What's up with people right now? I can't believe it. I read some article that just before Halloween, people adopt black cats from the pet shelters and after the event, these cats are returned to the shelters and why... 'coz "He just didn't work out." It's as if these people just wanted another Halloween decoration for their home - a black cat in the window, perhaps, or a new member to wear a "witch" costume. It probably never occurred to them that this practice is cruel and inhumane -this kind of individual typically thinks of cats as property, and not as an able companion. The poor cats are tortured and traumatized a lot during this time of the year.

Historically, black cats were symbolically associated with witchcraft and evil. Although, in Japan, Britain and Egypt, it is considered as good luck. In Hebrew and Babylonian folklore, cats are compared to serpents, coiled on a hearth. In the USA and parts of Europe which were affected by the witch hunts, the association with witches caused them to be considered as bad luck. Cats are believed, to have the ability to sense the presence of spirits before humans can notice them. And, because of their "black" fur, they remain unseen in dark places or at night, and hence considered ideal partners for witches. Some witches were purported to have the ability to shape-shift into a cat nine times, hence the belief that cats have "nine lives". Belief that black cats affect your luck goes far back in time. The King of England, Charles I, owned a black cat. His fear of losing it was so great that he had it guarded all through. The day after it fell ill and died, he was arrested. Fishermen's wives would keep a black cat at home to prevent disaster at sea, consequently the cats became very valuable and were often stolen. If a cat ran ahead of a sailor to the pier that would bring good luck, but if the cat crossed his path it means bad luck. For luck, cats were often kept on board ships. If a sailor was approached by the ship's cat it meant good luck, but if the cat only came halfway and went away again it meant bad luck. Black cats were also valued for medicinal purposes.

Hence all these superstitions led to the belief "Black cats cause bad luck" Hey! Do you know, one of my cousins owns a black cat and she is fine and happy as ever! I often visit her place and she has crossed my path hundreds of times but I see no degradation in my social life or work. We must see them as one of our feline friends' n not a terror!! So whether it's a black or a white, it's a feline friend to you.