When you hear the term “black cat,” what do you picture? Do you see quick-witted Salem Saberhagen from the sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch? Maybe you picture Thackery Binx from the 1993 film Hocus Pocus. Or perhaps Felix the Cat, who originated in 1919, becoming the first successful animated character of his kind.

With such a beloved representation in the media, why do we still need a day specifically for celebrating them? Despite their popularity in television and film, a history of stigma and superstition still surrounds the beautiful black cat, leaving many of them in shelters much longer than their lighter and multicolored counterparts. 

NAPPS member Lora Rouse wrote a fantastic piece highlighting the history, importance, and mythological background of black cats last year in this article published on October 17, 2024. Rather than repeat that groundwork, I’d like to take a deeper look into Black Cat Syndrome, and what that means for our sweet feline friends today. 

Black Cat Syndrome (related to Black Dog Syndrome) is a term that was popularized in the early 2000s by the ASPCA and other shelters to describe the way that cats with solid black coats were being overlooked. A 2012-2013 study by professors of animal behavior Miranda Workman and Christy L. Hoffman showed that black cats were remaining in shelters much longer than other cats, and received significantly fewer profile clicks on platforms like Petfinder.

Reasons such as long held superstitions and historical linkage to witchcraft certainly do not help the black cats in their plight for adoption, but there are some other reasons that influence the disproportionate adoption rates: black cats, and black pets of all species, are significantly harder to photograph than those with lighter colored coats. An inexperienced photographer (or a shelter volunteer needing to move quickly) may have a difficult time lighting the photo to allow for more details and depth, sometimes leaving the photo a dark blob with two yellow, round eyes in the middle (which unfortunately reinforces those negative stereotypes). Black cats also have less markings (or, no markings) that make them appear distinctive from other cats. For adopters focused on unique markings, black cats may be unfairly overlooked—despite being just as loving, cuddly, and playful as their more colorful peers.

How can we challenge this perception and break the stigma? Adopt one of these often-overlooked felines! Encourage those around you to consider the black cats in the shelters, and help spread the word by sharing their adoption listings online. Pop culture and media may celebrate them, but society isn’t quite there yet. Let’s work together and celebrate National Black Cat Appreciation Day until the disparity in adoption rates is just a blip of the past.