in Orlando, Florida floored me. It never occurred to me that such an atrocity could happen there but of course it can happen anywhere. My thoughts go out to the innocent club goers who lost their lives, their friends and families including their furkids.
When I visited Orlando in March, I thought of Disney World or the Global Pet Expo but now I’m thinking terrorist attack. Fear grows from fear. This has to stop.
Prejudice impacts all of us regardless of race, religion and ideology. And yes even species.
We can’t predict the next terror attack or the next time an innocent black man gets shot, but we can examine our beliefs and open our minds and hearts. Cats already rule the Internet and entertaining black cat stories work can chip away at preferences and prejudice. That’s the idea behind Black Cats Tell: True Tales. By simply sharing positive stories told from the cats’ perspective, and a diverse range of imagery, opinions about black cats can change.
From famous cats to the cat next door, these real cats tell it like it is. Their funny, surprising and entertaining tales aim to shift the perception of black cats and in turn increase their adoption rate.
It’s so simple and yet there are no books like this, yet.
Shareable graphic. This is not the book cover but the painting of Cole is by at talented artist in San Francisco. She is donating a custom portrait as one of our perks. The painting perk is spoken for.
31 Comments
jansfunnyfarm
I’ve had 3 black cats in my life and loved every one.
Brian Frum
You are doing amazing things my friend and you have the spirit and heart to succeed!
Socks, Scylla, Fenris, Tuiren, YinYang & Chimera (ATCAD)
We are so glad to see the book is still a Go, You rock and we are so happy the world will finally get a chance to read about how wonderful Black Cats are.
Caroline
I’m so sorry the Kickstarter campaign did not reach its goal, but please don’t look on it as failure. Even if the book won’t get published right now, you have raised awareness of the difficulties black cats face in shelters. I come from the UK where black cats are regarded as lucky, and I cannot understand the prejudice directed against them in many parts of the world.
Hugs & purrs
Caroline & the Black Cat Gang (Darcy, Mog, Reilly & Pixie)
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks, Caroline. Are you are backer or missed the update? Actually, we’re relaunching a mini-Kickstarter and getting private funding. We’re ahead of schedule to publish in October.
Katie J. Ewing
I dont care about my kitty’s color. I love them anyway. Fur is not a problem for me. I don’t care she is black or white. I love her personality and she love me back. That’s enough for me. Thank you for your post!
The Swiss Cats
We joined and shared ! Purrs
The Canadian Cats
Layla, This project is long overdo and I am so pleased with your efforts to bring the torch of light to show black cats for the gems they are.
Jean
Steve@BestDogTracker
Wishing you all the best on this project.
You got it!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks, and great to know we have support from a dog lover!
Deb Barnes - Zee and Zoey
Looks like your getting great press – I loved the Huffington article. I’ve also shared on Facebook and wish you all the best with this!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks, it’s going to take more than press or shares, I’m finding out. What a learning curve!
Bev Green
What a wonderful project indeed..all our past and our present black cats have been most wonderful family members and most of my fosters were black and indeed harder to find homes for..we proudly pledged and also did our blog Hugs Bev xx
Lola
Miss Layla, I’m going to talk about the Kickstarter on my blog on Tuesday. And we’re doing to pledge! This is a fantastic project!
Cat Collars
Tamago
That sounds really great project. Black kitties are beautiful and special, just like kitties of other colors.
meowmeowmans
We love black cats, and are so excited about your book, Layla. Congratulations!
We’ll tweet about it now!
Cynthia Southern
Congratulations with the launch of your Black Cats Tell All: Nonprofit Anthology. It will help black cats and all cats, Thanks so much for all that you do for all kitties. 🙂
Ellen Pilch
I know you can raise that much.I wish I could have contributed more, but I will be spreading the word.
Cathy Keisha
This is a great project which I’m sharing. Pop’s first feline love was black cats. #BlackCatsMatter
ConnieMarie
What a great project, close to my heart as well.
I’ve joined and pledged. If I can do it on poverty level income, I believe everyone can contribute something. Priorities are what you make them!! Cats are mine, and while I will may not buy any extras next month, I know this is most important!
HOPEFULLY ALL WILL FOLLOW SUIT❤
ellen
Sharing shaing goodness it is a short time. Anythign I can do to help, just holler, always happy to lend a hand. Pardon the typos Keesa saysit is petting time.
ConnieMarie Poulson
Black cats are the best! Have 3 now that are mine, found a great home for 2 more in March, no shelter for them if I can help it. They get all needed vet care too!
Great project, am excited for your success!!
Love an hugs an purrs,
Connie Marie
Kathryn
I <3 black cats. Had one growing up and now Mao the Tux.
Shared on FB, Google+ and Twitter.
Good luck!
Hannah and Lucy
Hannah says black cats are the best!!!
da tabbies o trout towne
on R side bar now~~ & we send 15 bazillion best fishes that thiz projectz iza mega huge success ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
easy rider
Black cats are beautiful and they deserve all our love….
Sweet Purrfections
Good luck with this project. I think black cats are beautiful!
Skeeter and Izzy
Layla,
we will share all we can about this project!!!! We are soooooooooooooooo hoping for a huge success for this book! We have to do our pledge today!!
Luvs from the bottoms of our hearts!
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo & the Angels >^..^^..^<~
Socks, Scylla, Fenris, Tuiren, YinYang & Chimera (ATCAD)
We are so excited about this project. Yin is meowing about it from the top of the Jungle Gym.
Summer
I’m so excited for you, and so is my human! We will be keeping a close watch on your Kickstarter, and sharing more than once on Twitter and other channels of ours!