Black cats experience lower adoption rates and higher euthanasia rates compared to other colored cats in animal shelters across the U.S. On a local level, however, things look a bit brighter for this symbol of Halloween. Ruff Patch Rescue and Draper City Animal Services are just two examples of area animal welfare organizations who work to find homes for all kinds of pets and help dispel negative myths about black cats.

“We actually get a lot of people who love black cats,” Jocelyn Callahan, a volunteer with Ruff Patch Rescue, said. “Kitties with more unique coloring, like Siamese and calicos, capture peoples’ eyes and often get adopted first. But black kitties aren’t always last. I think that once someone has a black cat and realizes how great they are, they want to adopt another.” 

Anyone who has had the spooky experience of encountering a black cat in the dark, its eyes shining in the shadows, can appreciate how the animals became objects of superstition centuries ago. The notion that black cats bring bad luck is fading but is still one of the reasons why they have a harder time being adopted. Their dark fur also makes it more difficult for people to discern their features in shelters and it can be challenging to photograph black cats for adoption websites. 

Officer A. Hurst at Draper City Animal Services acknowledged that black cats are often the last to be adopted. “But then there are people who are specifically looking for black cats,” she said, adding that all of her own pets are black. 

A popular misconception about black cats is that animal welfare organizations usually suspend adoptions of the animals during the month of October out of concern that they will be harmed or discarded after Halloween. “That is a myth,” Hurst stated. 

The ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and Best Friends Animal Society have issued statements in recent years declaring that there is no evidence that adopting black cats at Halloween poses a greater risk to the cats than adopting them at any other time of the year. Many shelters actually use Halloween to promote the adoption of black cats.

Hurst, who has worked in the field of animal welfare in Utah and Colorado for over 20 years, said, “At the shelters I’ve worked for, we promoted the adoption of black cats at Halloween.” She added that some shelters give black cats Halloween-themed names to help get them adopted. 

Callahan explained that Ruff Patch Rescue has a thorough vetting process for prospective adopters to help ensure that all pets go to homes where they will be safe and well taken care of. “We do have a contract in place,” she said. “We make sure that people are adopting for a reason. The whole family has to be involved.”

On a global scale, increased awareness of the plight of black cats in shelters is making a difference in how many find their forever homes. National Black Cat Appreciation Day, on Aug. 17 in the U.S. and National Black Cat Day, on Oct. 27 in the U.K., were founded to honor the value of black cats and dispel superstitions. 

Last spring, NPR reported that adoptions of black cats increased thanks to the 2024 Academy Award-winning animated film, “Flow,” about a black cat who bonds with other animals to survive in a flooded world. “Anytime there’s a movie with a specific breed, there’s an uptick in adoptions,” Hurst said. 

There are many pet rescue organizations and animal shelters in the Salt Lake Valley filled with cats and dogs of all colors and breeds who are seeking homes. Ruff Patch Rescue, founded in Riverton, consists of a network of volunteers who foster all kinds of animals for adoption. They hold regular adoption events on Saturdays at the Riverton PetSmart. Visit ruffpatchrescue.com to see pictures of available pets.

Draper City Animal Services oversees a no-kill shelter. Lost pets without identifying tags or microchips are put up for adoption after a standard holding period of five business days. They are kept until they are adopted or eventually given to a pet rescue group. For more information, visit www.draperutah.gov/living-in-draper-city/animal-services/.