7 Fun Black Cat Facts

Plenty of cat breeds can have a black coat, but only one breed is exclusively black: the Bombay.

According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the Bombay’s breed standard requires a fully jet-black coat—even their nose, paw pads, and whiskers are black.  

That said, many cat breeds can have a black coat, including the Persian, Maine Coon, Sphynx, British Shorthair, and Oriental Shorthair, plus countless domestic shorthairs and longhairs. As the saying goes: All Bombays are black cats, but not all black cats are Bombays.

We’ve all heard that a black cat crossing your path means bad luck. But where did this silly superstition come from—and why black cats, specifically?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when black cats got this bad rap, but the Middle Ages are a good place to start. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX’s decree “Vox in Rama” linked black cats to devil worship and witchcraft. 

During the English witch trials of the 1500s and 1600s, black cats were said to be witches’ “familiars”—or even witches themselves in disguise. Today, the black cat remains a symbol of Halloween and is often depicted in horror movies and television as a bad omen or a witch’s sidekick.

Of course, the bad luck stuff is all folklore. Black cats may be bewitchingly cute, but they’re certainly not witches.

So, are black cats good luck? While this depends on your beliefs, many cultures have long considered dark-coated kitties to be lucky charms. 

• In ancient Egypt, black cats were revered as sacred and linked to the goddess Bastet, a protector of the home who was believed to bring blessings and ward off evil.
• British folklore treats a black cat crossing your path as a good omen, not a bad one.  
• Scottish tradition says an unfamiliar black cat turning up on your doorstep is a sign of coming prosperity.
• Japanese folklore considers black cats lucky and protective. When a maneki-neko (the paw-raised “lucky cat” figurine) is black, it is said to ward off evil.
• British and Irish sailors kept black cats aboard ships for good luck and safe passage.

Take your black cat into bright sunlight and you might spot something surprising: faint tabby stripes running beneath their coat.

Some black cats carry the genes for a tabby pattern and a solid black coat, but their dark fur simply masks the stripes. According to the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, those hidden stripes can still peek through in the right light.

If your black cat is starting to look a little bronze, you’re not imagining it. Their coat can actually turn reddish-brown over time due to sun exposure. Black fur gets its color from a pigment called eumelanin, and UV rays can gradually break down the pigment, causing the fur to fade.

But sunbathing isn’t the only culprit—diet can play a role, too. Cats need the amino acid tyrosine to make eumelanin, and a tyrosine deficiency can cause a black coat to take on a reddish-brown or rusty appearance. So if you notice your kitty changing colors after spending lots of time in their window perch, that might explain things.

If your black cat’s color changes and they aren’t a dedicated windowsill sunbather, schedule a vet visit to rule out any nutritional deficiencies or other health issues. Your vet can help you choose the best cat food for your kitty.

You’ve probably heard that black cats get adopted less than other cats, but the truth is more reassuring. In 2023, 70% of black cats in shelters found homes, according to Shelter Animals Count, a nonprofit run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 

A smaller study suggests that black cats might wait a little longer than other cats to get adopted, but overall, the evidence for a significant bias is mixed.

The same Shelter Animals Count data show that black cats are among the most common coat colors in shelters, second only to multicolored cats. So it’s not necessarily that people are passing black cats over—there are simply more of them in shelters.

Black cats have two holidays dedicated to celebrating them and giving their reputation a well-deserved makeover. 

In the U.S., August 17 is National Black Cat Appreciation Day. Wayne H. Morris created the holiday in honor of his late sister and her beloved black cat, Sinbad. Across the pond, National Black Cat Day falls on October 27. The cat charity Cats Protection founded the day to combat black cat superstitions and encourage adoptions. 

Black cats may not bring you luck, but there’s no denying that these kitties are every bit as adoptable, affectionate, and worthy of love as any other.