If you own a black cat, give them extra love today because August 17 is Black Cat Appreciation Day! Many people see black cats as a sign of bad luck, but this is a celebration dedicated to showing how amazing these sleek, mysterious cats are.
There are many origins of superstitions centered around black cats. National Today says during the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church associated black cats with witchcraft and believed they were witches that could shapeshift into black cats.
According to Crate Escape Pet Care, Celtic mythology believed in a fairy named the Cat Sidh, who could change into a large black cat with a white spot on its chest, taking people’s souls to give to the Gods. During the Black Plague, people thought black cats spread the illness and, sadly, began to kill them.
In Scotland, black cats were seen as a sign of good luck and meant good fortune if a black cat arrived at someone’s home. The Scottish and English in the Midlands shared the same superstition where a new bride was given a black cat to bless the marriage. Ancient Egyptians were known to worship cats of any color and even sentenced people to death that killed cats.
Black cats are just as loveable as any feline and have become huge in pop culture. But despite their popularity in mass media, black cats are, in fact, half as likely to be adopted. One activity to celebrate this day is to adopt a black cat yourself (if you can). Visit the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, Help for Homeless Pets or other animal shelters around Billings.
You could also read “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe, a chilling tale about the psychology of guilt. Or watch a show that features a black cat. Some of the most famous black cats are on shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hocus Pocus, and Sailor Moon. However, you celebrate, be sure to show black cats lots of love. And don’t miss National Black Cat Day on October 27!
