‘Common’ black cats left out in the cold

By Sophie Beckwith

A Portslade-based charity is asking people to consider rehoming a black cat while highlighting the problems those colour cats face. October 27 is National Black Cat Day, raising awareness of the black (and black and white) moggies that can spend a week longer in shelters than other cats before finding a home.

The charity Cat Welfare Sussex and Southern Region in Portslade, is dedicated to stray and unwanted cats welfare, it currently has black or black and whites making up a third of its cats waiting for new homes.

Julie Grant, charity trustee said: “At the moment all cats are difficult to rehome.”Black and black and white cats are amongst the most common colours that you are going to find, so people like to have the gingers, the greys, something that’s a little bit unusual.

“Personally I love black cats, their temperament is great.”

The UK’s leading cat welfare charity Cats Protection who has a centre in Chelwood Gate, East Sussex, says up to half of all cats in its care are black or black and white.Mrs Grant said there are more and more barriers to rehoming all cats, but that there are some real benefits to rehoming.

“If you take a cat from a rescue centre you will always get some background knowledge, if there are any problems then they will always talk you through it,” she said.

“Tat’s obviously not something that you get if you buy a cat from a breeder or out of the newspaper, you always have that back-up.’’

The RSPCA says that some of the reasons black and black and white cats are overlooked may be that they have less distinct markings, do not photograph well so may be missed on rehoming websites and that there are still some superstitions around black cats.

People can follow the campaign today via #blackcatlove, #BlackCatDay. For more information on Cat Welfare Sussex visit www.catwelfaresussex.com.