Very simply stated, a black cat
is nothing more than a feline whose fur happens to be the color of black. As a former volunteer at an animal shelter, I would tell
myself this often as I would see potential adopters walk through the doors and simply
overlook the beautiful black cat yearning to be given a chance at a good
home. They may not display beautiful
design work throughout their body and maybe photographs are a little
challenging to capture just the right photo when all you see staring back at
you are two eyes, but one cannot ignore the purrsonality of the black cat! Every so often I hear the negative comments
about black cats and shake my head in disbelief. I have been the proud owner of two black cats, as well as two tuxedo and now primarily a white kitty with black markings - to keep with our black and white theme!
We’ve all heard the
ever-so-popular negative superstitions associated with the black cat. The ones that black cats are linked to
witchcraft and evil and bring bad luck as they cross your path. The only bad luck my black cats have brought
to me while crossing my path has been to trip me as they send me falling to the
floor while trying desperately not to land on one of them. I find them intriguing, unique, interesting,
intelligent but not evil, except at 3 a.m. when the all night tantrums begin as
they request breakfast.
Some believe
that black cats are “witches” in disguise. My black cat believed she was a “princess” in disguise. She would even admire herself in the mirror as if to say “mirror, mirror on the wall.” If these black cats only had the power that
these urban legends claim they do, imagine the power they would have! I can almost envision my black cat casting
spells … on her feline brother of course!
But, with her being a princess, I am sure she would view this as too
much work.
For as many negative
superstitions there are relating to the black cat there are just as many
positive, yet the human race seems to forget this. Historically, a Scottish superstition states
that a strange black cat on your porch is a sign of upcoming prosperity. In England, fisherman’s wives kept black cats
around believing them to bring good luck to their husbands while they were
away. And then there are the “special
powers” the black cat encompasses such as if a black cat suddenly leaves the
house of its master, there will be great disaster in the house soon. Do you suppose the feline just sensed danger
and was intelligent enough to retreat? Or
maybe the feline really disliked his master and chose a new life
elsewhere.
Let us not forget, and my
princess would remind me daily, that cats were worshipped in Egypt and were
considered sacred by the Romans. Even in
Europe, a black cat crossing one’s path was considered good luck, not bad luck. But if you’re not convinced, another old
superstition to
reverse the bad luck curse is to first walk in a circle, and then go backward
across the spot where the cat crossed your path and count to 13. And I
am also sure that my princess would argue the point, that black is a slimming
color, as I am sure she does at 3 o’clock in the morning as she would demand her
meal and following her latest vet appointment when we were again reminded to
lose weight.
Over the years I have fallen in love with the black cat. Before I was born, my aunt and uncle had a cat
with my same name. When the irony
finally dawned on me I would joke that I was named after a black cat! My theory is that it is my destiny to be a
voice for these cats who so often are overlooked yet I find so enduring. In closing, remember this one piece of
valuable information, “A black cat
crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” In my
case, probably to the food bowl!
Sources:
http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article60398.html
