When Dale arrived at Furry Godmothers, he had no idea that some people still believed centuries-old myths about cats that look just like him.
He only knew that breakfast should arrive on time, toys are meant to be chased, and laps are vastly underrated until you’ve tried one.
Now that Dale has found his forever family, we thought there was no better time to bust some of the biggest myths surrounding black cats.
Because honestly? They’ve been dealing with a terrible public relations campaign for hundreds of years.
Myth #1: Black Cats Are Bad Luck
The Truth: It depends entirely on where you live.
The belief that black cats bring bad luck is actually a relatively recent superstition in human history. In many parts of medieval Europe, black cats became unfairly associated with witchcraft, leading to centuries of fear and persecution.
But that’s only one version of the story.
Across the world, black cats have also been considered symbols of good fortune, prosperity, and protection.
- In Scotland, a strange black cat appearing at your home is believed to bring wealth.
- Sailors often kept black cats aboard ships because they were thought to ensure safe voyages.
- In parts of England, a black cat given as a wedding gift was believed to bless a marriage with happiness and good luck.
- In Japan, black cats are associated with good fortune and are said to bring success and even help single people find love.
Not exactly the curse Hollywood likes to portray.
Myth #2: Black Cats Are Meaner Than Other Cats
The Truth: Coat color doesn’t determine personality.
A cat’s temperament is influenced by genetics, early socialization, life experiences, and individual personality—not the color of their fur.
We’ve met cuddly black cats.
We’ve met spicy orange cats.
We’ve met shy tuxedos, outgoing tabbies, dramatic calicos, and fearless little gray kittens.
Cats are individuals.
Dale certainly didn’t read the memo that black cats are supposed to be mysterious. His biggest concern was convincing people to play with him.
Myth #3: Black Cats Are Harder to Photograph
The Truth: Mostly…yes.
This myth actually has a little truth behind it.
Black cats can be more challenging to photograph because cameras often struggle with dark fur, especially in poor lighting.
That’s why you’ll often see blurry photos where all you can make out are two glowing eyes.
But with natural light, the right camera settings, or a little editing, black cats photograph beautifully. In fact, once the light catches their coats, you’ll often notice subtle shades of chocolate, mahogany, charcoal, or even deep blue hidden in their fur.
They’re not boring.
They’re just wearing couture.
Myth #4: Black Cats Are Adopted Less Often
The Truth: Unfortunately, this one is true.
Across many shelters and rescues, black cats often spend longer waiting for homes than cats of other colors.
There are a lot of reasons people believe this happens:
- Old superstitions still linger.
- Some people overlook them because they don’t stand out as much in kennel photos.
- Others simply gravitate toward more unusual coat patterns.
Whatever the reason, every black cat deserves the same chance to find a family.
Thankfully, Dale found his.
And we couldn’t be happier for him.
Myth #5: Black Cats Are Just Like Every Other Cat…
Actually…
No.
They’re individuals.
Some are clingy.
Some are independent.
Some are comedians.
Some are tiny chaos goblins.
Some think 3:00 a.m. is the perfect time to sprint through the house.
And some, like Dale, simply steal your heart.
Their fur color tells you absolutely nothing about who they are.
Why We Love Black Cats
At Furry Godmothers, we don’t see “a black cat.”
We see curious explorers.
Professional biscuit makers.
Window-watchers.
Champion toy hunters.
Expert snugglers.
Goofy personalities.
Future best friends.
Every cat deserves to be seen for who they are—not judged by the color of their coat.
Dale’s adoption is a reminder that when someone looks beyond old myths and first impressions, something wonderful can happen.
Congratulations, Dale.
May your new family have many years of laughter, purrs, and just enough mischief to keep life interesting.
We have a feeling you’ll bring them all the luck they could ever need.