Jul 21, 2021
People Tried to Force Me to Give Away My Cat Because It’s Black
What to do when a black cat crosses your path? I say, go pet it.
People who know me know that I was never a cat person. Ever. I always wanted a dog as a child to grow up with and a specific one — a Chihuahua. Funnily enough, I never got a puppy, courtesy of my strict South Asian parents.
However, cats have a strange way to get to your heart. And this story is about a black cat I found on the street and had to fight for. The reason? Because it’s black. I was just as stupefied as you are right now.
It’s wrong on so many levels; after all, all cats are the same. We must treat all cats equally. To an avid animal lover, it’s criminal.
You’ll learn how narrow-minded myths and superstitions are still widely prevalent in society. And how we eventually fought for and kept our baby, Bills.
How I Rescued My First Kitten
“I was plotting for this day for so long!” I thought to myself when I saw a stray black cat running on the street when a couple of my neighbors were trying to catch her. The road was storming with traffic.
Long story short, the lady who lived across the street was kind enough to let me keep the cat as she already was an obsessive cat lady and had cats. I finally had a beautiful feline friend to love and care for, running around in my house — I was ecstatic.
The next morning, the other housemate asked me plenty of questions about the black cat…
“Who’s going to take care of it?”
“Who's gonna feed it? Who’s gonna change the litter box?”
“Did you ask someone before getting a stray cat in the house?”
An unsettling thought entered my mind. Could it be?
He went on to explain that having a black cat is a sign of bad luck, an omen of misfortune, and even death. It all started making more sense to me. Apparently, he got his finger jammed in the car’s door while leaving for work the same day we got her.
I’ve been exposed to my fair share of superstitions but I’ve never trusted those. It is appropriate to consider that such superstitions are old wives’ tales. Logic and reasoning fail when people are fixated on the idea that these dark and friendly cats are bad luck.
Should I Call it Racism?
Not exactly.
Yes, it appears racist when a black cat in particular is mistreated and feared. The main issue stems from an old belief that existed over the centuries. Some people in India still follow it blindly.
These cute black kitties also became a huge thing around Halloween for their association with evil witches. Could it be their sly and hunter-like demeanor? Could it be their glistening dangerous eyes? What I know is that the evilest thing it can do is scratch the sofa occasionally.
Black cats are looked at like bad omens, just like ravens and crows do. I find it highly unfair and unethical. People are hating on these unfortunate cats just because of their fur, something they don't even have a say in.
Black cats are even half as likely to get adopted from pet shelters, compared to their lighter-colored counterparts. They deserve a happy and forever (furever even) home too, like any other cat.
Although, several of such absurd beliefs have vanished in recent times, rightfully so.
“Because if you’ve given a black cat the power to ruin your day, the joke is on you” — Tyler, a street artist from Mumbai attempting to break the popular myth through his art.
Black Cats Deserve a Chance
That being covered, black cats were worshipped and considered divine in early Egyptian times. Some parts of Europe and Japan consider black cat sightings as good omens and signs of prosperity.
It’s high time the continuing superstition associated with black cats is busted for good. The truth is black felines are magnificent creatures, extremely lovable and I consider myself blessed to have one!
Conclusion
Most sensible individuals, including me, consider it a good thing when a black cat enters their house. As someone who owns and adores a black cat, there’s no such thing as bad luck. Yes, she does appear scary at night but in a cute non-creepy way. Black cats are the black panthers of the cat family.
Fun Fact: We found our cat on Edward Cullen’s birthday, as my roommate said — an obsessive twilight fanatic. The name is still being debated. We were confused between Edward, Oslo, and Rio, all-male names for a female cat (lol).
