Black cats are the sweetest!

We tried to focus on the black ones, because that's another category that people don't want, for some reason. But the adult ones at this shelter were rather standoffish. Maybe being around so many cats and people makes them act weird.

I've seen this a few times now:

Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat

10. You'll save $$ on their Halloween costumes.
    9. You can always find them in the snow.
    8. Holding a black cat is very slimming.
    7. Black cats will match any decor.
    6. A lint brush isn't required for a black-tie affair.
    5. When you love a black cat, luck is on your side.
    4. Black cats are like onyx, a beautiful gem.
    3. Hey, they don't care what color you are!
    2. Love knows no color. And the number one reason to adopt a black cat...
    1. They are the least likely to be adopted.

Personality is key. Playful is good, but holding claws in while playing is even better.

Good luck with your decision. There are sooooo many cats needing new homes and it can be difficult to decide. I agree that personality is key. My cat Ginger picked us years ago, it was our 2nd or 3rd visit to the shelter. This time around, I saw the cat I recently adopted on Petfinder and her description sounded perfect. Her personality has matched the description. She's a tuxedo, it's the first time in 30 years I haven't had a black cat in my house.

I volunteer at a pet shelter. I'd say half the cats there are black.

It is wonderful that you are considering an adult cat. When I went to the ASPCA last summer, I asked if they had any declawed cats (that's my moral loophole...I wouldn't have a cat declawed, but adopting a cat that someone else had declawed is OK). Without that criteria, I don't know how I could have chosen an adult cat from all those that were available. The cat I ended up with is ~8yrs old gey/white tabby...a little older than I would have preferred. But, I couldn't have paid thousands of dollars and gotten a more perfect cat than Odessa. Here are some of the advantages of a mature adult:

1)She's playful, but knows to play only with her toys...not things like computer wires.
2)She doesn't attack moving human parts in the middle of the night.
3)She's curious and spry, but does't insist on getting to places (like the kitchen counter) after being shoo-ed off the first time.
4)She appreciates the fact that she's found a loving home.

Good luck, Harriet...there is a very lucky cat(cats?)in your future.

Ah yes, black cats. Four of my fourteen are black (one is a black tuxedo). The two long-haired females are littermates who I rescued as pre-weaned kittens along with their mother, littermate, and cousins when their owner went into a drug-induced rage and murdered the other mother cat. The short-haired males showed up on my farm as intact, adult, VERY feral toms who I live trapped and spent 4 and 4 1/2 months respectively integrating into my family.

I can't imagine why black cats are less adoptable than other colors, unless it's a superstition thing. I've almost always had at least one black cat. The only issue I have with them is that they are darned difficult to photograph well. The sisters, Lamie ...

... and

Laurie, those are some darned cute cats. I love the black ones; they are so sleek and their fur is often like velvet.

You are really dedicated to those cats.

I'm no more dedicated to them than they are to me. :-)

Mew is the boy who taught me that ferals should never be written off as lost causes. He and I are so closely bonded that sometimes I think we share a soul.

Please excuse the way his story almost leaves off in mid-sentence. I got distracted by something midway through his integration story and never got back to it. Some day I'll find the time to finish the unfinished stories and write the unwritten ones.

Laurie

Audrey says 'Black is Beautiful' :)

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Laurie, I'm relieved Mew isn't still running away from you and hiding under the bed.

Oh lordy, no. Mew is a shameless lover. In fact, he's the only cat I've ever known who kisses back. When I kiss his little lips, he smacks them and makes a kissy sound back at me. Then he headbonks me so hard he can nearly give me a concussion. He gives me hugs and rubs all over my face whenever I pick him up.

Mew also knows that I am his protector. Two of the younger males sometimes chase Mew and try to jump him, which causes me to yell menacingly and clap my hands sharply. That, in turn, makes the younger boys flee, but causes Mew to run right to me for protection. The only time Mew will stand up to the bullies is when I'm right there to back him up. Then he'll boldly march up to them and bop them on the head, knowing that they won't dare retaliate with Mommy watching.

We're a team, Mew and I.

Laurie

I had a total black cat years ago and more recently a Tuxedo. They usually have such silky soft fur. I love them. Both mine had orange eyes.

This is Raisin. He is very outgoing, the welcoming committee when someone comes to the door. My son calls Raisin his dorky little brother.

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OMG--your Raisin looks like our Shizu (a girl)!!!

The featured Pet Of the Day on WRAL news was a gorgeous 3-month-old gray-and-white tuxedo cat. He had medium length hair, but other than that looked just like the best cat we ever had - Jersey. Made me wish I could deal with a litter box again, LOL.

I have always had black cats too.

You guys all have lovely cats...I really enjoyed the pictures.

cat_mom, a neighbor's female black cat (Raven) looks so much like Raisin that I thought he had gotten outside somehow the first time I saw her. But no, she was just there to "visit" him. He goes all wacko when she appears. She just walks slowly away as if to say, "You are SUCH an uncool, dufus."

He's really a big mush - very lovey.

Our other two cats, both female, seem to not trouble themselves with things outside the windows.

susanjn--we had a similar experience. I pulled into our driveway a couple years ago, and a black cat with green eyes came running out of the garage. I rolled down my car window to yell out to DH who was working in the yard at the time. He said that Shizu was inside (he'd checked) and that this black cat had been hanging out with him most of the afternoon. She was very friendly and gorgeous (natch!). Turned out, our next-door-neighbor's daughter had returned home (hadn't even met her before) and had brought her cat and apparently she's an indoor/outdoor cat. I just saw her out in our back yard this morning, but don't usually see her very often. Still freaks me out when I do see her out there and I am compelled to check to make sure I can see Shizu somewhere in the house (my girls are indoor only).

I see a lot of mine in those photos too. 4 of my 5 are black, though one is a tuxedo. Here's a picture of the Black ones ... the tuxedo is the one walking away at the top.

Cassie & her sister Ronni are the 1st two, I adopted them 10+ years ago, they had been born in a field and had no human contact until I adopted them.

Then there's Mama .. she was my barn cat until she decided she wanted to come in and play with the other cats. I told her once she came in she was no longer allowed out ... she doesn't care. And the one walking away is her son Figaro ... he fell in love with Bailey and stayed.

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Here's Bailey & Figaro ... Bailey was adopted from a local rescue group.

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i can't imagine why anyone would discriminate against a black cat.!!!i seek them out;they are so beautiful.

I steer clear of them because they tend to have more dander in their coats (especially short hair black cats)and I'm allergic to dander. It's not bad with some breeds but black cats seem to be the worst ones for me. Within 20 minutes I can't stop sneezing. I do have 3 Birmans that don't have the same effect on me that my DD's black cat does. Luckily Pepsi only visits a couple of times a year.

pamghatten, I love the picture of all the black cats going up the stairs!

I always wanted a black cat growing up, but my mom only had eyes for Siamese. I absolutely adore Siamese and won't ever be without at least one, but I finally got my all-black kitty! Lucy is a real talker (talks more than my Siamese) who wouldn't shut up at the shelter. We umm...had some interesting issues after I adopted her, so she is now officially the most expensive cat I've ever owned.

Much healthier, hanging out with Connie, the Siamese:

Everyone is right about black cats being hard to photograph: