Do Black Cats Get Adopted Less? 4 Intriguing Things Discussed

Do black cats get adopted less? Studies show that black cats are less likely to be adopted than other cats.

Black cats are two thirds less likely to be adopted than white cats and tabby cats are twice as likely to be adopted over black cats.

Why are black cats the least adopted?

Black cats have a bad reputation and traditionally have been associated with witches and dark forces.

A modern theory for black cats not being as popular is that they don’t photograph as well as other cats.

In an age of selfies and social media, having a cat that photographs well may be important to some.

I have written an article in more depth about black cat superstition that you can read here…

In some cultures, black cats are a symbol of bad luck and I’m sure you’ve heard of the ‘black cat crossing your path’ theories.

Perhaps not in an equal amount but in many places in the world, black cats are considered good luck charms offering some balance.

In England and Japan to name a couple, black cats are considered lucky and are associated with happy relationships.

On the flip side, black cats are heavily associated with witchcraft and some believe that black cats have the ability to shape-shift and are on a mission to take people’s good fortune for themselves.

These deep-rooted beliefs can only add pressure to the situation regarding black cats being adopted less than others.

The adoption process for black cats may be harder than it is with other cats as shelters tend to ask more questions of the prospective new owners.

On the island that I live on, around Halloween black cats aren’t allowed to be adopted from the shelters for their own protection.

Some people adopt black cats to use them for sacrificial rituals.

This is alarming I know, but it’s a harsh reality.

How many cats in shelters?

According to the ASPCA, 3.2 million cats go into shelters every year in the United States.

Unfortunately, numbers upwards of 70% are unable to be homed and are put to sleep.

Vast numbers of these cats are black.

Why are black cats unpopular?

Black cats are constantly associated with superstition and witches especially around Halloween which does not give them the best reputation.

There is also a theory that they appear to be ‘dull’ or ‘boring’ when compared to other cats.

Trends do appear to be changing and many of the tales and superstition surrounding black cats appear to be dying out.

In recent years having a black cat as a companion has been seen to be fashionable.

How often are black cats adopted?

Studies show that in 14 regions of the United States black cats equated for 31% of adoptions.

Some argue that black cats aren’t adopted less and if these stats are a true representation then an interesting conversation is to be had. So actually do black cats get adopted less?

My thoughts

Having a wonderful American Shorthair black cat called Coco, it breaks my heart to hear of black cats being unable to be homed.

I was never really a cat person until Coco came into our lives but I’ve always loved all animals.

Without being a cat person previously, even growing up in England where black cats aren’t considered to be bad luck, I was very aware of the negativity associated with them.

I’m not so sure if this is the case now, but I’m pretty sure that most children of my generation in England have heard about the bad luck associated with a black cat crossing your path.

Thinking about this now, this is absolutely crazy as people in the UK consider a black cat turning up at your doorstep as good luck.

Why didn’t I know this as a kid?

I suppose it’s like most things in life, you always hear about the negative and the positive things are rarely talked about.

I’m happy to see that there is a greater awareness about the need for black cats to be adopted these days.

I’m not sure if having a black cat as a fashion accessory is healthy though as fashions come and go.

I suppose that the more people that adopt black cats, the more people will fall in love.

I love all cats but living with a black cat especially has given me a very strong affection for them.

Do black cats get adopted less? – Summary

Do black cats get adopted less? According to my research yes although there are studies in some parts of the world that are suggesting otherwise.

Black cats may be adopted less due to association with witchcraft and dark forces.

Millions of cats every year go into shelters in the United States and many of them are put to sleep. A big percentage of these cats are black.

In some parts of the world including England and Japan, black cats are considered good luck.

Trends appear to be changing and it looks like more and more black cats are being adopted.

Have you joined the My Mini Panther black cat community on Facebook?