Black Cats: Born Lucky

The Animal Rescue Site ^ | Sep. 23, 2013

[Slings and Arrows]

Think black cats are bad luck? Think again!

The black coat of these fortuitous felines is an indication of melanism, the opposite of albinism. Of the 37 felidae species, 11 express the gene mutation that results in an ebony coat and yellow eyes. Outside of cats, however, melanism is rather rare.

In addition to giving them a striking color, melanism is believed to provide superior camouflage to the cats making them harder for their prey to detect. Developing research also suggests that the mutation confers resistance to pathogens, meaning black cats stay healthier.

Combined, these two advantages provide a significant evolutionary advantage over their different-colored cousins, meaning they survive longer and pass the genes for a black coat to their offspring.

These new discoveries prove that black cats don’t have bad luck at all! Classic black turns out to be the color of choice for felines born lucky.

[Slings and Arrows]

I love Basement Kitties.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Jack Hydrazine]

This black cat was unlucky because he got a glimpse of Helen Thomas!
(Do NOT post any of her photos!)

[knarf]

Have you ANY idea what racist shit you just stirred up ?

[Slings and Arrows]

[jurroppi1]

“Developing research also suggests that the mutation confers resistance to pathogens, meaning black cats stay healthier.”

Too bad my black Cat doesn’t know this - has been the unhealthiest Cat I’ve ever owned...

[knarf]

PFFT !

dang ... y'owe me a keyboard.

/8^0

[Jean2]

Me too! Mother also loved them.

[Revolting cat!]

[mlizzy]

Black cats rock! On the left is Mango, a.k.a. "Big Black Bear,"
and on the right is Hubey, "the Coolest Cat in Town."
They are brothers... bruthas!

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I love basement kittehs too. But I would suggest that tortoiseshell tabbies are luckier. That was why we kept Monkey rather than her black littermate. :)

[cdcdawg]

Mine sits on the front porch, and wards off evils spirits ... or just lies there sleeping. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. He is completely ineffective at warding off Jehovah’s Witnesses.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I used to have a friend who was a Jehovah’s Witness. He once tried to tell me a knock-knock joke and I ignored him.

He hasn’t spoken to me since.

[KarlInOhio]

Bad cats absorb luck. Thus they are lucky by making you unlucky.

[JoeProBono]

[Slings and Arrows]

Every bell curve has a few outliers. I’m sorry about your cat.

[JoeFromSidney]

Black cats are not unlucky. They bring bad luck to you, especially if they cross your path. My two tortoise-shell cats are the luckiest cats in town. They're spoiled rotten, and I enjoy spoiling them.

[Snickering Hound]

Nobody wants to know who they got that luck from.

[Revolting cat!]

[Slings and Arrows]

Self-portrait? ;^)