15 Unique & Mysterious Facts About Black Cats

Black cats are known for their association with bad luck, witchcraft and Halloween. However, despite their false reputation, they are unique felines that have a rich history. In this video, we will talk about 15 mysterious facts about black cats. There are 22 recognized breeds of black cats Black cats can come in a wide variety of cat roots. In fact, there are 22 different cat breeds that can have solid black coats—including the Scottish Fold, Norwegian Forest Cat, and Persian—but the Bombay breed is what most people picture. The Bombay breed was developed in the 1950s by crossing black American Shorthairs with Sable Burmese with the aim to create a cat that resembled a miniature black panther. They are better protected against disease Researchers at the National Institute of Health found that the genetic mutation that causes a cat’s fur to be black also protects them from certain diseases. So your black cat has stronger immune system and is scientifically less likely to fall ill with certain diseases. Black cats were once worshipped as Gods In Egypt, all cats are considered good luck, and the ancient Egyptians worshipped the goddess Bastet, who was depicted as a black cat or a woman with the head of a black cat. During ancient Egyptian times, cats were so highly prized that the sentence for willfully harming a cat was death. When their pets died, Egyptian cat owners would not only mummify their beloved friends along with some mummified mice for their journey through the afterlife, but also shave off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. Once their brows grew back, the period of mourning was over. Since the Egyptians thought of cats so highly, they accessorized their pets with jewels. Wealthiest black cat When Ben Rea died in May 1988, he refused to recognize his family in his will and left his £7-million fortune to Blackie, the last surviving of the 15 cats he shared his mansion with. Tommaso also was a stray black cat whose his owner left him 10 million euros. They are considered “bad luck” In some cultures. The myth that black cats bring bad luck has its origins in the Middle Ages in Europe when black cats were associated with witchcraft. People thought black cats were companions of witches and their evil deeds. So they persecuted witches and black cats together, and this negative reputation evolved into bad luck superstition. But the reality is that the color of a cat’s fur has nothing to do with luck. Many cultures celebrate black cats. Not everyone believes that black cats are spooky or dangerous to be around. Many cultures celebrate black cats. If you’re a single woman in Japan, owning a black cat is believed to attract fine, potential suitors. In Great Britain’s English Midlands, a black cat is the ideal wedding gift; they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness to the bride. Black Cats Take Longer To Adopt Out According to several studies, it takes adoption shelters far longer to adopt out black cats. Black cats can rust A black cat’s coat can change from solid black to a reddish-brown color. This is called “rusting”. Oftentimes, this happens when a black cat spends a lot of time lounging in the sun. Black cats have a mild personality. An owner-reported survey from UC Berkeley suggests that black cats have a mild temperament free of extreme personality traits. Not overly affectionate nor terribly skittish. Black Cats Have a Sailing History Ship s cats were once a common thing; historically, sailors brought cats aboard ships to control rodents that could destroy food stores or damage the ship itself. But British sailors generally thought a black cat in particular would bring good luck and ensure a safe return home. Golden eyes Black cats produce a lot of melanin, which is the pigment that makes their coats dark. This pigment also contributes to giving some cats beautiful golden yellow to coppery amber color. Popular fixtures of pop culture Heavyweight Hollywood directors learnt early on that most films could easily be improved by the presence of a black cat. Some favorite famous black cats include Salem of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Binx from Hocus-Pocus. Snowball from Simpsons. and Lucifer from Cinderella. Patterns Can Be Hidden Underneath Black Fur Look at a solid black cat in the sunlight, and you may very well see faint stripes within the fur. That s because although black is genetically dominant as a fur color, the striped tabby pattern is genetically dominant as a fur pattern, and in cats with genes for both black fur and tabby patterning, the stripes can be "hidden" under the black coloring. Some shelters won t let you adopt a black cat around Halloween Some shelters suspend adoption of black cats during the month of October to keep them safe. As a result of the persistent myth of black cats being linked to witchcraft and evil, there is a large and disturbing history of black cats being used for ritual sacrifice during the spooky holiday.