Why are black cats less popular than other colours?

[Enfys]

My local Rescue centre says that black cats are 80% less likely to be adopted than any other colour - why?

 

[here_i_am]

Because they're not as "pretty" as the white ones or the torti ones or the tabby ones...
I worked at a Cats Protection adoption centre for a couple of years. If we had a litter of 'pretty' kittens in, there'd be fights over them! The blacks & most black&whites were ignored (white & black ones were ok though!). If the litter was mixed (ie with pretties AND blacks, we'd pair a black with a pretty & say they had to go together!
Same with the adults - few people looked twice at them. Such a shame because they were often the friendliest You'd get some idiots who'd say things like "oh no - black cats scare me!" :/ People mostly chose looks over personality. We rehomed the sporn of Satan once because she was a pretty ginger Persian! If she'd have been black, she'd have ended up on a farm.
Basically, People are just idiots!

 

[Lacuna]

Agreed with points above - similar thing happens in greyhound rescue I'm told. Apparently black is boring.

A friend in America volunteers at a cat shelter and they take advantage of Black History Month to highlight black cats that have been there a while.Funnily enough she has two that have snuck home with her, guess what colour they are? (One is part maine **** and is gorgeous)

 

[Crugeran Celt]

I would love a black cat.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I love black cats, we had a very handsome lad but he was unfortunately killed on the road. When we eventually decided it was time for another we made a point of not having black as we didn't want to be reminded of him. We now have a tortie and a tabby, the tortie is crazy , not sure if I would ever have one again! My daughter currently has 2 black kittens that she is fostering, when the vets practice did a feature on them and some other coloured kittens it was the coloured ones who were rehomed. She has now persuaded(bullied) her dad to take on the little black ones though.

 

[millhouse]

I had two black cats - brothers. They were rescued from a litter born in a back garden in the pouring rain several years ago. Sadly one got killed, but the other is a truly handsome chap, but very naughty. He doesn't get on with my other tabby cat, and life can be traumatic at times!!

 

[Umbongo]

I love black cats, in fact I also prefer black dogs and horses too.

I have a black cat and he is the best cat I have ever had. Unfortunatley a lot of people go by looks and unusual colours/markings without sometimes going by the animals personality. My black cat is a typical fat boy, loves a belly rub and sleeps in bed with me. My brothers cat is a very striking tabby with spots on her belly. I don't get on with her at all!

TBH though when my black cat was a kitten he was a bit sketchy looking!

 

[PorkChop]

I love black cats, I have one at the moment, they look lovely and sleek. Mine doesn't have a spot of white on her

 

[dunthing]

I've always gone for black cats, especially the ones with green eyes. They're beautiful. I have developed an allergy to cats now so I have a black Lab instead!!

 

[GinaGeo]

Our black cats have always been the softest friendliest of the bunch. We've a ginger, who's vocal and is a character but affection's on his own terms, his brother who was lovely was all black, but was unforunately killed on the road by our old house. A black cat who's soft as grease, wouldn't say boo to a goose and is like a rag doll. And a slovenly black and white who is a lovely character is lazy!

I'd go for black cats over any other colour!

 

[rockysmum]

Perhaps we subconsciously still associate them with bad luck and witchcraft

 

[Littlelegs]

The only thing that puts me off black cats is the fact a driver can't see them at night, which means a reflective collar, & I'm not keen on collars. I wouldn't turn down an older one, but if I was picking from a litter, I'd probably choose an easier to spot colour. Not just blacks though, I think the same of very dark tabbys & very dark greys that are v hard to spot at night.

 

[SuperH]

I like black cats I think they look smart.

At the moment we have two tabby, one an odd sort of tabby ish and white, a brown and an orange. They are working farm cats and I picked them up for free from some stables when they were kittens, orange and brown came first, then the three tabbys about a year later. Would have had them whatever colour they were as long as they can catch rats! We name our cats by colour so a black one would be good next to avoid further tabby confusion.

Both my friends who had house cats had black ones, they did both have white legs though. I didn't realise black cats were unpopular, I was told they were lucky.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I only take on blacks if I can cos I know they are less popular (weird they are the most beautiful), also we live well away from any roads (we live on a track) so no traffic worries)

 

[Fransurrey]

I also think black cats are the most beautiful. My black kitty was the most friendly cat you could ever meet. Couldn't get through the door without him jumping onto my shoulder and nesting around my neck. I did everything with him like that, even gardening. I do keep being tempted by other black kitties, but since he was pts, Rosco seems happier, so I'm holding out. I don't get the prejudice, I really don't. I love black and white ones, too.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

I have been adopted by a small Black She Cat about 4 years ago the only cat in the Neighbourhood that my Tabbi Polydactyl Tom doesnt want to Beat Up.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Didn't Postman Pat and his Black and White cat make black cats popular a few years back ? I didn't realise black cats were less likely to be homes.

After I've moved house I'll be toddling down to the cat's refuge for a couple of cats, I don't care if they're the ugliest, mankiest cats ever, I'll take the ones they choose because they're all lovely.

 

[CLM]

I have one totally black, semi long haired, and he is the most beautiful cat ever. Do agree though, he is hard to see in the dark, and has a habit of sleeping on the stairs, I could do with some hi-vis for him. I tried him with a collar but that was absolutely unacceptable.
When we chose him the rspca lady said that most people won't take black cats because they are unlucky/boring, and time after time they are passed over for not so nice, but more colourful cats. Not him though, we were the first people to see him, the combination of a purring, cuddly cat who was also shaking with fear was irresistible.

 

[abitodd]

Perhaps we subconsciously still associate them with bad luck and witchcraft

I read somewhere that a completely black cat is very rare. Most black cats have a patch of white fur somewhere,even if its only a few white hairs on the tummy. All completely black cats were considered to be witches familiars and were killed. If a cat had a few white hairs it would be spared and therefore live to breed more with a few white hairs.

My black with a tiny bit of white cat is the sweetest cat I have ever known. My partner spotted her in the middle of a fast B road when she was just a kitten. He stopped his landrover and crept up on her(she was eating beetles and oblivious) He lunged at her,grabbed her scruff.She attached firmly to his goolies with sharper than expected claws. He eventually unpicked her and plonked her in the landrover......she proceeded to hiss,spit and rufuse him entry to his vehicle. He nodded casually to concerned passing motorists or told them.....'I'm fine,but the cat won't let me back in'
He eventually got back in. The small kitten had hidden behind the labrador so bought her home. She was obviously a wild/feral kitten. Her 1st 'motion' was beetle husks. However she was clever and it only took 2 hours for her to learn to eat raw meat offered by a human hand and 4 hours to learn to take chocolate digestives from my mouth.
She has learned to be a very domestic cat(the only thing she will not tolerate is being touched when outside,in case she gets picked up and captured again) and still adores dogs. Our terrier had puppies earlier this year and she is the best auntie ever.

 

[Elsiecat]

Because they're not as "pretty" as the white ones or the torti ones or the tabby ones...

I have one black and white cat and one white cat. I'd honestly rather have a black cat than a torti or a tabby one though! I personally realllly don't like them colours! (Not that I'd discount one as a pet over it, obviously!)

How bizarre

 

[duckling]

I like pretty much any cat, but I do really like a good chunky black cat, they're always so handsome We had Victor Meldrew p) when I was younger, he came from Battersea and was aged between 3 and 5 when we got him. He'd been there over a year with no interest, yet had such a character - he was so vocal you could hold conversations with him and loved a fuss, he'd dribble all over your lap when he was happy or curl up around your head on the pillow in bed He did have a grumpy streak (as per the name - it came with him!) but it was more him sulking in a corner, he never struck out or scratched.

A local rescue centre did a campaign a while back, Ali G style, 'Is it coz I is black?'! The posters had funny descriptions and photos of the cats with bling or caps photoshopped onto them I think it worked quite well for them finding homes for some long-term black cat residents as the posters were so funny!

 

[poppet]

Awe. I love my two black cats. Only rubbish thing is I can never get any decent photos of them.

 

[ester]

my black cat sporting his summer ginger look and trying to be a panther

pic courtesy of Santa_Claus

 

[Asha]

This is what Bob thinks about those people who dont like black cats

Hes super friendly, and usually eats mice like people eat creme eggs

Although hes in the bad books today, as I found a mouse in one of the stables today so ran and got Bob,( after much shrieking). He just walked off Clearly not in the mood today.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I love black cats! (and have one ) I personally find tabbys and gingers a bit more boring as they are so common.

but I love all cats so they are all beautiful to me

 

[Hoof_Prints]

oh and..

 

[TRECtastic]

i love black cats , here is my black cat gabriel

loving the other pics of black cats as well

 

[NikkiF]

It is sadly true that many people prefer the 'prettier' cats. I've had cats for many years and used to foster as well. Usually used to end up keeping the black ones cos nobody wanted them!

I actually found myself a few months ago catless for the first time in over 30 yrs so toddled off to the local CPL. Having been involved in both cat and dog rescue I wanted to give a home to some middle aged cats as they would tend to be overlooked. I have to confess they had several litters of 3-4 mth old kittens, some of whom were absolutely stunning. But I stayed strong and brought home two 7 yr olds who had come in together. One female, Tabitha, who is very pretty, tabby and white, but is quite reserved. The other, a male, called Jet, is black and an absolute sweety, loves his cuddles, talks a lot and has spent today poking his head out of the catflap, then glaring at me as if the white stuff is all my fault

 

[pines of rome]

This is my little black cat Sidney, sadly he has a thyroid problem and kidney failure!
He is a dear little boy, so loving, so hopefully his meds will keep him with me for as long as possible!

 

[Stroppy Mare]

I'm afraid when I chose my cats we were given them as they were the wildest of the litters, one just so happened to be a black female and the other a black and white male. Wouldn't say these were particularly feral now, but they are yard cats. Wouldn't swap them for the world, and I love them even more for their personalities as well as their colouring.

Someone didn't go to 'how to put a cat together school' clearly... (Lol!)

'High five!'