Apparently National Black Cat Day, Black Cat Appreciation Day and UK Black Cat Day all have different dates, depending on the calendar you follow. According to ours, Holidays and Observances, Nov. 17 is National Black Cat Day, and we are here to celebrate the black cat, brings either love or fear depending on your experiences.
But the growing numbers prove we love them. Someone even started a Facebook page dedicated to them called For the Love of Black Cats (Black Cat Appreciation Page). It has 171,000 members. So yes indeed, black cats rule!
Yes, they are the hardest cats at the animal shelters to adopt, but those that share their lives with black cats know the special nature of these cats, the allure in their purr, their fur and their love. They always seem to have the longest tails that stick straight up as they walk, with just a slight curve at the end, fishhook style, that gives them character and charm.
How about some quick black cat facts to persuade those you not yet on the bandwagon to join the rest of us in loving these mystical creatures?
For starters, in order for a cat to be solid black, both parents need to carry the black color gene, called an allele. The most common color pattern is a tabby pattern. The way this works is a true solid black cat also has to carry a recessive gene known as a non-agouti in order for there to be no tabby pattern. Cats with the dominant agouti gene will retain the tabby pattern, according to Catster.
So some black cats are actually tabbies. If their black allele (gene) is present, but the tabby (agouti) gene isn't completely repressed, you can see faint tabby stripes, including the classic tabby "M" pattern on the forehead if your cat is in bright enough light for you to see it.
Does your black cat appear a bit rusty? In the light, can you see a chocolate or reddish tint? Well, heavy exposure to the sun can cause this, but if your cat is an inside cat with the same coloring, talk to you vet. It could be an enzyme deficiency called tyrosine. Your vet will advise if a tyrosine supplement would be safe for your cat.
And if you black cat is going a bit gray, fear not, this is the normal progression of aging. Just like humans, they will start to gray over time, never turning fully gray, but you will see the salt-and-pepper bits interspersed throughout the coat.
And one super positive about black cats is that the genetic mutations found in black cats leave them more resistant to illnesses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), according to the National Institute of Health.
Did you know that in Great Britain and Japan black cats are considered good luck and a sign of prosperity? Arrrrgh mateys, they were also considered good luck to 18th century pirates! Yes indeedy. Get a black cat and change your bad luck.
And according to the Guinness World Records, the "wealthiest" cat honor goes to a black cat aptly named Blackie, who is worth a cool $25 million, according to Pets Doc.
So tolerate them, like them or simply adore black cats, these beauties have increased in popularity and are winning over new people one by one. Happy National Black Cat Day everyone!
