Origins of A Stereotype Final

Sadia Quddus

Professor Bump

E603B

March 29, 2011

Origins of a Stereotype: Black Cats             

She leapt lightly onto the surface, and reared back in surprise. The ground was smooth and uneven! And there was an odd bright screen right before her. She pawed it in confusion and looked up as laughter bubbled up around her. Humans milled about her, dressed fancily and smelling wonderfully warm. She wasn’t sure what was happening, or what Thanksgiving meant, but it didn’t particularly matter.

Her name was Harriet, she was a black cat, and she was home.

Harriet at home.

This happy ending is unfortunately not one that holds true for many black cats and dogs. According to a 2002 study done by the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, “black cats were about half as likely to be adopted as tabby cats and two-thirds less likely than whites.”[1] Animal shelters like the one Harriet and many like her come from house a notable surplus of black animals; this is a direct cause of ignorance and superstition. Black cats are unlucky, or so the saying goes; they are bad omens, they are mean, they are plain. This is the common view of black cats in American society, and it is so prevalent that it is unnoticeable. The association between black cats and devilry is so ingrained into our collective psyche that we rarely recognize its consequences on animals. From pop culture to popular holidays, the stereotype is referenced and perpetrated through literature, film, anarchic symbolism, and elements of the entertainment industry. Though the origins of the stereotype are not common knowledge, the idioms that seem as old as time just fit in with our collective cultural vocabulary: Black cats are an omen of ill tidings, the sign of the devil, or a witch’s familiar. This begs the question: why? Why do these stereotypes exist? What exactly is wrong with the color black that leads to discrimination against black cats? Is there a significant difference in how people adopt cats of various colors? Is this stereotype against black cats overdramatized? How exactly do other nations perceive black cats? And is fur color any indication of personality? 

Discrimination against black cats has existed for centuries in most Western European nations and in North America. In the United Kingdom, however, black cats are actually considered harbingers of good fortune. Wives of British fishermen kept black cats in order to ensure the safe return of their husbands from sea, and black cats are known as matagots, or “magician’s cats” in southern France, where they are thought to bring good luck to caring owners.[2] The same is true in Japan and Australia, where sighting a black cat is a good omen, and in Scotland, a black cat found on the porch is considered a lucky incident. Amongst domestic creatures and pets, cats in general are victims of many stereotypes, mostly negative. For example, the folks in the Netherlands refused to allow cats to enter any room where a private conversation was occurring, because they believed that cats were gossip-mongers spreading their information all throughout the town. On the other hand, the Italians believed that hearing a cat sneeze brought good fortune upon all those lucky enough to hear it, and the Egyptians essentially worshiped felines. Cats were considered so sacred that any human who killed one would receive the same as a consequence. Egyptian hieroglyphs commonly featured felines, and pharaohs ensured that cats were mummified and buried alongside them or in cat graveyards. They were treated with a degree of respect comparable to holy cows in the Hindu religion.

A statue of a respected Egyptian feline.

Black cats were unreasonably discriminated against even in England, despite the more modern notion of black cats as good omens. In ancient times, cats were considered a sign of fertility and respected as divinities. However, with the spread of Christianity, the pagan gods were all converted into demons or blasphemous creatures of some sort. This initiated the turn in tide towards how cats were seen in general. One Greek myth taught that a woman named Galenthias was turned into a cat and became the “Dark Mother,” or goddess of witchcraft. This indicates a clear fear and mistrust of cats and associates them directly to evil and witches. The Middle Ages was not a time in which magic was seen in a positive light, and the origins of human fear of felines can be traced to this time.  This was a period of darkness and ignorance, commonly considered a step backward in human culture and intellect. For this reason, this era was full of legend and fear. Single women who chose to shelter cats for companionship were considered witches and shunned by villagers. Sometime in the late 1500s witch persecution peaked significantly, and cats were direct victims of the torture, cruelty, and suffering these women were subjected to.

A witch and her familiar? Or two free spirited companions?

 Fear of darkness and evil led to the stigmatization of the color black. On top of the general fear of cats only exacerbated the fear of black cats. More than any other feline, black cats in particular were considered witches’ familiars. Familiars are defined as creatures that aid witches in their questionable and frightening shenanigans. There was also a pervading belief that witches could transfigure themselves into black cats; this was used as a justification for cat killings. It was easier to kill an animal than to kill a “being” that looked human despite its supposedly demonic origins. Witch-burning was a common practice, and their black cats were as often as not burned alongside the owners.

Because Halloween stems from pagan practices, these fears have carried over to the modern day, though in a different form. Though these fears are no longer explicitly religious in nature, they are instead heavily commercialized, and so the symbol of the black cat as a representation of evil pervades our culture. In the play The Master and Margarita, the character of Behemoth is an enormous black cat that is part of the Devil’s entourage. We saw this play firsthand, performed by the Broccoli Project with our very own Joe/Bengal as the lead. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat is described nastily by his master as “the hideous beast whose craft seduced me into murder.”[3] The black cat is even a symbol of anarchy. The Industrial Workers of the World union chose this symbol precisely for the fear it instills. Robert Chaplin, one the union’s leaders, described that using the black cat was indicative of sabotage, and their purpose was to use the black cat to sabotage the superstitious boss.

Industrial Workers of the World

In pop culture and the entertainment industry, black cats are definitely the cat of choice in scary movies and anything to do with witches. I’ve included a clip of the classic Halloween comedic movie, Hocus Pocus, in which the three witches turn the main character into a black cat. Although he is clearly the hero of the story, simply because this is a Halloween movie and the witches are casting a spell, he is turned into a black cat. Any other color would not mesh well with our cultural expectations.

[video]

I’ve also found a song by the Mayday Parade titled Black Cat. The lyrics are included in the video and indicate the idea of the black cat as a sort of anarchist. Maybe a relationship anarchist, but a destructive figure nonetheless. The Janet Jackson song Black Cat also references a similar relationship figure.

[video]

 Although modern day practices are exponentially tamer than the Medieval rituals of All Hallow’s Eve, it is thought that there is a significant amount of danger for black cats connected to this holiday, and pet shelters have taken notice and preventative action.

There is a common but notable perception of danger to black cats during the Halloween holidays, for myths of Halloween pranks pulled by people who don’t consider the creatures they mistreat to be living beings are in circulation. Many adoption agencies have reported that after the month of October, a substantial number of black cats are returned with the claim that “it just didn’t work out.” This is thought to be code for, “I am done using this living being for a prop for my Halloween decorations.” Clearly this is unhealthy for any creature – human beings themselves deal very poorly with being shuffled between foster homes. With this combination of ignorance, inconsiderateness, and downright cruelty, many animal shelters and adoption agencies shut down the adoption process for black felines for the entire month of October.

Though the intentions here are pure, the unforeseen consequence is a major problem. According to an article in the National Geographic, stories of black cat torture are simply an urban legend. The incidents are rare and far between, and are caused by mentally unstable or immature individuals. This is not enough to justify halting adoption, especially because shelters should carefully screen potential adopters to ensure no harm will befall adopted animals. Banning adoption of black cats for an entire month creates a huge pileup of cats that need to be adopted and simply slows down the process of finding these creatures permanent homes.[4] Many agencies continue to allow adoptions of black cats, as adoption is done on an individual case basis, but are much more thorough and cautious during this time.

 Black cats really aren’t unlucky for anyone but themselves: they suffer the misfortune of centuries of misplaced fear and prejudice. These days, much of the lack of attention black cats experience is attributed to their “plainness” and ubiquity. There are so many black cats, especially in shelters, that one cannot easily stand out for another, unlike lighter cats. In addition, it is difficult to photograph black cats in a flattering manner to put on websites, because the black fur deceptively lacks luster through the camera lens. However, according to an article in the NewScientist, the black fur, a genetic mutation, is actually a genetic edge. Black coats have developed in many different cat species, indicating this to be an evolutionary advantage. Besides hunting camouflage, the color is also indicative of high levels of melanin, which helps them resist disease, heart attack, and stroke.[5] If these facts were known, and the public was made aware of the plight that black cats (and dogs) face, many more lives could be saved. After all, fur color is not at all indicative of personality type. Rather than basing their choice on appearance, pet shelter volunteers advise that potential adopters choose a cat that they connect with, a cat whose personality clicks with theirs, regardless of color.[6]

Fortunately, organizations like the Black Cat Rescue have taken the initiative to save innocent lives. Based in Boston, they specialize in black cats, providing quality foster care and actively seeking to place them in permanent families throughout the area. They are a no-kill organization, and help out other shelters by advising them how to best “market” their black cats. They are known throughout the city as the authority and leader in breaking down the discrimination that black cats face.

Although in general this stigma may exist, it is important to note that on an individual basis, many people adore black cats. Our very own Charlotte/Elephant has a beautiful black kitty named Harriet! As awareness and acceptance increase, the plight of supposedly unlucky black cats can shift towards the positive.[7]

Total Word Count: 1897

Without Quotes: 1878

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[1] Barbara Kohn, “Hard to Place Black Cats Get Help from Rescue Group Dedicated to Their Cause,” Examiner, July 19, 2010,  http://www.examiner.com/cats-in-national/hard-to-place-black-cats-get-help-from-rescue-group-dedicated-to-their-cause/.

[2] Lana, Berkowitz. “Black Cats: How About Some Good Luck?” The Houston Chronicle, April 15, 2009, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pets/6373529.html/.

[3] Emily Muhlhausen. “Black Cats Unlucky at Shelters.” The Seattle Times, April 28 2008, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2004374431_blackcats28.html/.

[4] Maryann Mott. “Ritual Cat Sacrifices a Halloween Myth, Experts Say.” National Geographic, Oct. 26, 2007, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/071026-halloween-cat_2.html/.

[5] Shaoni Bhattacharya. “Black Cats May Be the More Fortunate Felines.” NewScientist, March 4 2003,  http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3459-black-cats-may-be-the-more-fortunate-felines.html/.

[6] Kelly Kaczala. “Black Cats Less Likely to be Adopted at Shelters.” The Press,  December 12, 2008, http://www.presspublications.com/from-the-press/1136-black-cats-less-likely-to-be-adopted-at-shelters

[7] Barbara Kohn, “Hard to Place Black Cats Get Help from Rescue Group Dedicated to Their Cause,” Examiner, July 19, 2010,  http://www.examiner.com/cats-in-national/hard-to-place-black-cats-get-help-from-rescue-group-dedicated-to-their-cause/.