Black cat

Many cultures have superstitions about black cats, often ascribing either "good luck" or "bad luck" to them.

The black cat is a feline whose fur is uniformly black.

It is not a particular breed of cat and may be mixed or of a specific breed. The all-black

pigmentation is equally prevalent in both male and

female cats. The black color is of obvious benefit to a cat hunting at night.

In Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens: in other cultures, they are considered to be good omens. Black cats have been found to have lower odds of adoption in American shelters compared

to other colors (except brown).

Witchcraft

Black cats, because of their ability to remain unseen in dark places or at night, were considered especially desirable partners for witches. Black cats were sometimes used in magical rituals, sometimes as purported participants, other times as sacrifices. In witch trials, ownership of a cat was often taken as "evidence" of Satanic association and witchcraft. Cats, believed to be evil in their own right, were often punished or burned alive along with humans during these trials.

Both historically and today, some religious and spiritual groups purportedly engage in ritualistic sacrifice of cats, though studies have mainly found that such reports belong squarely in the province of urban legend. Many modern witches keep black cats as pets, and view them as sacred.