In Honor of Lucky Black Cat Day,
Mississippi Coalition for Animal Protection will be educating and encouraging families to ADOPT a black cat and bring LUCK, and LOVE into their homes!!! We will have SEVERAL BLACK cats in PetSmart of varying ages available for adoption. Please drop by and ADOPT your favorite playful new companion!!!
Friday the 13th and black cats are intertwined in superstitions and myths. It’s our sincere goal to turn the negativity into positive energy for everyone.
MYTH – Black Cats are bad luck
FACT – It’s not entirely clear where this myth originates, and it doesn’t pervade around the world, but in some parts of the globe, black cats are considered unlucky. In particular, it is said to be bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. One possible explanation of where this derived is the fact that the Greek goddess Hera was said to have transformed her maid into a black cat, and the cat then aided the goddess of witchcraft. Subsequently, Pope Gregory IX decreed black cats to be symbols of Satan.
MYTH – They Are Good Luck
FACT – On the other hand, black cats are also considered good luck. Good fortune is said to be bestowed on English brides who receive a black cat as a gift, for example, while owning one in Asia is considered good luck, and having one appear on your doorstep in Scotland is a sign of impending prosperity. Very specifically, if you hear one sneeze in Italy, you will enjoy a run of good fortune.
MYTH – Black Cats Are Witches
FACT – This likely comes from the same Greek story of Hera turning her maid into a cat. However, in America, many early settlers believed witches could take the form of black cats so that they were then able to perform their bad deeds while remaining undetected.
MYTH – Black Cats Cause More Allergies Than Others
FACT – It has long been said that black cats are worse for allergy sufferers than any other cats. The reason cited was that they produce more dander, which was thought to be the cause of reactions. There may be some truth to this particular myth because at least one study has shown that black cat owners are more susceptible to strong allergic reactions.
On the other hand, multiple studies have shown that black cats are no more likely to cause reactions than any other. It is actually the protein Fel d1, which is present in saliva, urine, and sweat, that causes allergic reactions, and although dander and dandruff are easier to see on black cats, they do not necessarily produce any more than white or other colored cats.
MYTH – Black Cats Were Once Revered as Gods
While the Pope declared black cats to be a symbol of Satan, they haven’t always had such a negative association with religion. In Ancient Egypt, well known for its love of and reverence of cats, the goddess Bastet was a woman with the head of a black cat. She was responsible for watching over crops and women.
