http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-wisdom-of-black-cats.html
The Wisdom of Black Cats
It’s Halloween week, and I’m seeing black cat decorations all around me. Black cats have gotten a bad rap for centuries — many cultures have perpetuated myths about them. They have been maligned and even tortured because of their alleged association with evil and witchcraft. Chinese believed a black cat was an omen for poverty, and German folklore says that a black cat jumping on a sick bed signals that death is near.
We cat lovers know the truth about black cats. They make very loving, playful companions. And so as I wait for the coming of Trick-or-Treaters and The Great Pumpkin, I would like to take a moment to thank all the black cats who have crossed my path over the years. They weren’t bad luck at all, but a source of joy and wisdom. There are far too many to mention, but a few stand out.
Thanks to Maya, who opened a friend’s heart, and continues to watch over the stepchild he has lost. Thanks to Puyi, named for a boy emperor, who as a tiny kitten had the courage to leap into my sister’s hands from the roof of an apartment building. He continues his journey by comforting my recently widowed mother.
And many kudos to Mabel, who came into my cousin’s life just in time to help him through difficult surgeries, rehabilitation and his final transition. Soon after arriving, Mabel began staring at him and wouldn’t let him out of her sight, as if she was trying to tell him something. It soon made sense as the familiar numbness radiated down his arm, telling him the tumor was back. She now watches over his parents.
And finally, thanks to Lovey, who visits us almost everyday, and who most certainly lives up to his name. I can’t sit down for more than three seconds before he jumps into my lap. And on a cold fall day, there’s nothing like a purring cat to warm you up.
I’d also like us all to remember the feral black cats who don’t have laps to sit in, and who risk injury and cruel pranks this Halloween season. They remind us of the violence that haunts humanity far worse than any horror movie character could. I know that once we rid ourselves of the underlying causes like poverty and ignorance, all creatures will be safe.
We can’t face the ills of society, however, by hating those who hurt black cats. We can only evolve by taking responsibility for doing our own work. It’s about having Puyi courage, and seeing where anger and judgment live in our own hearts. It’s about having Mabel persistence, and staring adversity right in the face. And it’s about living life as Lovey and Maya would — by being kind to a stranger and being patient with those around us.
Have you experienced the wisdom of a black cat? Please share below.
This Halloween, make a black cat proud!
Dr. Susan Wagner is a board certified veterinary neurologist whose pioneering work acknowledges the bioenergetic interaction between people and animals. She is an advocate for change in the area of interpersonal violence and animal cruelty, and works toward a greater understanding surrounding the health implications of the human-animal bond.
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103 comments
add your comment »I had a black cat once and my brother has one now but I don't think they are smarter than cats of other colours.
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Nebula was born in our back yard, as was his brother Cloud. Solid black, both of them, but Nebula has tiny white "stars" all over his body. We had them both fixed, as we did their feral mom. The boys we socialized; but mom had been feral too long. Someone stole Cloud a few days before Halloween several years ago. We were unaware of the cruelty that sometimes befalls black cats. We still cry and just pray Cloud didn't suffer.
Nebula is my baby. One day, shortly after arriving, he jumped into my lap and stared into my eyes. He reached up and pulled my glasses down off my face, so that he could better look into my eyes. His gaze was so intense, so full of sentience, it was embarrassing. I felt like he was asking me who I REALLY was. I told him I loved him and would never hurt him. He seemed satisfied and settled down for a long, purring nap in my arms. Since then, I have never doubted the sensitivity of cats and have learned so much from being with them.
We save feral kittens now, get the adult ferals neutered and care give for several colonies. ALWAYS get them fixed! It saves so much misery on the streets. Cats WANT homes, regular meals, and lots of love. Living in dumpsters is NOT their ideal life.
Nebula has opened my heart to this and much more.
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I picked him out of a litter of little ones only 8 weeks old. They were all cute but he had these large golden eyes, a black and white tuxedo, and had a little white star on his forehead and won my heart with his sweet personality. I took him home, and named him Baby. He's been with me through a lot, and he'd always know when I was upset and nudge me and purr, giving me kisses. He was my baby for 16 years, and just before he passed on, he seemed to know it was his time; two days before he died, he came up on my lap and gave me kisses and nestled against my neck with his head as though to tell me it was ok, that he'd miss me, too.
He will forever my baby be. It's going to be hard-going this Christmas without him. Christmas was his favorite holiday. He loved to play with the ribbon while I wrapped presents, and always had his favorite spot under the Christmas tree. He loved music, and would always curl up in my lap and purr while I'd sing carols to him as we'd sit watching the Christmas tree in the evenings.
Black cats are so sweet, and loving. A year before he died, we adopted another tuxedo kitty, a girl we named Bella. She has helped so much in getting me through our loss of Baby, and has made these last months without him easier to bear. I love my kitties and can't imagine life without them. Black cats are magical, but it's good magic. The magic of love!
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We were found by a stray black cat. He was drawn to our house because I fed him. We grew close and he'd let me pick him up. He would come running from where ever he was at the sound of my voice and he chased any cat that got near me a way. I miss him since he disappeared, he came back for a day then left again. It looked like he was well taken care of so I think he's found a home.
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I have a black cat (a boy) and he is the loveliest cat that exists. One day, I found a box moving around andlooked inside, there was a cat mum and her five babies, I guess they were abandoned by some person having no heart or sense of responsibility. So I decided to take the box home. I was concerned about the reaction of my black Filou (means something like scoundrel in French). first he looked amazed seeing the mum and the five babies and did not know what to do so he sat down near the box and observed mum cat and her babies. A few days later he took up the role of a real good dad, he helped to educate the babies, brought them back to their mum whenthey went away too far, thought them to go to the litter when they were old enough. As one baby was also black and the others looked like mum, everybody thought he was the real dad. I found new good families for three babies and kept two of them (girls). When they were allowed to go into the garden Filou kept a look on them and when I told him to get Hatchi and Hatcha, he chased them inside the house. Once the little cats climbed on a tree which was very easy, but how to come down ? I was trying to get them down but did not succeed, then Filou came into action, he looked at me as if to say "in this way they will be up there for ages", he climbed on the tree and showed the kitten how they had to go down, he rubbed his whiskers where they should walk all the way down. Now my cats are older but they still have th
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My favorite black cat was Erik. He was torn and tattered from battles for mates, but a fine and loving feral. He'd always let me tend his new wounds. He would also stand gaurd to protect me when people walked by.
Being huge, and angry, nobody ever argued with him. But with me he was the sweetest and most magical cat I've ever known.
A true child of Bast, he'd always show up when pagan doings needed doing. Oh yes, he was masterful. And critical.
If something wasn't up to his standards, he'd let me know. :)
Lovely article as always.
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I have a black cat - all black except the tip of his tail - it's white. He is the most sensitive cat ever..and he seems to know when to step into a situation to offer his affection...I love living with black cat wisdom..he is my joy.
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Huge cat person here - my favorite are black ones with green eyes ever since I was walking out of a kitchen and a kitty named Africa jumped off of the refrigerator onto my shoulder and sat there as walked into my room. Then she jumped on my bed and laid on her side for a few hours. My favorite moment ever with a cat.
No to politicize it too far either, but think - witches dressed in black, black sheep and black market - all negative connotations and not just to cats.
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dori-- all my cats are semi feral - i have 8. they love being inside during the winter time. and they also love their outdoor time.
don't give up on your feral one. he sounds special.
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To all the black cats I've loved: Lucy, Remus, Sissy, and Yasmina.....especially our last sweet Jasmine, my Yasmina, who disappeared over a year ago after July 4th. I feel so badly that I ignorantly did not look after her through all the company, all the fireworks, all the activity. I've lost her, but hope she is out there nearby thriving.....and one day, maybe-----return home. We nursed her through swallowed marbles (gastric surgery), bizarre infection of her mammary glands (each one swollen to the size of a tennis ball), she was always into something. Beautiful, petite feline, she was. Here's to all the cats, black and otherwise----who've graced my life.....there really is nothing quite so utterly itself, as a cat.
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