A cat only needs to receive this B allele from either the mother or the father to then have black fur. This eumelanin pigment comes in three different types (or alleles), with the dominant B allele producing black fur. Black really is the most common fur colour for cats and is caused by a pigment called eumelanin.

If you’ve ever had more than one black cat cross your path, don’t worry, you aren’t seeing double. When it comes to black cats, there are an awful lot of myths and misconceptions, but there are a lot of interesting facts too! Here’s a few things that you might not know about black cats and – crucially – are true. Soon, the idea that the now stigmatised black cats were companions of witches started to gain traction and therefore, crossing paths with a black cat would spell trouble. The story goes that many of these people – mostly women – were often seen to be caring for cats and they were therefore guilty by association. In the Medieval period, thousands of people were persecuted for being a witch. The connection between black cats and the supernatural is also to blame for why many feel that it’s bad luck to have a black cat cross your path. This perceived relationship between cats and the devil would then have fatal consequences for the feline fraternity across Europe when a Medieval cat cull swept the continent. The origins of black cats and bad luck probably date back to the early 13th century, when Pope Gregory IX allegedly declared black cats as associates of Satan. Much like other dark-coated animals, such as crows and ravens, black cats have long been unfairly associated with death and bad luck. So, why is it then that black cats are so stigmatised and why are they so closely associated with the spooky and the supernatural? You might see a black cat as part of your Halloween decorations, or you may have even been told that just seeing a black cat can burden you with bad luck.

So, where do all of these myths and misconceptions about black cats come from? We take a deeper look into why these cats have received such bad press and find some surprising facts along the way! Why are black cats considered bad luck?īlack cats have long been stigmatised and considered bad luck. However, anyone who has been lucky enough to own a black cat knows that this just isn’t true. Often associated with witchcraft and bad luck, black cats have suffered from centuries of prejudice and general negative portrayals on film and TV. Are black cats bad luck? The myths and misconceptions around black cats

Animals associated with bad luck