Black Cat Consciousness Month - Oh My Dog!

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Do you know October is formally Black Cat Consciousness Month?

“Mother, do you know some individuals assume black cats carry unhealthy luck?” Violet, age 7, requested me.

“I did know that!”

“Isn’t that loopy? Newt isn’t unhealthy luck!”

An extremely close shot of the face of a black cat. She is looking slightly off to the side of the camera. Her eyes are a vivid swirl of green and blue. She wears a light blue collar with a brass bell and a purple flower-shaped tag that says her name is Newt. The text overlay reads: Black Cat Awareness Month.

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For those who’ve been round for some time, you’re in all probability going to be shocked by this truth. I do know I’m.

Newt is 12 years outdated. A senior!

She’s our resident Elder Stateswoman.

And thank heavens she exhibits no indicators of slowing down. Newt is sensible. She is tolerant. She’s additionally feisty and won’t hesitate to appropriate any conduct she doesn’t like from us, Penny, or Ripley. She loves to curve up in a heat lap for a nap, and she or he greets us on the door each time we come house. Newt loves to look at the birds and squirrels from her window perch and spends hours out within the catio.

She has a depth of emotion that folks so hardly ever perceive or take note of in cats. Instance: Violet began having horrible desires. Newt, all on her personal, began sleeping in Violet’s mattress along with her every night time. Dangerous desires disappeared (for probably the most half) and nonetheless Newt stays to assist Violet really feel protected.

A black cat sits on a window perch that has a white fuzzy bed on top. It's suction cupped to a window that faces a weedy garden and a street. The cat is alert looking out the window. The walls of the room are painted blue and the window is trimmed in white.

BTW, this window perch is AMAZING. Sturdy, simple to put in, can transfer round the home, and Newt spends a lot of her day right here. I did an entire publish about cat-friendly family lodging in order for you extra concepts right here.

So, why do black cats get their very own consciousness month?

Whereas Newt believes it must be a month honoring how wonderful she and her black cat family members are, the truth is a little more sinister.

Black Cat Consciousness Month is a time shelters and rescues try to dispel myths about black cats.

You already know these superstitions? A black cat crossing your path and so forth…

Seems, not all superstitions round black cats are all unhealthy! Actually:

Black cats seem within the folklore of many extra cultures as each good and unhealthy omens. In some European folklore, black cats are thought of frequent companions of witches and bringers of misfortune in the event that they occurred to cross your path. In distinction, Welsh folklore depicts black cats would carry luck to a house and will even be a dependable climate predictor.

from Carnegie Museum of Pure Historical past

One of the crucial pervasive myths about black cats, although, is definitely extra dangerous then the easily-dismissed superstitions.

What’s the fable?

Individuals unfold the story that black cats are in peril throughout Halloween.

This perception–not based mostly in truth–prevented quite a lot of black cats from being adopted from shelters in October.

The excellent news is that there is no such thing as a information to substantiate these concepts that black cats are extra in danger on Halloween or that nefarious individuals undertake black cats in October.

You possibly can learn the proof on Alley Cat Allies:

Nevertheless, black cats are in no extra hazard on Halloween than another time of the yr. The chilling actuality is numerous cats are killed day by day in animal shelters, whatever the coloration of their fur.

Let’s clear away the cobwebs and shed some gentle on the darkish matter. Meaning debunking the Halloween-time rumour that distracts from feline perils that basically are true.

Or much more from The Greenhill Humane Society:

Though myths of Halloween-related mistreatment of animals abound, they’re precisely that—myths. In line with the ASPCA, HSUS, and plenty of others, black cats are in no extra hazard in October than at another time of yr—nor are they extra more likely to be mistreated than different animals.

Or from USA At the moment or from, my private favourite, Catster.

Black cats want their very own consciousness month to dispel myths not of ghosts and Goblins or witches within the night time… however from well-meaning, however misinformed, public spreading the concept that black cats shouldn’t be adopted out in October.

That fable may result in numerous black cats like my Newtie not discovering a house or, worse, operating out of time at their native shelter.

What are you able to do to assist black cats this month?

For those who’re contemplating adopting a cat, don’t overlook the black cats! Previous information confirmed black cats in shelters had the next threat of euthanasia than different colours of cat, and whereas that development is altering, you’ll be able to assist be the change for black cats!

Not everybody’s in search of a pet, in fact, so think about sharing adoptable black cats out of your native shelter in your social media pages.

And, for those who spot somebody spreading misinformation about these lovable felines, leap in to appropriate them and unfold the love for black cats!