The Black Cat and Why She's So Special

There's something almost mystical about them as they slip through the autumn leaves at dusk, when the only thing you can see is the sparkle of their beautiful eyes. Fairy tales and dark stories of bad luck and misfortune still linger around the truly striking black cat.

Prejudice against black cats and its consequences

October isn't just Halloween season for us at LucyBalu — it's also the month of #blackcatawareness. Sadly, black cats are still the ones who wait longest to leave a shelter. Statistically, lighter-coloured cats are more likely to find a new family. But are outdated prejudices really still to blame? After all, we grew up loving all things magical through books and films. Ever since Harry Potter or Sabrina the Teenage Witch, we can hardly imagine life without a little bit of magic.

Fascinating facts about black cats

However you look at it, black cats are fascinating in every way.
We've put together some amazing facts that surprised even us. (But you're never too old to learn something new)

• 🍀There are places in the world where black cats are considered good luck charms. In Scotland, for example, it's believed that a black cat on your doorstep brings prosperity. In the rest of Great Britain, a black cat crossing your path brings good luck. The same holds true in Japan.
• 🎃Unfortunately, here it's often quite the opposite. According to many reports, abuse of black cats increases especially around Halloween. The reasons for this are deep-rooted superstition, callous mischief, or supposedly satanic rituals. Of course, this doesn't mean something bad happens to every black cat on Halloween — there are no clear statistics on this. But if you want to play it safe, it might be best to keep your cat indoors that day.
• 🛡️Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have also discovered that the genetic mutations that give cats a black coat can offer a certain protection against disease. This is because the mutations affect the very same genes that give humans resistance to HIV.
• 🌞 And last but not least: if a black cat carries the tabby gene and likes to spend time in the sun, its coat can turn a rusty brown. Why? The sun's rays break down the pigment in its fur, revealing the tabby stripes underneath. We think that's pretty magical!

For Halloween — and in honour of all black house tigers — you'll find HERE frightfully good deals. 👻