EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Janice Mitchell is a veterinarian at Island Animal Hospital and Little Current Veterinary Service.
Feline wicked?
by Dr. Janice Mitchell
“Boil, boil, toil and trouble.” This classic Shakespearean line conjures up thoughts of witches and cauldrons and all creatures associated with this spooky time of year—bats, spiders and black cats. True to this column’s title, we will stick to the paw bearing creature on that list and have a little chat about our little black cat, starting with ‘fake news’ and ending with a twist of truth.
The folklore surrounding black cats varies from culture to culture. Scottish lore holds that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity. Black cats are also considered good luck in the rest of Britain and Japan. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors. In Western history, however, black cats have typically been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens. Most of Europe considers the black cat a symbol of bad luck, particularly if one walks across the path in front of a person, which is believed to be an omen of misfortune and death. When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, they brought with them a devout faith in the Bible. They also brought a deepening suspicion of anything deemed of Satan and were a deeply suspicious group. They viewed the black cat as a companion to witches. Anyone caught with a black cat would be severely punished or even killed.
In contrast, the supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively. For example, sailors considering a “ship’s cat” would want a black one because it would bring good luck. Sometimes, fishermen’s wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea. Pirates of the 18th century believed that a black cat would bring different kinds of luck. If a black cat walks towards someone, that person will have bad luck. If a black cat walks away from someone, then that person will have good luck.
Confused? With all these circulating myths, it is no surprise that most humane societies and shelters often find that black cats have lower rates of adoption. Whether it is this superstition or whether it is because of the perception that black is ‘boring,’ the black cat has gotten a bad rap. When I used to work at the Humane Society down south, we would often have to jazz up our shelter black cats with colourful collars and unique names to draw in possible adopters. That being said, we also would have a ‘black out’ period on the adoption of these black beauties during the Halloween time of year.
There is another circulating rumour, more modern this time. Black cats are friendlier. Is there truth in this statement? Can you tell if a cat will be friendly, aggressive or laid-back simply by taking a quick look at its colour? Since cats are never going to answer that question, scientists turned to pet owners for their input. University of California, Berkeley researchers surveyed 189 cat owners in a study published in the October 2012 edition of . Orange cats were regarded as the friendliest by respondents, while white cats were labeled aloof, and tortoiseshell cats were thought to have too much “attitude.” The subject was revisited in a University of California Davis study a few years later. This time, results were tabulated from 1,274 completed surveys. The surveys asked cat owners to rate their pets’ level of aggression at home, while being handled and during veterinary visits. The most aggressive cats in all three settings were females with grey-and-white, black-and-white or orange coats and calico cats. Black, white, gray and tabby cats were rated lowest on the aggression scale. Although neither study is conclusive, it is interesting to note that the black cat assumed a quiet, back of the class position. Truth? You be the judge. Next time you meet a black cat, don’t run away but instead give it a little pat on the cheek and you decide.
Until then, happy belated National Black Cat Day, October 27, and a Happy Halloween. May be there be a Black Panther in you all!
