Do Black Cats Bring Good Luck?

The superstition that black cats bring good luck can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that black cats were the incarnation of Bastet, the goddess of protection, fertility, and motherhood. Some historians speculate that this belief was due to the contrast between black cats’ shiny fur and their dark eyes, which were thought to resemble the moon at night – both of which were associated with magic and spirituality in ancient times. Although this belief has since died out in most parts of the world, it’s still held true.  Learn more about why black cats are considered lucky below...

According to myth, black cats are seen as good luck for several reasons. The most common reason is a superstition about witches. As black cats were often used in rituals, those that owned them were immediately suspect of witchcraft and suffered brutal persecution as a result. Because of their treatment at the hands of ignorant mobs, black cats have become a symbol of good luck in general and have come to be associated with prosperity and happiness.

In addition to these myths, there’s also an idea that black cats bring good fortune because they’re harder to see at night than other animals. In some cultures, seeing a black cat crossing your path was considered bad luck because it meant you would never see one again (as opposed to crossing paths with any other animal). However, others took this notion further and believed that it meant someone was trying to harm you—in which case seeing a black cat was actually very lucky indeed!

Some of these superstitions became part of our modern culture through books like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge is visited by three spirits in a ghostly vision. There is one spirit who looks like a large, black cat. Historians think that probably explains why some people associate black cats with bad luck instead of good luck.

Black cats have been around for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians worshipped black cats as gods and mummified them when they died. Today, black cats are considered good luck in most places of the world—except Great Britain. It is believed that English sailors brought black cat superstition to America during colonial times, but it didn’t catch on here until much later. It has been suggested that New Orleans was a major port for ships coming from England, so maybe sailors brought it there first.

Many cultures believe black cats bring good luck. In Scotland, black cats were thought to be witches’ familiars; therefore, if you saw a black cat cross your path at night, you were supposed to spit or curse out loud because both witches and their familiars could not stand hearing curses. If you are looking for an old-fashioned pet, black cats make great companions.

They love human company and will even sleep with you at night. Black cats can make great pets if they receive plenty of attention and affection. The next time someone tells you black cats are unlucky, just smile because they don’t know any better!

Adopting a black cat for good luck isn’t just a good idea—it’s an excellent one. With an adoption agency or shelter close to you, all it takes is a little bit of luck (and some pre-application research) to get your cat before anyone else does. And remember: Black cats are just as sweet and lovable as any other! If you’re interested in adopting a black cat, there are plenty of agencies that can help.

If you live in New York City, for example, The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals offers more than 1,000 animals up for adoption each year; if you live in Los Angeles, Stray Cat Alliance has hundreds of black cats available at any given time; and if you live in Washington D.C., Humane Rescue Alliance has dozens of kittens looking for their forever homes right now.

Black cats, as superstition has it, bring good luck. The blacker your cat is, the more luck it’s said to have. Therefore, it should be no surprise that you’ll want to maintain your cat’s shine so that it continues to bring you and your family good fortune.