You see, growing up I had never been around cats, and I came from a family that were not fans of them. Let me correct that, my Mother HATED them (and frankly, much to my dismay and displeasure, still does). My first real experience with cats wasn't until I was 15.
So, for more years than I should admit, I was one of millions of foolish, (a kind term), people who believed the outdated myth that black cats were bad luck.
Unfortunately, my experience with black cats prior to blogging had me believing that they were rather hyper and a tad crazy. I was guilty of an offense that was not only deplorable, but ridiculous. I was committing an offense that humans commit with other humans, but I was committing this offense with cats. I judged black cats simply by their color.
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| Yes! I colored this! It is from one of the coloring books that I own from Kaleidoscope Coloring, Magnificent Creatures and More which my sister-in-law purchased for me from Five Below |
People who believe(d) the antiquated myth, as I did, that black cats are bad luck, are the reason why black cats not only wait at shelters to be adopted more than many other cats, they are also more likely to be put to sleep than other cats who are waiting for their forever homes at shelters. They are also more likely to be victims of horrible abuse at Halloween due to the evil ways they are portrayed in an assortment of books and movies..
Prejudice against animals because of the color of their fur is just as reprehensible as prejudice against people due to the color of their skin. IT MUST STOP!!
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| Via Grayson County Humane Society Leitchfield, KY Grayson |
As a result of blogging, (which I began nearly seven years ago), I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of these exquisite, panther-like cats , on a regular basis. Through these blogs and a host of others, I have seen and more importantly LEARNED that BLACK CATS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CAT!!!!! Here is just a tiny sampling of the blogs which helped me to learn about and to love black cats. They are:
(as I mentioned these are just a sampling of some great bloggers who share their lives with some pretty pawesome black cats, there are many, many other blogs that I follow who also have the pleasure of living with some of the most gorgeous black cats I have ever seen. These were just the first that popped into my mind and are blogs where the black cats are not mixed with any white.)
NONE of them are experiencing ANY bad luck as a result of living with black cats! BLACK CATS ARE AS LOVING AND LOVABLE AS CATS OF ANY OTHER COLOR!!!
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| Photo Courtesy of https://www.pinterest.com/dailylolpics/ |
So today, on Black Cat Appreciation Day, let's take a moment and honor these feline specimens of purrfection who in no way deserve the bad rap that they often get. Instead, let's honor them and extol them for the incredible creatures that they are, kudos to those who have dedicated their lives to showing the world that:
"BLACK CATS ARE BEAUTIFUL!!"
The petcretary has always admired black cats, they seem so sleek and shiny and she love the lively ones she met...alas oriental black kitties are hard to come by even in shelters, cause the petcretary is allergic to all but us meezer types.
ReplyDeleteWe are so far behind we are just going to comment on the newer blogs, though we did peruse the older postings...pawlease furgive the petcretary, she was busy with family stuff and her work too. And a lot of other junk as well...you now life happens and then the blogging stuff gets put on hold.
I TOTALLY get it!! I have been busy interview for (and acquiring jobs that I didn't keep due to health reasons), and am about to start a part time job this Friday. So I have been scarce both on the blogs and in person, and will probably be even more scarce while I adjust! I TOTALLY get it!!! xoxo
DeleteBest wishes in your new endeavor and adventure!
Deletethanks! Nothing exciting, just part time Cashier...out of necessity not because I want to! lol
DeleteMy momma has always thought black cats were good luck - but she also likes Friday the 13th and all things Halloween.
ReplyDeleteMy human is fortunate that not only did she grow up in a family that loved cats, her parents had several black cats over the years. In fact, the cat that was left after her dad died was a longhaired black cat named Smokey. She's still here, and even though she is a senior (13 years old), my human hopes she will find her own human.
ReplyDeleteOur Mum loves black cats but wasn't allowed any cats as a child as they caused her to have asthma. As soon as I left home I had my first black cat!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post and being honest, Caren.
ReplyDeleteBlack cats are cool but I have never owned one, just two black and whites (tuxedos). I think it's a lot of superstitious nonsense of course :)
ALL cats are AMAZING!
Purrs xx
You are most welcome Marie and thank YOU for being non-judgmental!!! Lately I have been obsessed with Tuxedo cats (actually for the past few years, ever since I first saw Mr.Puddy), I just adore them! xxoxoxo
DeleteHave always thought black cats to be incredibly beautiful - sleek, smooth, soft and shiny. So sad they have a ridiculous rep for being bad luck or any number of other silly claims. Today is THEIR day - although every day is a cat day for cats of all shades and colors......we are all beautiful! Love both of your graphics today - they are SWEET.
ReplyDeleteLove, Sammy and Mom Pam
Rosie is going to be super mad at me for not realizing today is Black Cat Appreciation Day. Oops! I never realized the plight of black cats until I started volunteering a shelter and witnessed how often they are ignored and overlooked by adopters. I think from now on, I will always adopt black cats. Plus, I tend to wear lots of black and the fur doesn't show up as much on my clothes when I go to work! LOL
ReplyDeleteSome cultures believe that black cats are good luck.
ReplyDeleteI love that your honest about your history on this subject. And, I love that you now love the purrfect black kitties of the world! Thank you for sharing this wonderful, poignant post with us today!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, I deeply appreciate that!!!! Yes I DO love black cats now!!!!! Thanks so much again and you are welcome! xoxo
DeleteThanks for sharing your own "evolution" on the black cats issue. Purrsonally,I've always loved black cats and found them extraordinarily handsome! (Really excellent coloring job too! I wish my coloring pages turned out like that.)
ReplyDeleteyou are welcome and thank you! They ARE "extraordinarily handsome" and beautiful!!!! Thanks about the coloring, I take it a tad too seriously lol
DeleteI find it interesting that in Japan, black cats are considered GOOD luck. They are gorgeous and it's sad that many people in certain parts of the world overlook them completely.
ReplyDeleteI love black cats! Hopefully, I'll always have one (or more) in my life!
ReplyDeleteI don't think black cats or black dogs are bad luck at all. I also love Friday the 13th. I'm not very superstitious.
ReplyDeleteHave a purrfect black cat day Cody. My best to your wonderful mom. ♥♥♥
Black cats are most definitely beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had a black cat friend called Spooky
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
It's sad that there are so many who do consider cats evil but especially black cats. I don't understand that because cats are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYay, wonderful posts ! Claire has cats since she's born, and many of them were black cats. They are just.... cats ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!! You are lucky to have had cats since you were born. I NOW know just how wonderful black cats are, just like ALL CATS!!! xoxo
DeleteI love black cats. They are so beautiful, small panthers.
ReplyDeleteI had to black cats. The last just before Loustiquette. His name was Tifounet and he was a sweet cat, a gentle cat.
Douce soirée
Nat à Chat
We think black cats rock and we have three in our feral family!
ReplyDeleteI also think they rock, but I was admitting there was a time where I didn't!
DeleteLike Sandee I am not superstitious at all- I have had black cats along with just about every color cat- just not all at the same time hahahah! Have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteOh MeOW awnty Caren, we had no idea. Mommy was raised by peeps who hated all cats and she didn't ever get close enuff to touch one till she was 19 years old. At dat moment, she was in luv and couldn't unnerstand why she had hated them all her life. Black cats are just as pawsum as all cats, and we luv 'em all. So glad you learned da luv of a kitty too.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Raena
Yep!! You sound like me! I didn't touch my first cat til I was 15! I now know that black cats are just as wonderful as any other cats! I probably am obsessed with cats because my mother hates them so much. xoxoxo
Deletedood....houz pantherz rock, they all wayz will....N sew does yur moms coloring....itz mega awesum...we hope her framez it....N pleez ta tell yur mom everee purrson livin now, then & later.... will haza "belief" prooved....diffrunt....de food gurl waz told de clawing waz OH KAY......N her bee leeved it ........knot noe mor ! ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteYep they do! NOW I KNOW they do!!!!! Aww thanks about the coloring, might frame it, might not! Husband surprised me today with a coloring book that just has cats! YESSSSSS!! So, now I have about 4 coloring books, (if I can find the time to do some more I will!) . I am glad that my belief was proved different, I would have hated going through life not appreciating black cats! xoxoxo
DeleteWe are all guilty of wrong-thinking sometimes - no need to feel bad. Thank you for helping to raise awareness for awesome black cats! Sharing my home with two black cats now (if you count Sampson who is my mostly-black-tuxedo) and my first cat as a child, I know first hand that black cats are AWESOME!!! Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day!!! <3
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love your coloring!!!
Deletethank you sweetness!! A lot of it came from my Mom's loathing of cats, thank God I learned!! Also, thank you about the coloring!!! xoxoxo Kisses to your babies!
DeleteWe forgive you! And now you have a voice to help change people's minds :) By the way, your coloring is pawsome!
ReplyDeletethanks on both counts!! Was going to major in Art in college, but opted for Speech instead :)
DeleteLove this post but wish you'd mentioned our upcoming book, Black Cats Tell All. Two of the cats you linked to are contributors to the book :-)
ReplyDeleteMy bad!! My apologies!! Actually, it was a last minute decision to even post today........and....I didn't have all of the specifics with the changes and all with the new book. Was doing blogs in advance because I will be starting a part time job Friday.......once the book is out, trust me, I will be more than happy to help promote it (which I have been doing all along), just didn't get to on this post!
DeleteFor years I judged dogs based on the behavior of just a couple of poorly behaved ones that I had met. I was always a cat person and didn't understand dogs. So we all have things like that in our pasts! The important thing is that we know better now.
ReplyDeleteSam is not going to forgive me for not posting about this today - I really need to get a list of these special days! :)
You sound like me!! I so agree, "the important thing is that we know better now."...about the days....subscribe to Days of The Year...and...be sure to purchase a Cat Blogosphere planning calendar for next year!!! xoxoxo
DeleteWhat's important is that you have learned that black cats are no different than any other cat (though Ernie says he thinks they're even better!) and are sharing your experience with everyone. Thanks for the shout out too! We think black cats rock!
ReplyDeleteYou are right and ERNIE is right too! You are most welcome and we agree, "black cats rock!"
DeleteI agree, black cats are wonderful. Nice job coloring.
ReplyDeleteI agree about black cats and thanks!
DeleteIt's amazing how much parents/society can influence how a child perceives things! The important thing is that we let go of the "damaging influence" when our life becomes our own ; this is especially fortunate when our "enlightenment" benefits us and makes us incredibly happy! My parents were not animal people and thought I was odd to care about animals. I remember being in a car with my parents as a child and seeing a woman on the sidewalk kiss her dog. My parents commented on how unsanitary and bizarre that was. My mother was actually afraid of cats! I'm so happy I followed my heart where animals are concerned and not my parents narrow views. It's great that you now understand that all cats are equal :) And Malou might even suggest to you that black cats are slightly better :)
ReplyDeletethe critters in the cottage xo
BEAUTIFULLY stated and I couldn't agree more! We had a dog when I was very young, but then, when she passed we weren't allowed another. To this day my mother has no pets. Terrible. Kisses to all of your babies, ESPECIALLY Malou!! xoxo
DeleteAgreed! Black cats are beautiful. I had lots of kitties growing up, but I don't actually ever remember having a black one. Callie is probably as close to a black cat that I've ever had. :) I like your coloring page btw.
ReplyDeleteYes! They are!!! Thanks so much about the coloring!
DeleteWhat a beautiful and honest post, Caren. We love that, through experience, you have learned that black cats rock. We think they're awesome, and we're not just saying that because of Gracie and Zoe. :)
ReplyDeleteHugs and headbonks and love to you, Cody, Dakota and Lenny!
Thank you so much my dear friends!! Especially for understanding that I no longer feel that way and that I LOVE black cats as everyone here does!!!! I think they are exquisite!!! Sending much love back to all of you! xoxo
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteAll cats are wonderful. Let's hear it for kitty power!
Noodle and crew
Thank you and Amen!!!!!
DeleteMom has never had a black cat but that's just 'cause one has never adopted her. She always says a black cat crossing her path is good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Furkids
The kitty before us was a black kitty named Panther. She was very special to our mommy so we know black cats are not bad luck at all! Great job on the coloring too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honesty. Thank goodness more and more people are realizing that black cats are like all other cats - awesome!! I had a black cat named Tosha - I found her on the side of the road one dark night. She was infested with fleas and skin and bones. I loved her so very much and hope all black cats will find wonderful forever homes. Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang.
ReplyDelete