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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2004Adoption update: we didn't get Lucky...
Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go figure! We went to Pet Supplies Plus, where Ten Lives shows their cats. They had only one there, a black velvet beauty named Odessa. A Black Russian, perchance. The workers let us take her from her kennel and hold her, and she was rubbing up on me and Louie something fierce. that did it: she owns us. I called the shelter right from the store. Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet figurine. And why is this little gem in a shelter; why have they shown her several times without success? Because, according to her foster-mama, she's black, and there are some superstitious idiots out there who won't have a black cat for a million dollars laid out in a line. She's healthy, I know that because local law won't allow public showing of Feleuk/FIV positive cats for adoption in places like these petshops that allow you to bring your pets in. She's alert, intelligent, and also (said foster-mama) meditative like our Roxie. And the problem? She's black. Marcie, the foster-mama, said that apparently prejudice even affects cats; people come asking for showy colors and markings, and some have told her to her face that they would not have a black cat near them. What would she do, suck out their souls and spit them down at Satan? The idea! Fortunately we do not believe in Satan, and we don't believe in bad luck cats. Odessa, barring a sudden attack of intelligence from a senior facility (we have an agreement with the shelter that nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and independently living elderly take precedence), will be ours as of this Friday the 15th. Marcie is supposed to keep her until then, and we'll go around the corner to get her. I promise to keep you all posted! Blessed be, Baha > Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy > and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > there who won't have a black cat for a million dollars laid out in a > line. > Blessed be, > Baha At least part of the reluctance by some to own a black cat is fear of getting attached to a cat that has a higher risk of being the victim of violence. Many shelters refuse to adopt out a black cat this time of year, doubting the intentions of prospective owners. Still, there are a lot who are fond of black cats in part because owning one makes them seem braver or more powerful than ordinary. A friend has a large coal black cat named Elvira who doesn't help with their image. She bares fangs and claws at strangers. The very picture of the she-devil or witches cat. But with her family she is sweet as can be. Jo >> Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy >> and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Jo Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a black cat being more likely to be the victim of violence? and why not adopt one out at this time of the year? Why would anyone seem braver or more powerful if they owned a black cat? I'm confused. Tweed > Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a black > cat being more likely to be the victim of violence? and why not adopt one > out at this time of the year? Why would anyone seem braver or more powerful > if they owned a black cat? > I'm confused. There's a common, but unproven, belief that people adopt black cats at Halloween for ritual sacrifice. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/blackcat.htm  SignatureCheryl >> Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a black >> cat being more likely to be the victim of violence? and why not adopt one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/blackcat.htm Amend that to "crazy people" MLB > > Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a black > > cat being more likely to be the victim of violence? and why not adopt one [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > -- > Cheryl Black cats sometimes are brutalized at Halloween. Personally, I think it is almost never a "ritual"; I think it it is simply cruel people who get their "fun" by acting out perverse stereotypes on Halloween. However, incidents of cruelty to black cats certainly accounts for the hesitation by many shelters to permit their adoptions on or just before Halloween. My Holly is a totally black cat with gorgeous gold/pumpkin eyes -- a true "Halloween cat." She is indoors only, but I take particular precautions at Halloween to make sure she could not get outside. I close both her and Duffy in the computer room (with litter box, water, and toys) because I would not want to take a chance that they might become frightened by all the "trick-or-treaters" and head for the door. The likelihood is that they would run away from the door, but "better safe than sorry." MaryL > > > Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a > black [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > of cruelty to black cats certainly accounts for the hesitation by many > shelters to permit their adoptions on or just before Halloween. I can see this. I've heard stories on our local news about this kind of perversion every couple or three years. I also noticed that the foster-mama had put in a discreet call to the president of the shelter to check on our character, a wise move no matter the cat or the time of year. > My Holly is a totally black cat with gorgeous gold/pumpkin eyes -- a true > "Halloween cat." She is indoors only, but I take particular precautions at [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > "trick-or-treaters" and head for the door. The likelihood is that they > would run away from the door, but "better safe than sorry." My Fritzie was pure black, and in his prime he was Das Uberkitty: he weighed over twenty pounds, and it was all muscle. He was huge, tall and long, and if he hadn't been so friendly he'd have scared the hell out of anyone on Halloween. After moving to the city when he was a notch under two, he was never let outdoors and lived to nearly 19. I never trusted some of the weirdos out there. Blessed be, Baha >> > Sorry to seem ignorant, but could you explain what you mean about a > black [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > MaryL Thank you all for explaining about brutality to completely innocent cats at Hallowe'en, but I can hardly believe it - although it must be true if you all say so. It just gives me one more reason not to support the celebration of Hallowe'en, which has only been popular here for the last few years. I didn't appreciate having my home and car pelted with eggs last year (I was right down the garden shutting up the poultry.) Trick or treaters are not welcome here any more, and I shall put a notice in the porch this year asking them not to call. I'll see how I get on with that ;-) Tweed >>> Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy >>> and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Tweed Halloween. Witches, black cats. Satanic cults. Etc. > > Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy > > and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > image. She bares fangs and claws at strangers. The very picture of the > she-devil or witches cat. But with her family she is sweet as can be. Clifford (RB) was almost a perfect black cat -- the last inch of his tail was snow-white. While he turned into an extremely intelligent and loving cat, he took several years to understand that the white spot was part of him, and occasionally would run desperately from it. He was an indoor-only cat, but got out a few times in his younger days. One day, he followed me out the dorr. Now, one must understand that Clifford looked like a black panther -- tight skin rippling over 16 pounds of muscle. Charlie, the neighborhood intact tomcat, happened to be on the walk. Clifford went into full Halloween-cat mode, every hair on end, back arched, ears back, and let go a huge hiss. I can only describe Charlie's expression as being like William F. Buckley Jr. raising one aristocratic, questioning eyebrow. Charlie made a relatively quiet sound that clearly meant, "Were you addressing me, eunuch?" Clifford's ears perked back to "up" from "weapons free", he thought for a moment, ran back into the house, and hid under the bed all day. Howard Berkowitz <hcb@gettcomm.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Adoption update: we didn't get Lucky...: >Clifford (RB) was almost a perfect black cat -- the last inch of his >tail was snow-white. While he turned into an extremely intelligent and [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >Clifford's ears perked back to "up" from "weapons free", he thought for >a moment, ran back into the house, and hid under the bed all day. LOL! Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > Howard Berkowitz <hcb@gettcomm.com> had some very interesting things > to say about Re: Adoption update: we didn't get Lucky...: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > LOL! This made me laugh, too! Brilliant. For some reason I always imagined Clifford as an orange tabby, I don't know *where* I got that idea from.. I haven't looked at everyone's pics yet, so here's another few I'm probably way out on. Baby Eyes is a soft beige longhair with huge blue eyes. Stosh is black. Francis is a black tuxedo. Imp is tabby and white and Buster is a sort of blue grey with white feet. That's how I imagine them anyway. Yes, come on, tell me - I'm waaaay out, aren't I? (My American e-mail friend, Bob, was totally shocked to see Kitty FC's picture. Apparently he'd always pictured her as "a tiger cat" I presume he means tabby, lol, though she's a tiger cat in every other way!!) Tweed > > Howard Berkowitz <hcb@gettcomm.com> had some very interesting things > > to say about Re: Adoption update: we didn't get Lucky...: [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > This made me laugh, too! Brilliant. For some reason I always imagined > Clifford as an orange tabby, I don't know *where* I got that idea from.. Mr. Clark is an orange tabby. For that matter, I am told that Clifford's sire, Rufus, was an orange tabby. Apropos of naming, while I consciously named Mr. Clark after the Tom Clancy character, it occurred to me later that one legendary Washington power broker was Clark Clifford. Hmmmm.... >> This made me laugh, too! Brilliant. For some reason I always imagined >> Clifford as an orange tabby, I don't know *where* I got that idea from.. > > Mr. Clark is an orange tabby. For that matter, I am told that > Clifford's sire, Rufus, was an orange tabby. Eeeeek. This is weird. > Apropos of naming, while I consciously named Mr. Clark after the Tom > Clancy character, it occurred to me later that one legendary Washington > power broker was Clark Clifford. Hmmmm.... Hmmmm indeed. Strange. Tweed That was simply beautiful! I almost fell over with that mental picture! Blessed be, Baha > > > Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy > > > and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > Clifford's ears perked back to "up" from "weapons free", he thought for > a moment, ran back into the house, and hid under the bed all day. > Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go > figure! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha I hope that you have found a new friend :) Of course black cats are not bad luck!! Karen (slave to three puurrrfect black cats.) Karen Chuplis wrote: (after a big fat snip) > I hope that you have found a new friend :) Of course black cats are not bad > luck!! Me too! she really is a sweetie. As far as black cats go, I understand there's an old superstition that says it's good luck to have a black cat come live with you. I think that's Northern European in origin. that one I'm all for. I love black kitties; they're like velvet on legs. Blessed be, Baha > Fortunately we do not believe in Satan, and we don't believe in bad luck > cats. Odessa, barring a sudden attack of intelligence from a senior [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > to keep her until then, and we'll go around the corner to get her. I > promise to keep you all posted! Fingers and paws crossed here that Odessa comes home with you on the 15th. She sounds beautiful. I've always had a soft spot for black cats. Our cat Scamp that we had when I was little, was black with a little white spot under his chin. Susan M Otis and Chester Awww, Baha, you're a gem and I'm sure Odessa will be soo happy to be in your family. It is sad about the black cat prejudices -- there are several black kitties at the humane society currently and also at least 5 at the other rescue place I socialize at. Midnight and Robin are our two black kitties and they are so beautiful! Christine > Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go > figure! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha When we went to the animal shelter to adopt Nocturne, my partner realized as we were doing the interview that I was wearing my pentacle necklace, and for a brief moment he wondered if they would refuse to let us adopt ANY animal (let alone a black cat) under the mistaken belief that I'd sacrifice her or something. Not a thing was said and Nox came home with us. We actually got asked by several people in our old apartment complex if we were afraid to have Nox around bringing us "bad luck." She's been nothing but good fortune to us. --Enfilade >When we went to the animal shelter to adopt Nocturne, my partner >realized as we were doing the interview that I was wearing my pentacle [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >She's been nothing but good fortune to us. There was a story that made the rounds of the internet last winter of a tiny black cat in an Israeli housing development, who was confined to his home because tenants were "scared" of him. A picture of the little feller accompanied the article, which revealed that while the cat, named Kooshi, was fearsome and terrifying indeed, he seemed to be no bigger than your average beer can. When the New York Times got hold of the story, the deadpan caption under the picture was "Kooshi the black cat. Look and be afraid." Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com > When we went to the animal shelter to adopt Nocturne, my partner > realized as we were doing the interview that I was wearing my pentacle > necklace, and for a brief moment he wondered if they would refuse to > let us adopt ANY animal (let alone a black cat) under the mistaken > belief that I'd sacrifice her or something. Perhaps the interviewer was simply bright and experienced enough to figure true sincerity. From what I hear of these idiots who pretend to be sorcerors and do the sacrifice thing, many are kids working off Anton LeVey books and will take strays before checking agencies. Around where I live, the ones we hear about are usually such types who get caught and get some time of community service setenced--hopefully at the SPCA. None of the ones who make our news channels would consider spending what our local adoption places and shelters charge. Or perhaps the interviewerd knew the true meaning of the pentacle and not the Hollywood BS interpretation. > We actually got asked by several people in our old apartment complex > if we were afraid to have Nox around bringing us "bad luck." I got that with Fritzie. One of my friends brought a neighbor of hers who turned tail and ran upon seeing this huge black cat curled up on my couch. She was crossing herself and going on so with Psalms and prayers against bad luck that she started tripping on her tongue. Blessed be, Baha > Awww, Baha, you're a gem Gee, thanks! (*blush*) > and I'm sure Odessa will be soo happy to be in your > family. It is sad about the black cat prejudices -- there are several black > kitties at the humane society currently and also at least 5 at the other > rescue place I socialize at. Midnight and Robin are our two black kitties > and they are so beautiful! I hope Odessa will be happy with us. She certainly seemed to like me and Louie and believe me, it was mutual from the moment they let me hold her. When I heard about that bad luck business it became a matter of principle to take her. Imagine throwing out a perfectly goodnatured, healthy, beautiful cat simply because black isn't "in fashion" like something out of Glamour magazine, or because some people are really that freaked out over color and luck. As far as I am concerned, everyone else's loss is our gain. We will love that kitty for the sweet little girl she is. I'm still getting hot under the collar over the stuff the foster-mama told us. I'm more than happy to take the little pantheress into our home! Blessed be, Baha > I hope Odessa will be happy with us. She certainly seemed to like me and Louie > and believe me, it was mutual from the moment they let me hold her. When I heard [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the foster-mama told us. I'm more than happy to take the little pantheress into > our home! Bless you and little Miss Odessa. Black cats are awesome. We've been owned by Diamond, Pixel, and Needles; all of them black and all of them beautiful. I love our little tabbies, oreos, and tuxedos, but those black cats were in a class of their own. Pam S. > Bless you and little Miss Odessa. Black cats are awesome. We've been > owned by Diamond, Pixel, and Needles; all of them black and all of them > beautiful. I love our little tabbies, oreos, and tuxedos, but those > black cats were in a class of their own. Oh, tell me about it! Our Fritzie was all black too, and was a very handsome fellow. I love my tuxies, but black cats have a certain elegance. Very champagne and ZsaZsa Gabor, I think! Blessed be, Baha Black kitties are very elegant IMHO. Best wishes, SignaturePolonca & Soncek <snip> Marcie is supposed > to keep her until then, and we'll go around the corner to get her. I > promise to keep you all posted! > > Blessed be, > Baha >Black kitties are very elegant IMHO. Jasper would like to second that! SignatureCathi Too bad Friday isn't the 13th, then you could really thumb your nose at those silly superstitious fools! I *LOVE* black cats - they're like miniature black panthers! Hugs, CatNipped > Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go > figure! [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha Oh, amen!!! That would have been perfect! But close enough, and close enough to our anniversary that she'll be my and Louie's gift to one another. Blessed be, Baha > Too bad Friday isn't the 13th, then you could really thumb your nose at > those silly superstitious fools! I *LOVE* black cats - they're like [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Blessed be, > > Baha > Oh, amen!!! That would have been perfect! But close enough, and close > enough > to our anniversary that she'll be my and Louie's gift to one another. > > Blessed be, > Baha Awww, how sweet that will be, a living testament to love who is, herself, a bundle of love! Hugs, CatNipped > Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go > figure! Aw, sorry about that. > We went to Pet Supplies Plus, where Ten Lives shows their cats. They had > only one there, a black velvet beauty named Odessa. A Black Russian, > perchance. The workers let us take her from her kennel and hold her, and > she was rubbing up on me and Louie something fierce. that did it: she > owns us. Yay! She sounds gorgeous. Such a lucky little kitty to have found you two. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki On Tue, 12 Oct, Baha wrote: ---------------------<snip>---------------------- >We went to Pet Supplies Plus, where Ten Lives shows their cats. They had >only one there, a black velvet beauty named Odessa. A Black Russian, >perchance. The workers let us take her from her kennel and hold her, and >she was rubbing up on me and Louie something fierce. that did it: she >owns us. I called the shelter right from the store. ---------------------<snip>---------------------- She sounds like the purrfect addition. It's good to know that the kitty will have the best of homes. We'll be keeping out fingers and paws crossed that Odessa will be added to your and Louie's family. Regards and Purrs, O J > Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. > Go figure! <SNIP> Odessa sound beautiful. I can't understand why anyone would be prejudiced about a black cat, or a human comes to that. I love my little black panther, Bagheera. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. Ah yes, congratulations on your beautiful black lady. We have never adopted an animal based on the colour of his/her coat. It's the purrsonality that matters most. --Fil decepticoncommand@hotmail.com (Enfilade) had some very interesting things to say about Re: Adoption update: we didn't get Lucky...: >We have never adopted an animal based on the colour of his/her coat. >It's the purrsonality that matters most. Usually, my pets have claimed me [such as Ava turning up on the doorstep injured on a cold night]. In the one case I remember in which I was specifically looking for someone to adopt, DH and I weren't fussy about much except age range [young adult, since we didn't think a hoolikitten's antics in rental housing would be good, but we wanted our new owner with us for a long time] and not a bobtail [DH for some reason doesn't want one]. That time, I went to the shelter and got selected by Felix. :-) Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > Ah yes, congratulations on your beautiful black lady. > > We have never adopted an animal based on the colour of his/her coat. > It's the purrsonality that matters most. With the exception of Stosh, who was given to us by a friend because he was getting abused by one of the people who lived with her and was the center of much family fighting, our cats all seem to have picked us. Roxie, with a checkerboard-like pattern on her face, reached out of her cage to grab at Louie, a dedicated chess player. Brandy did a similar thing with me at another shelter show, and Odessa, though very shy, rubbed on our fingers through her cage after we got to hold her. Our "couplespeak" for that behavior is "owning," as in the cat marking her property. After that, how could we not take her? She interviewed us and decided we'd be suitable servants, after all! Blessed be, Baha Looking forward to hearing. Maybe I can meet her next time out? SignatureChristopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org www.mormons.com Lucky got adopted a half-hour after we got the phone call about him. Go figure! We went to Pet Supplies Plus, where Ten Lives shows their cats. They had only one there, a black velvet beauty named Odessa. A Black Russian, perchance. The workers let us take her from her kennel and hold her, and she was rubbing up on me and Louie something fierce. that did it: she owns us. I called the shelter right from the store. Now this cat is sweet natured, a little under two years old, a bit shy and simply gorgeous with emerald-green eyes and a figure like a Bastet figurine. And why is this little gem in a shelter; why have they shown her several times without success? Because, according to her foster-mama, she's black, and there are some superstitious idiots out there who won't have a black cat for a million dollars laid out in a line. She's healthy, I know that because local law won't allow public showing of Feleuk/FIV positive cats for adoption in places like these petshops that allow you to bring your pets in. She's alert, intelligent, and also (said foster-mama) meditative like our Roxie. And the problem? She's black. Marcie, the foster-mama, said that apparently prejudice even affects cats; people come asking for showy colors and markings, and some have told her to her face that they would not have a black cat near them. What would she do, suck out their souls and spit them down at Satan? The idea! Fortunately we do not believe in Satan, and we don't believe in bad luck cats. Odessa, barring a sudden attack of intelligence from a senior facility (we have an agreement with the shelter that nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and independently living elderly take precedence), will be ours as of this Friday the 15th. Marcie is supposed to keep her until then, and we'll go around the corner to get her. I promise to keep you all posted! Blessed be, Baha |
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