With Black Cat Appreciation Day being celebrated this week, the RSPCA showcases the plight of black cats and urges potential cat adopters to give them a second look...
New RSPCA figures suggest that black cats may be amongst the UK’s least popular type of feline, as the numbers arriving at the animal charity’s rescue centres are disproportionately high compared to other cats, and they take a longer time to be adopted.
Marking Black Cat Appreciation Day (17 August), new data from the RSPCA reveals their plight, revealing that almost twice as many black cats were taken into rescue centres (1,026) compared to tabby cats (551) in 2020. Only black and white cats scored higher. It also took longer for black cats to be adopted, with an average of nearly 35 days for a black cat to find his or her forever home, compared to around 28 days for a tabby cat.
Black cats are often associated with superstitions and some people believe they don’t look good in photos which sadly means it can take longer for a black cat in a rescue centre to find a home.
Dr Jane Tyson, scientific officer for the RSPCA’s companion animals department, said: “It is a sad fact that black cats really don’t have much luck because we see more of them coming through our doors than any other colour of cat, other than black and white cats, possibly because they are much more common.
“Other cats, such as tabbies, have distinctive markings making them look more attractive to some but we would urge people to look beyond what an animal looks like. Their fur colour makes no difference to how much love they have to give.
“Black cats won’t bring you good luck or bad luck but they do need forever homes. If you can bring some magic into their lives they are sure to bring some love into yours.”
For details of black cats that are looking for forever homes, please visit rspca.org.uk/findapet
