Black Pets Aren't Popular ??

[Cheap Cat]

According to an article in the Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1080461--black-cats-down-on-their-luck-at-shelters), black cats and dogs in shelters are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. I find that so hard to believe. I love black cats. Let me into a shelter with black kittens and I'll take them all home. The article actually says people think that black pets are boring. Obviously they have never lived with one.

I grew up with a black cat and he was the smartest, most amazing cat ever. He lived to 19.5 years old. I currently have two black cats. Neither were planned, it was just how it worked out. One was abandoned and no one else was able to take her and the other, a coworker's husband got from a farm he worked at, not knowing my affinity for black cats. He was just a kitten who kept jumping into his truck at the end of the day. When I got my black female cat, the vet said "You're going have fun with her" because they have great personalities and he said she would rule the house which she does. She has been an amazing cat. She's smart, independent and fiercely protective of me. If anything, I think white cats are boring (no offense to anyone with a white cat).

One thing the article says that is true, is that they don't photograph well. My babies are gorgeous and you really can't see how gorgeous they are in a picture (although they still are pretty darn cute).

Am I alone in my love of black cats? What do others think? BTW, we have had other black cats and black dogs in the family. We also had a white dog.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/958/img1791zl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/img1791zl.jpg/)

[cheapmeister]

Peeps are racial, and it spreads onto pets as well.

[joeyjoejoe]

According to an article in the Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1080461--black-cats-down-on-their-luck-at-shelters), black cats and dogs in shelters are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. I find that so hard to believe. I love black cats. Let me into a shelter with black kittens and I'll take them all home. The article actually says people think that black pets are boring. Obviously they have never lived with one.

I grew up with a black cat and he was the smartest, most amazing cat ever. He lived to 19.5 years old. I currently have two black cats. Neither were planned, it was just how it worked out. One was abandoned and no one else was able to take her and the other, a coworker's husband got from a farm he worked at, not knowing my affinity for black cats. He was just a kitten who kept jumping into his truck at the end of the day. When I got my black female cat, the vet said "You're going have fun with her" because they have great personalities and he said she would rule the house which she does. She has been an amazing cat. She's smart, independent and fiercely protective of me. If anything, I think white cats are boring (no offense to anyone with a white cat).

One thing the article says that is true, is that they don't photograph well. My babies are gorgeous and you really can't see how gorgeous they are in a picture (although they still are pretty darn cute).

Am I alone in my love of black cats? What do others think? BTW, we have had other black cats and black dogs in the family. We also had a white dog.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/958/img1791zl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/img1791zl.jpg/)

Do I know you? You sound awfully similar to a girl I know... but then again she's got 3 black cats. I think it's the superstition that pushes people away from black cats. The added bonus is you can wear black, I can't... or at least not without a long time getting all the hair off me.

I don't think white cats are boring. Some have two different colour eyes... I mean... that's just wacky!:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfxd7gOUBZ1qf44hwo1_500.jpg

Me? I have a strong bias towards orange. My cats:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2555081364_761a3d4f08.jpg

[jcon]

My wife and I picked up a black cat from the Kingston Human Society many years ago. One the greatest cats I have ever known. He passed away last month.

[woof]

My first cat was black. I got him from my brother. Great cat. My current cat is also black, a stray I took in. Another great cat.

The only bad thing about them was already mentioned - they don't photograph well. I took a lot of pictures of my first cat but that was in the days of film cameras and there was no way of knowing how badly the pictures were until I got around to developing the film and it was kinda too late then. With electronic cameras now and with my second black cat that hasn't been such a problem.

One thing I found was that my first cat was pretty popular at Halloween. The small kids would come to the door and seem him inside watching them and get all excited, black cats being kinda rare at that time.

[thrifthunter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-dog_bias

Yes I would adopt a black dog, I just did a few months back.

[Cheap Cat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-dog_bias


Interesting. I was so shocked by this which was why I posted. I can't believe there is even a wikipedia entry on it. Interesting to note: A study done by the Los Angeles Animal Services challenges some of these claims, saying that a full 28% of adopted dogs are black.


With cats, I can understand that some people are superstitious but I otherwise don't get it. My cats, especially the females, have such beautiful shiny coats that you wouldn't get with any other coloured pet. People frequently comment on their coats.

When one of my black cat was recently hospitalized, the vet actually commented on yet another black cat coming in. There were 4 of them being treated at this clinic. Considering how people reacted to me spending so much on vet bills for hospitalizing my cat, there must be some people who really like their black cats.

[Cheap Cat]

Do I know you? You sound awfully similar to a girl I know... but then again she's got 3 black cats. I think it's the superstition that pushes people away from black cats. The added bonus is you can wear black, I can't... or at least not without a long time getting all the hair off me.

I did have 3 at one time when I took in a relative's cat. But he wasn't as black as my cats. He was kind of a faded out black.


Me? I have a strong bias towards orange.

I can see why. They're pretty darn cute. Were they from the same litter? As you can probably tell, mine weren't. They are 5 years apart. My oldest cat was very close to the tabby I had before. They both used each other as pillows. I got her as a kitten and the tabby took care of her like she was his baby. Two years after my tabby died, I got the second black cat but the two were never as close as the other two.

[natalka]

It's never mattered to me what colour our cats were - haven't seen any link to personality, etc. We went through a period where we had three greys - and now we just happen to have two black and whites, and a Ragdoll mix who is mostly fawn and white.

(hm... how to upload pics? no matter how small I make them, it keeps saying size is too big)

[pkguy]

Black or black/white dogs and cats I find the most attractive but it isn't the be all end all. Somewhere I heard that a black cat crossing your path is good luck over in England, not like here.

[RandomSanity]

Interesting. I was so shocked by this which was why I posted. I can't believe there is even a wikipedia entry on it. Interesting to note: A study done by the Los Angeles Animal Services challenges some of these claims, saying that a full 28% of adopted dogs are black.


With cats, I can understand that some people are superstitious but I otherwise don't get it. My cats, especially the females, have such beautiful shiny coats that you wouldn't get with any other coloured pet. People frequently comment on their coats.

When one of my black cat was recently hospitalized, the vet actually commented on yet another black cat coming in. There were 4 of them being treated at this clinic. Considering how people reacted to me spending so much on vet bills for hospitalizing my cat, there must be some people who really like their black cats.

I recall when I adopted my two dogs (one is black, the other is white, otherwise they are the same breed from the same littler) the adoption fee for the black dog was less than half of the other. I asked about this and was told they have a hard time adopting them out so they charged a smaller fee despite having the same vaccinations etc.

[joeyjoejoe]

I did have 3 at one time when I took in a relative's cat. But he wasn't as black as my cats. He was kind of a faded out black.



I can see why. They're pretty darn cute. Were they from the same litter? As you can probably tell, mine weren't. They are 5 years apart. My oldest cat was very close to the tabby I had before. They both used each other as pillows. I got her as a kitten and the tabby took care of her like she was his baby. Two years after my tabby died, I got the second black cat but the two were never as close as the other two.

Yup same litter. They are very bonded... well not so much lately, but they still need to be visible to each other or they will start meowing for each other. I was going to get one of them and their sister (black and orange callico) originally, but I watched them interact with each other. When the sister wanted to play fight she would push around the other litter mates. The two I got would always scatter and hide together from her. I figured the sister + any of the other kittens would be a terrible idea... the two wusses seemed to get along the most out of the litter mates, so I picked them. :lol:

But back to black cats... one thing I was concerned with was nail clipping... did you ever cut too deep? The quick is hard to see on black claws.


It's never mattered to me what colour our cats were - haven't seen any link to personality, etc. We went through a period where we had three greys - and now we just happen to have two black and whites, and a Ragdoll mix who is mostly fawn and white.

(hm... how to upload pics? no matter how small I make them, it keeps saying size is too big)

Are you trying to upload a pic as your avatar or to a post? If it's for your avatar, there is a file size limitation and dimension limitation. If it's for a post, then upload it to something like Flickr and paste a link in your post.

[Steevie977]

I would love to have a black cat! It would be the closest I could ever get to owning a black panther! =D (which is interestingly enough a special breed of leopards not a species on it's own).

[JessicaBAustin]

color means nothing

[Cheap Cat]

But back to black cats... one thing I was concerned with was nail clipping... did you ever cut too deep? The quick is hard to see on black claws.


I have never had a problem cutting their claws. Whether you can see it or not, you know where it is and I never cut that short. Ironically it was my old vet many years ago that cut my tabby cat's (with white paws) quick. He was sensitive about that claw being touched for the rest of his life. From that point on, I never let anyone else cut my cats' claws.


I would love to have a black cat! It would be the closest I could ever get to owning a black panther! =D (which is interestingly enough a special breed of leopards not a species on it's own).

I agree. There is something majestic and beautiful about a black cat stalking its prey through tall grass. Note the only prey my cats have caught have been flies.

[ViperZ]

Black Russian Terrier FTW!

http://sentinelkennels.com/images/arbatRitaKS_50p.jpg

[mtseymourguy]

I'm an advocate for animial rights but would never take in a black pet because I would kick it everytime I read the news.

[joeyjoejoe]

I have never had a problem cutting their claws. Whether you can see it or not, you know where it is and I never cut that short. Ironically it was my old vet many years ago that cut my tabby cat's (with white paws) quick. He was sensitive about that claw being touched for the rest of his life. From that point on, I never let anyone else cut my cats' claws.



I agree. There is something majestic and beautiful about a black cat stalking its prey through tall grass. Note the only prey my cats have caught have been flies.

The quick in my cats' nails are inconsistant. Some long, some short. I keep away from the quick, but it seems like on some nails I just clip the very tip.


I'm an advocate for animial rights but would never take in a black pet because I would kick it everytime I read the news.

Keep the trolling to Off Topic.

[HungJai]

http://i44.tinypic.com/14bl0yr.jpg

Love my black lab...

[SambaJane]

I would love to have a black cat! for me, owning black pets are kinda exciting and mysterious.hehe :cheesygri
I would definitely want to own a black cat! Though currently, I have an adorable black terrier dog.