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The folklore surrounding black cats varies from culture to culture. In Great Britain, black cats are a symbol of good luck. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat's arrival to the home signifies prosperity. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.[1]However in Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the familiars ofwitches; other cultures consider them to be bad luck as well. The gambling world is afraid of a black cat: it is believed that if, while traveling to a casino, a black cat crosses a gambler's road or path, that person should not go to the casino; most players believe that black cats bring bad luck.[2]Other black creatures, such as black dogs, have shared in the prejudice and suspicion of being "familiars".
The black cat in folklore has been able to change into human shape to act as a spy or courier for witches or demons. During the Middle Ages, these superstitions led people to kill black cats. This had the unintended consequence of increasing the rat population and the spread of the Black Plagueand other diseases carried by rodents.[3] There is no evidence from England of regular large-scale massacres of "satanic" cats, or of burning them in midsummer bonfires, as sometimes occurred in Europe.[4]
However, the supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively, for example by sailors considering a ship's cat in general and a black one in particular as luck for their ship. Sometimes, fishermen's wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea (see Ship's cat).
Black cats have been found to have lower odds of adoption in American shelters compared to other colors (except brown).[5] Some shelters also stop adopting black cats around Halloween for fear they will be tortured. However, in the history of humane work, no one has ever documented any relationship between adopting black cats, and cats being killed or injured.[6]
Pirates of the 19th century believed that a black cat would bring different kinds of luck. If a black cat walks towards someone, that person will have bad luck. If a black cat walks away from someone then that person will have good luck. If a black cat walks onto a ship and then walks off it, the ship is doomed to sink on its next trip.
Anarcho-syndicalismSince the 1880s, the color black has been associated with anarchism. The black cat, in an alert, fighting stance was later adopted as an anarchist symbol.More specifically, the black cat-often called the "sab cat" or "sabo-tabby"[7]-is associated with anarcho-syndicalism, a branch of anarchism that focuses on labor organizing (seeWildcat strike).
In testimony before the court in a 1918 trial of Industrial Workers of the World leaders, Ralph Chaplin, who is generally credited with creating the IWW's black cat symbol, stated that the black cat "was commonly used by the boys as representing the idea of sabotage. The idea being to frighten the employer by the mention of the name sabotage, or by putting a black cat somewhere around. You know if you saw a black cat go across your path you would think, if you were superstitious, you are going to have a little bad luck. The idea of sabotage is to use a little black cat on the boss."[8]
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Where are most house cats found?
House cats are found in africa.
Whats the meaning of black cats?
The black cats is also called a fisher are large dark brown carnivorous mammals found in North America.
What is the most common single coloured cat?
The most common solid colour found on a cat is most likely black. Many black cats can be found in shelters, as it considered an "undesired" colour. This may be because the colour black is considered unlucky, or that a solid black cat isn't as interesting to look at compared to a cat with a tabby or a tortoiseshell patterning.
What wild cat lives in the UK?
The wild cats that can be found in Britain are not natives. These are commonly Panthers, Pumas or 'Black Cats'.
What habits do black cats have?
Black cats Usually are the most timid type of cat but they mainly play around and like friendly attention.
Where do most black cats live?
I have a black cat and he lives in my house. No affence but that is a silly question.
Where can one purchase a black cat?
Black cats can potentially be found available for adoption through local animal shelters. PetSmart has an adoption program through their stores and may have black cats available or a resource for locating them.
Why are cats the most common animal ghosts?
Probably because so much superstition and folklore involve cats. Think of black cats during Halloween and the bad-luck black cat as examples.
What is a black and white cats?
Cats that are black and white are referred to as "Tuxedo" cats .
Can black cats have black eyes got one and was wondering how rare it is?
The cats most likely just enlarged its pupils, if that is not the case then you have a very very unique cat!
What does the sighting of the ghost of a black cat in the capitol building mean?
Most black cats are bad luck for people that's how people gets heart but some people don't belive in bad luck. The captiol building is probly cursed there must have been many dead cats that have been there and they say that black cats are the devils cats most cats might be there an the whole buliding might be curst with cats that died A sighting of a black cat means the cat might have died in the building a long time ago.
Facts about black cats?
Only in the United States are black cats not the most desirable. In England, sailors coveted them because the belief was they would bring a sailor home safely. Black cats tend to be healthier with less health issues than other colored cats, as they are have the more dominant genes.
