National Black Cat Appreciation Day Date in the current year: August 17, 2024

Black cats are domestic cats with black fur. According to the Cat Fancier’s Association, twenty-two cat breeds can have solid black coats; the Bombay cat is the only cat breed that is exclusively black. Mixed-breed cats can have an all-black coat, too. Due to the high content of melanin in their bodies, most cats with all-black fur pigmentation also have golden irises.

In many cultures, black cats are surrounded with superstitions. Some cultures have positive associations with black cats, ascribing good luck to them. For example, black cats have positive connotations in Japanese and Celtic folklore. However, when the Germanic tribes invaded Britain in the 5th century, they brought negative superstitions about black cats with them.

In most of the Western world, black cats are considered a symbol of bad luck and evil omens. During the Middle Ages, they were thought to be witches’ familiars or shape-shifting witches themselves. Superstitions associated with black cats were brought to the New World by the Pilgrims.

Of course, humankind’s attitude towards black cats has changed since the Middle Ages, but some superstitions still persist. We may not burn black cats in bonfires anymore, but, according to the research carried out by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cats with all-black fur are less likely to be adopted from shelters. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reported that black cats are abandoned more often than cats of other colors.

National Black Cat Appreciation Day was founded by Wayne H. Morris in 2011. Morris created it to honor the memory of his late sister June and the bond she shared with her 20-year-old black cat Sibad who went to the Rainbow Bridge two months after June’s passing at age 33. National Black Cat Appreciation Day celebrates the special bond between black cats and their humans, helps combat stigma associated with black cats and encourages people to adopt black cats from rescues and shelters.

How can you observe National Black Cat Appreciation Day? If you’re a proud black cat owner, buy your furry friend a new toy or a treat and don’t forget to share pictures and videos of your cat on social media with the hashtag #NationalBlackCatAppreciationDay. If you don’t have a black cat but have always wanted to adopt one, this is the perfect day to give a black cat from your local animal shelter a new loving home!

The United States is not the only country that has a holiday dedicated to black cats. In Italy, Black Cat Day is observed every November 17 to raise awareness of the fact that thousands of black cats are killed due to superstitions. In the United Kingdom, National Black Cat Day is observed every year on October 27. In some countries, the whole month of October is recognized as Black Cat Awareness Month.