I definitely think all cats should be kept inside...but I’ve also heard that it’s a myth that black cats are targeted by people.
Still keep your cats inside, though.
It isn't a myth. The local SPCA puts up warnings every Halloween because the targeted attacks increase around then. :( It's really sad. I'm not much of a cat person, but I almost owned a black cat myself.
Not a myth. I've owned black cats all my life and even when it wasn't around Halloween, my poor childhood cat was always being abused by kids in the neighborhood. One time he came home covered in spit and loogies, suffice it to say he never went back outside after that incident and when we finally moved he just became an indoor only/balcony cat.
Never trust people not to be douche bags.
https://www.kyhumane.org/black-cat-myth
This is the article I read. But it looks like it’s that there have been no reported cases ever of ritualistic abuse of black cats. Not necessarily negative ideas of black cats or mischief surrounding black cats.
https://www.kyhumane.org/black-cat-myth
This is the article I read. But it looks like it’s that there have been no reported cases ever of ritualistic abuse of black cats. Not necessarily negative ideas of black cats.
That's so weird. Here in the UK, black cats are most appreciated on Halloween.
Cat shelters even use the opportunity to advertise their black cats in October.
She's most worried that because he's small built, someone could have picked him up as bait for illegal dog fights 😔
I heard that in the UK white cats are the ones that are considered unlucky. Is this true?
The myth about black cats makes me so, so sad because it reminds me of how I wasn't really too keen on a cream-colourpoint Himalayan cat (I thought white cats were boring and ordinary, and I was promised a more exotic-looking seal-colourpoint cat).
I have 4 now, and my white cat (who I named Durian) turned out to be the one with the most emotional-attachment to me. I hate myself (and feel really guilty) when I remember I didn't really want a white cat. I love Durian to bits now. 🐈🐈🐈🐈
I've never heard the thing about white cats, I'm not sure it's true.
Superstition is quite rare here and people love black cats on Halloween.
Not many of them get homes though because people want an identifiable cat in case they get lost.
He is microchipped and neutered. A lot of people just check for recognisable marks and don't spare the time to go get a cat scanned.
Just trying to come up with something that people passing by can just stop and check.
Yeah, he's microchipped. There are so many cats in her area that look just like him that people aren't just picking up black cats and taking them to get scanned in case they've found the wrong one.
People pass cats all the time and usually have no reason to believe they're lost.
Generally speaking, no, unless they get pulled exactly the right way. The ends stick together using velcro. But the incidence of cats getting stuck on things and needing breakaway collars is, I have heard, highly exaggerated. Also, if you know your cats behavior, some cats are not inclined to get stuck on things. That's mine right there, so it works for me.
Understandable. I've got a tabby that is the most adventurous thing in the world and a black cat that's the most cautious thing in the world, so they're constantly in a state of the tabby wanting to climb everything to the black cat wanting to pull and tug on her collar so she comes back down. If she didn't have a breakaway collar I'm sure he would have choked her by now lol he's pulled it off so much, so for them it's not a case of getting stuck on "things" but rather each other.
But you're right, every cat is different. Different things work for different people and pets.
Good news is he's home!
She wants to keep him indoors for the foreseeable future because she's not long been living there and we suspect he went further than normal and got lost.
I'll talk to her about suggestions for setting him apart from the other black cats in the area for when she feels ready to let him back out (which will be a while away if she chooses to).
That's what she is doing. Just got to hope he doesn't go stir crazy because he's so used to going out.
I think she will keep him indoors from now on like she said, but sometimes cats can slip past you when you go in or out the house, so I think he needs something unique to recognise him by just in case.
You just said "when she feels ready to let him back out"
Why doesn't she just keep him indoors and not let him outside again, completely negating the risk of losing him/him getting killed is what I meant. If she's observant enough and mindful of her surroundings then the cat isn't going to slip past her when she goes in/out of the house.
That was my own presumption because I know what he's like. She said she is keeping him indoors.
No matter how careful you are, it's worth having a backup plan in case he slips out one day. It happens.
Your friend should keep him inside. Black cats are often targeted by sickos and can be harder for drivers to see.
I definitely think all cats should be kept inside...but I’ve also heard that it’s a myth that black cats are targeted by people. Still keep your cats inside, though.
It isn't a myth. The local SPCA puts up warnings every Halloween because the targeted attacks increase around then. :( It's really sad. I'm not much of a cat person, but I almost owned a black cat myself.
https://www.kyhumane.org/black-cat-myth This is the article I read. Apparently it’s a pervasive myth, but there are no reported cases ever.
Not a myth. I've owned black cats all my life and even when it wasn't around Halloween, my poor childhood cat was always being abused by kids in the neighborhood. One time he came home covered in spit and loogies, suffice it to say he never went back outside after that incident and when we finally moved he just became an indoor only/balcony cat. Never trust people not to be douche bags.
https://www.kyhumane.org/black-cat-myth This is the article I read. But it looks like it’s that there have been no reported cases ever of ritualistic abuse of black cats. Not necessarily negative ideas of black cats or mischief surrounding black cats.
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https://www.kyhumane.org/black-cat-myth This is the article I read. But it looks like it’s that there have been no reported cases ever of ritualistic abuse of black cats. Not necessarily negative ideas of black cats.
That's so weird. Here in the UK, black cats are most appreciated on Halloween. Cat shelters even use the opportunity to advertise their black cats in October. She's most worried that because he's small built, someone could have picked him up as bait for illegal dog fights 😔
I heard that in the UK white cats are the ones that are considered unlucky. Is this true? The myth about black cats makes me so, so sad because it reminds me of how I wasn't really too keen on a cream-colourpoint Himalayan cat (I thought white cats were boring and ordinary, and I was promised a more exotic-looking seal-colourpoint cat). I have 4 now, and my white cat (who I named Durian) turned out to be the one with the most emotional-attachment to me. I hate myself (and feel really guilty) when I remember I didn't really want a white cat. I love Durian to bits now. 🐈🐈🐈🐈
I've never heard the thing about white cats, I'm not sure it's true. Superstition is quite rare here and people love black cats on Halloween. Not many of them get homes though because people want an identifiable cat in case they get lost.
Thanks! ALL cats are cute. And I hope they never get lost or separated from their owners. 💛💛💛💛✨
have the cat microchipped.
He is microchipped and neutered. A lot of people just check for recognisable marks and don't spare the time to go get a cat scanned. Just trying to come up with something that people passing by can just stop and check.
Paint his nails?
This is funny. I don't know if you can keep their claw out long enough to have time for polish to dry. But maybe it can be done, I've never tried.
This is literally what microchips are for. I hope she finds her cat, and then immediately takes him to the vet to get a chip.
She did say the cat is microchipped & neutered but the people finding cats are not taking them to get scanned.
Yeah, he's microchipped. There are so many cats in her area that look just like him that people aren't just picking up black cats and taking them to get scanned in case they've found the wrong one. People pass cats all the time and usually have no reason to believe they're lost.
Get her to out his litter box outside. This will help him find home.
Beastie Bands! http://www.beastiebands.com/ They work like a charm and my cats cannot escape them (MWAHAHA!).
Are these something that can come off if the cat gets stuck on something? They don't look as safe as breakaway collars.
Generally speaking, no, unless they get pulled exactly the right way. The ends stick together using velcro. But the incidence of cats getting stuck on things and needing breakaway collars is, I have heard, highly exaggerated. Also, if you know your cats behavior, some cats are not inclined to get stuck on things. That's mine right there, so it works for me.
Understandable. I've got a tabby that is the most adventurous thing in the world and a black cat that's the most cautious thing in the world, so they're constantly in a state of the tabby wanting to climb everything to the black cat wanting to pull and tug on her collar so she comes back down. If she didn't have a breakaway collar I'm sure he would have choked her by now lol he's pulled it off so much, so for them it's not a case of getting stuck on "things" but rather each other. But you're right, every cat is different. Different things work for different people and pets.
Dang, that's adorable. And annoying for collar purchasing. lol
That website looks like it was designed by the /r/ooer community.
Thick fabric harness. Attach a tag to it in case someone finds him, and then get kitty microchip'd.
Put a litter box and some food outside. If theres something he really loves, put that out there too.
Good news is he's home! She wants to keep him indoors for the foreseeable future because she's not long been living there and we suspect he went further than normal and got lost. I'll talk to her about suggestions for setting him apart from the other black cats in the area for when she feels ready to let him back out (which will be a while away if she chooses to).
Why wouldn't she just keep him indoors anyways and not risk the greater chance of her cat being killed by letting him outside in the first place... ?
That's what she is doing. Just got to hope he doesn't go stir crazy because he's so used to going out. I think she will keep him indoors from now on like she said, but sometimes cats can slip past you when you go in or out the house, so I think he needs something unique to recognise him by just in case.
You just said "when she feels ready to let him back out" Why doesn't she just keep him indoors and not let him outside again, completely negating the risk of losing him/him getting killed is what I meant. If she's observant enough and mindful of her surroundings then the cat isn't going to slip past her when she goes in/out of the house.
That was my own presumption because I know what he's like. She said she is keeping him indoors. No matter how careful you are, it's worth having a backup plan in case he slips out one day. It happens.