What’s so special about black cats?
A lot more than you could have imagined.
To honor the most important black cat holiday of the year, National Today — America’s favorite online destination to celebrate quirky and fun holidays — is sharing 5 reasons we love these mysterious felines:
1. THEY HELP US FIND ROMANCE
There’s nothing wrong with being a (black) cat lady! In Japan, young women are encouraged to own a black cat to increase their chances of romance. So black cats are not only great companions—but also fantastic wing-cats!
2. THEY ARE CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK IN SOME COUNTRIES
In Great Britain, black cats are thought to bring good luck, while in Germany, if a black cat crosses your path from the right, it is said to bring prosperity.
3. THAT DARK FUR IS PRACTICAL
Research shows that black cats may have developed dark hair to fight off disease, meaning their fur is more than beautiful—it’s useful, too!
4. BLACK CATS HAVE MAGICAL COLOR-SHIFTING POWERS (WELL, SORT OF)
Due to a special pigment called melanin in their fur, when out in the sun, many black cats will temporarily turn a dark brown color, as if they were “rusting.”
5. WE LOVE THOSE BRIGHT YELLOW EYES
Black cats have an excess of melanin, a pigment that causes dark coloration. Coincidentally, melanin also causes their irises to be yellow.
As it turns out, being a black cat is definitely something to smile about!
Here are more fun facts about Black Cats:
They were companions to sailors
Sailors and fisherman thought that having black cats on board would bring them good luck. It helped that they would eat the rats too!
Black cats are not a single breed
There are actually 22 cat breeds that have solid black coats.
Japan’s black cat cafe
In Himeji, Japan, there is a cafe that’s entirely devoted to black cats where visitors can pet them during their visit.
All cats are sacred
In Ancient Egypt, all cats were considered sacred, so they were worshipped. This includes black cats!
To learn more about National Black Cat Appreciation Day, you can visit https://nationaltoday.com/us/national-black-cat-appreciation-day. While there, you can also read about other fun cat-related holidays, including National Cat Day and National Hug Your Cat Day.
Remember National Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17th, but appreciate beautiful black cats every day!
