It’s not unusual for individuals to suppose black cats are unhealthy luck. This superstition unfold centuries in the past when Puritans settled in what would change into the USA. It was throughout the interval of “witchcraft hysteria” that led religious Puritans to reject something related to witchcraft. And since legend had it that witches may remodel into black cats and had been presumably reincarnated as black cats, it didn’t bode nicely for the fame of our black furry associates.
Since then, black cats have been completely related to all issues magical and darkish. For instance, when Halloween comes round we see black cats in every single place – on the again of a witch’s broom, on themed plates, in films. Who doesn’t love Binx from Hocus Pocus? It’s no surprise individuals nonetheless really feel superstitious.
And as enjoyable as our imaginations are, it’s not fully innocent. For years, 3 to 4 million cats enter shelters with almost 71% put to sleep – the bulk being black cats. Why? There are quite a few causes for this:
- Some view black cats as unhealthy luck
- Some favor tabby or white cats
- The colour black is a dominant coloration, due to this fact there could also be extra black cats than different colours
Regardless of the purpose, the quantity of those furry beauties misplaced per 12 months is staggering. That’s the place Black Cat Options is available in.
How Black Cat Options Started
The Instagram account @blackcatfeatures was began on Friday, September 13, 2019 by Misty of @webbyandmisty with the purpose of adjusting individuals’s damaging perceptions of black cats by sharing tales and footage of them.
On the time, Misty had been on Instagram for over a 12 months and had seen her brother Webster (Webby) honored by being chosen as an admin for a Tuxedo Cat options account (@tuxedofeatures) earlier that 12 months. After observing how pawsome it was for Webby to get to fulfill so many cool members of the #coicommunity and share their tales to a wider viewers, she determined to create the same group for #blackcats the place individuals may come to see the attractive footage and be taught the ameowzing tales of this usually maligned group of cats.
She thought that Friday the thirteenth can be the purrfect day to kick off the brand new endeavor because it tends to have damaging superstitions round black cats. As a substitute of viewing it as one other unhealthy luck day, she checked out it as a day to begin celebrating her fellow #minipanthers.
To assist get the ball rolling, she reached out to Lillabet of @nelson_and_lillabet, a like-minded panther who’s the sister of Webby’s @tuxedofeatures admin furriend Nelson, to be each the furrst function and admin. These two had been the only contributors within the preliminary weeks whereas they added a fastidiously chosen group of panther lovers from all over the world to be admins and assist develop the attain of the account.
Since then, Black Cat Options has grown to almost 10,000 followers and counting. Their group of 8 admins is ready to concentrate on each giant accounts and spotlight micro accounts, even these with fewer than 100 followers. Moreover, Black Cat Options has shared posts in French, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian with the purpose of loving black cats wherever they’re situated.
Admin Salem (@salemmtl2015) did the primary multilingual function, Black Kitty Boo, which ended up getting over 7,000 likes. Admins Jazz Cats (@the_jazz_cats) not too long ago featured Vinny Van Gogh which garnered over 13,000 likes. Raymond the Quake Cat (@raymondthequakecat) was an early function and the 2nd Admin and has completed a meowvelous job with BCF’s international attain that includes cats from AU and NZ along with many others.
The Mission
Black Cat Options is combating damaging stereotypes and making a mutually supportive group of black cat lovers.
Contributor and Admin, @realshopcat says, “I joined BCF to advertise the adoption of black cats in honor of the kitty love of my life, a black cat named Store Cat, who at age 15, sat on the shelter for over 6 months. I hope that via our every day options celebrating black cats, we’re inspiring extra individuals to think about adopting one. The purpose is to boost consciousness in order that sometime these great cats won’t be so ignored in shelters.“
Admin @jenniferandjustin had related sentiments: “The loves of my life are two little black cats. I didn’t notice that folks nonetheless had superstitions and biases in opposition to black cats previous to adopting Jennifer and Justin! Quickly after adopting them, I spotted that altering individuals’s misconceptions would change into a private mission of mine. What I really like about BCF is that we function lovely black cats from throughout the globe with the identical mission – altering false impression and rising consciousness and awwws!”
Admin @nelson_and_lillabet mentioned, “It was crucial to me that we didn’t produce one other repost website however construct a Black Cat Group. We now have achieved this by contacting our options every week and interviewing them and discovering out what makes every Panther distinctive.“
“This has allowed Black Cat Options to attach with our followers on a deeper and extra private stage. Every of our Admins has a novel voice and their very own storytelling fashion, which resonates with all our Purveyors of a Tremendous Home Panther.“
What Makes Black Cat Options Stand Out
Somewhat than simply re-posting pictures of black cats, BCF creates an in-depth interview for every cat featured to assist share their story with the hope of adjusting damaging stereotypes. Every admin will get a day of the week and a few of them have taken on a specialty of their very own.
Admin @realshopcat makes a speciality of black cats that belong to greater households. To honor them, he highlights these pet households with #bcf_familyfriday. This implies exhibiting the opposite cats, canines, and different pet species residing within the family.
Admin Lillabet @nelson_and_lillabet is from Australia and is extending the group’s attain into the Antipodes.
Taking it a step additional, admin @cathy_permakitten creates a particular Mini Function with a newspaper cowl, headline, and a brief Q&A.
How You Can Make a Distinction
Spreading the phrase in regards to the amazingness of black cats is an effective way to debunk their outdated reputations and assist to extend extra adoptions. You’ll be able to assist the trigger by utilizing the hashtag blackcat_features and following @blackcatfeatures. Utilizing the hashtag additionally would possibly rating you a full unique function with one of many admins.
Black Cat Options shares greater than only a photograph, they share tales as a result of every cat has one.
Writer Bio
This text was a visitor submit ready for us by Sarah Loughry – a author and editor based mostly in Morgantown, WV. Her love for writing is simply matched by the true pleasure she will get from watching her daughter uncover one thing new, taking her canine for a long term, and touring all over the world. Read more about Sarah.
