The superstitions surrounding Friday 13th and black cats may be mere myths, but they are beliefs that are shared by many cultures around the world. For instance, millions of Americans believe that Friday 13th is an unlucky day. Holding fears about the imagined dangers of this particular day usually affects only those individuals holding the conviction; when Friday, October 13th rolls around, they may not go to work, and they probably won't schedule a trip or plan a special occasion. On the other hand, the myths about black cats in several cultures can have serious, often deadly, consequences for these ebony felines.
Superstitions in western culture about cats, black cats in particular, are of fairly recent origin. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the cat in the form of the goddess Bastet. Statuettes of sleek cats from Egypt can be seen today in almost every museum in the world. Adorned with an earring or jeweled collar, sitting upright, their tails wrapped around their bodies, they gaze serenely into eternity. 
The Romans considered the cat sacred and introduced it into Europe. However, by the 17th century, cats in many parts of Europe began to be associated with witchcraft and the supernatural, and in several countries were subjected to shocking cruelty. Black cats have, more than any other feline, been mistreated over the centuries. Today, the myth of the "unlucky" black cat is still widespread in several European countries and in the United States, whereas in other cultures, such as Japan and England, they have traditionally been honored for the good luck they are believed to bring.
Black cats are particularly vulnerable around Halloween when they receive a very bad press - they are depicted looking ferocious or cunning in spooky drawings and cards, or shown sitting beside witches on broomsticks. Many shelters, The SF/SPCA among them, have implemented policies to protect black cats from potential harm by suspending their adoptions until after Halloween. Moreover, many otherwise rational people won't consider adopting a black cat, and they generally remain in shelters longer than their more colorful brothers and sisters. In addition, they are often considered dull or plain. It's high time that the groundless superstitions about black cats were laid to rest. The staff and volunteers at The SF/SPCA work hard to counteract the maligning of these sleek, ebony felines. They encourage adopters to look past the outward appearance of every cat, and to focus on its individuality, personality and wonderful qualities.
It's interesting to note that new scientific research has shown that black cats may be more fortunate than their fairer relatives: "... black coats may have evolved separately many times in different species of cat - indicating that dark fur has a survival benefit. Furthermore, the mutations leading to a black coat are in the same gene family as those involved in human diseases like AIDS, so it may be that black cats are more resistant to disease than others."* A black coat is also a benefit as hunting camouflage, giving the black cat an evolutionary advantage.
The San Francisco SPCA is currently home to a bevy of beautiful black cats and kittens just waiting for a change of luck. So, let's throw superstition to the wind and take a leaf out of Groucho Marx's book when he said: "A black cat crossing your path signifies…that it's going somewhere."
*NewScientist.com
SCROLL DOWN TO MEET SOME OF OUR CURRENT BLACK BEAUTIES ...
