In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, I will explore black cats and the myths around them this week. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always associated black cats with Halloween, and most of you probably have as well. With there rumored roots in paganism, black magic, and superstitions.

Folklore varies from place to place and century to century. It had once been alleged that witches could change into cats, in fact it was believed that they could change nine times and today people believe that this is the origin of cats having nine lives. Most of you have probably heard that a black cat crossing your path is bad luck, in fact this superstition has roots in European folklore. It claimed that a black cat crossing ones path, especially in moonlight, was a signal of a death epidemic.

Out of all twenty one breeds of black cats the most common is the bombay, this is the type that appears in Hocus Pocus, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Coraline. Bombay cats are characterized by their all black appearance, excluding their yellow irises.

In the times of Ancient Egyptians black cats were actually held in the highest esteem, to kill one was a capital crime. They were seen as symbols for the cat-headed goddess of protection, Bastet. Sailors kept black cats to bring good luck on ships, and fishermen wives were in the habit of keeping black cats to influence their safe return. In present times many owners claim that there black cats are more intuitive and empathetic than other cats.

Yet, today black cats- according to the ASPCA- are consistently less likely to be adopted than all other breeds. There is no concrete theory why, but a combination of the superstitions and the fact that they are less likely to stand out may be at hand.

Some Fun facts:

• In Scotland a black cat arriving at your doorstep signals prosperity.
• The richest cat in the world is a black cat from Italy named Tommaso. His owner left him $13 million when she died, giving Tommaso a place in the Guinness world records.
• Black cats are “melanistic” the opposite of albinism!
• In the 16th century, Italians believed that a black cat laying on the bed of an ill person would bring on certain death.
• In Asia or the U.K. the belief its reversed: Black cats are considered good luck. That is, unless you happen to be in Yorkshire, England, where the locals share the American superstition about black cats crossing one’s path.

So hopefully all you wonderful readers realize that black cats are just as lovable as any other cat, and are not bad luck. Maybe when one of you goes to pick out a cat you’ll reach for the black one instead of the calico. Until next week!