Black Cat Day: Black Cat Names, Myths and Why They're Actually Lucky
National Black Cat Day is October 27. It was started in 2011 by the UK charity Cats Protection, which found that black cats were taking about a week longer to find homes than other cats. The date sits just before Halloween, when black cat myths are everywhere. Here is where those myths came from, where black cats are considered lucky, and a list of names if you are adopting one.
Quick Facts
- Black Cat Day: October 27 (UK, started 2011 by Cats Protection)
- Why: Black cats can take longer to be adopted
- Unlucky in: Much of the U.S. and parts of Europe, by tradition
- Lucky in: Britain and Japan, among others
Where Did Black Cat Superstitions Come From?
In ancient Egypt, cats were honored. The bad reputation came much later. In medieval Europe, black cats became linked with witches and the devil, and in 1233 a papal document from Pope Gregory IX helped tie black cats to dark forces in people's minds. The idea crossed the Atlantic with settlers, and during the witch panics of the 1600s, including the Salem witch trials of 1692, black cats were seen as witches' companions or even witches in disguise.
Where Are Black Cats Good Luck?
Not everywhere sees a black cat as a bad sign. In Britain, a black cat crossing your path is traditionally good luck, and sailors once kept black cats on ships for luck. In Japan, black cats are linked with good fortune, and some people believe a black cat can bring luck in love.
Why Black Cats Need a Little Help
Black cats can be harder to photograph, so they may stand out less in adoption listings, and old superstitions still linger. That is why shelters push black cat adoptions around Black Cat Day. Some shelters also take extra care with black cat adoptions near Halloween.
40 Black Cat Names
- Salem
- Binx
- Onyx
- Midnight
- Shadow
- Raven
- Luna
- Nyx
- Jinx
- Ebony
- Pepper
- Licorice
- Inky
- Coal
- Smokey
- Panther
- Bagheera
- Sable
- Jet
- Vader
- Ninja
- Batman
- Zorro
- Eclipse
- Cosmo
- Orion
- Sabrina
- Morticia
- Wednesday
- Hex
- Mystic
- Oreo (for tuxedos)
- Espresso
- Mocha
- Olive
- Bean
- Sooty
- Velvet
- Noir
- Lucky
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Black Cat Day?
October 27. It was started in the UK in 2011 by Cats Protection.
Are black cats bad luck?
Only by superstition. In Britain and Japan, black cats are traditionally considered good luck.
Why did people think black cats were unlucky?
Medieval Europe linked them with witches and the devil, and the idea spread to America with settlers.
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Sources
- National Day Calendar: National Black Cat Day: the day's origin and purpose
- Deseret News: History of the black cat superstition: medieval and Salem history
- Four Paws: National Black Cat Day: adoption challenges
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Cover photo: Petro Stelte via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.