Happy Halloween from our fur friends

Trish Lynn and Thom Donitz with friends.

The JOLT News Staff

Halloween is just days away, so it is time for our yearly tribute to one of the most beautiful and misunderstood felines of all, the black cat. 

This is the time of year where black cats seem to be everywhere, and just in case you missed it, Oct. 27 was “National Black Cat Day.” Now, this is not to be confused with Aug. 17, which was “National Black Cat Appreciation Day.” Nor is it to be confused with October 29 which is, drumroll please, “National Cat Day.” Not just one but three trophies. What other breeds can make that claim? 

A black cat is a domestic black fur cat with The Cat Fanciers' Association recognizing 22 different breeds around the world that are solid black with most having beautiful golden eyes (due to the same pigment melanin that gives them their dark coat). 

Higher levels give them golden eyes, while lower levels lead to more green eyes. Although this is not unique to black cats, the contrast is striking. 

What is most interesting is out of all those breeds, it is only the Bombay cat that comes with entirely black fur. Not only do they have solid black fur, but they also have black paws and a black nose, which gives them the appearance of a small black panther. Being extremely social, they will chat with anyone, which dispels the myth of black cats being aloof. 

A typical black cat has a wide range of personality characteristics with their coat color having no influence. Each cat is an individual and their personality, just like their two-legged servants, is molded by genetics, how we treat them, their environment and not just the color of their fur.

A cat’s temperament will mostly align closer to breed and not coat color. A black tabby will still behave like a tabby and not like a black Maine coon.  It is impossible for all 22 breeds, with all their different characteristics, to act as one black cat stereotype.

While most, if not all, cats share some of the same traits, such as forming strong bonds with their owners and being laid back, it is the black cat who is more often thought of as being smart, clever and a quick learner. Many are seen as social and curious about new people and surroundings, which could be due to being more observant and responsive to their surroundings.

Some of the myths and superstitions about black cats go back to the Middle Ages, where they were falsely blamed for spreading the bubonic plague, even though black cats are generally healthy and may even be resistant to certain diseases. 

Ironically, by killing the cats they may have accelerated the spread of the plague as the rodent population exploded. At some point in Medieval Europe, witches and black cats were paired together although it’s not exactly sure as to why. And this relationship, along with the fear, made it across the Atlantic.

It was the belief that witches could take the form of black cats that led to the superstition that it was bad luck if a black cat crossed your path, as it could easily be on a mission from a witch.  Even if a black cat walked in front of you back then, you would probably have died from disease or unsanitary living conditions and not the cat. 

But not everywhere were black cats thought ill of.  In ancient Egypt, black cats were sacred and symbolized protection, while in Japan they are a symbol of good luck and can bring good fortune and success.  In Great Britain, sailors would bring them on their ships for luck and rodent control. It was also considered lucky to give a bride a black cat on her wedding day.

It can be very easy to laugh at superstitions or try to disprove them, but we cannot pretend they do not exist in the world and shape the way people experience life. Most people nowadays look at all the superstitions as just that and adopt, like Thom did, a black cat for the sheer joy and beauty, or the black cat who adopted us that these, and all animals, bring into our lives. 

One final myth about black cats to dispel is based on statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other organizations — black cats are no more likely to be mistreated or in danger on Halloween than any other animal.

Of course, even one is too many, and maybe someday we can get that number to zero. We will always mention that it is always good to keep your cats, especially small pets, inside on Halloween or any other evening. 

Paws for thoughts

If you are ever in Himeji, Japan, don’t forget to check out “Nekobiyaka Cat Cafe.” The world’s first cat cafe dedicated solely to black cats.  Now if you look it up, it says “permanently closed,”  but AI says it’s open so if anyone is over there, please check it out for us.