This article was first published in The Disruptive Author, by Disruptive Publishing, Deception Bay, Queensland.
Who knew there was a Black Cat Appreciation Day? I didn’t.
A man named Wayne H. Morris had a sister with a twenty-year-old black cat called Sinbad. The lady and the cat both died in 2011, so Morris created Black Cat Appreciation Day to honour them. It occurs each year on October 27th and has steadily grown in observance ever since.
By edifying black cats, Morris believed he could dispel the myths surrounding them. He sought to encourage people to appreciate them, rather than treat them with suspicion.
So why do black cats get such a bad rap?
Ah, well look at any children’s book featuring a witch and you’ll find that such women, whether they be enchantresses or wicked crones, seem to prefer black cats over any other.
There are plenty of children’s books which highlight black cats who live with witches. Consider Valerie Thomas’ Winnie the Witch (with a black cat called Wilbur), Mary Calhoun’s The Witch of Hissing Hill whose black cat gives birth to a yellow kitten, (which is a catalyst for considerable change,) and The Witch’s Cat by Sonica Ellis. This features a black cat who has difficulty making friends. However, rather than being a sad tale, this book encourages children to be self-accepting and to embrace inclusion and friendship.
Black cats have a reputation for bringing bad luck. This is superstition. They are as beautiful and loving as any other cat.
This silliness persists, though, thankfully it has waned. However, black cats are still less likely to be adopted from animal shelters than any other cat. It’s heartbreaking really.
Sources
AnimalWised, ‘Interesting Characteristics About Black Cats’, https://www.animalwised.com/interesting-characteristics-about-black-cats-2805.html, Accessed 27 October 2021