- Categories:
- Animal
- Tags:
- Pet
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every August 17
- Holiday emoji:
- 🐈⬛
Black Cat Appreciation Day celebrates our mysterious, sleek, and often misunderstood feline friends every August 17. These beautiful creatures, sometimes unfairly associated with bad luck, deserve all the love and attention. Take time today to appreciate a black cat, learn about their unique charm, or consider adopting one from a local shelter.
Want to sponsor Black Cat Appreciation Day? Learn how
Expected Black Cat Appreciation Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows pet supply retailers often run special deals for Black Cat Appreciation Day. Look for discounts on black cat-themed toys and accessories at stores like Chewy and PetSmart. Independent pet boutiques might offer unique collars or treats. Local animal shelters, such as the ASPCA or Best Friends Animal Society, often waive adoption fees for black cats to encourage their rehoming. Keep an eye on brands like Friskies and Purina for potential social media contests or giveaways. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 17 approaches.
Platform Guide for Black Cat Appreciation Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #BlackCatAppreciationDay. Share photos and reels of your beautiful black cats, highlighting their unique personalities and debunking myths.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #BlackCatAppreciationDay. Create short, fun videos showcasing black cat antics, purrs, and playful moments to spread positive awareness.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BlackCatAppreciationDay. Join local cat lover groups to share adoption stories and advocate for black cats in your community.
Black Cat Appreciation Day Hero
Wayne H. Morris
History of Black Cat Appreciation Day
Have you ever feared a black cat crossing your path? This is from ancient superstitions where people thought this meant bad luck. For many cultures and historical settings, black cats were actually meant for positive things. So, to try and dispel these myths about black cats, National Black Cat Appreciation Day was created to be celebrated on August 17 every year.
Today, pop culture loves black cats. There’s the sarcastic Thackery Binx in “Hocus Pocus” and Salem, in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” and we can’t forget the classic cartoon black cat, Luna in “Sailor Moon.” Black cats are seen as loyal companions, and this is what they were seen as for a lot of cultures in history too.
So, who’s to blame for this negative black cat spin? Superstition! But mostly because during the Middle Ages, people (mainly the Catholic Church) saw witches as shape-shifting black cats and the damage was done. From then on, black cats were seen as evil entities for years and years to follow.
But not everyone sees black cats this way. In fact, black cats are actually welcomed by a lot of people. For some, a visit from a black cat means good luck, and for others it meant prosperity or romance. Hey — in some cultures black cats are even worshipped. Basically, there’s no need to fear them. On this day, we celebrate our cuddly friends, no matter what color their coat is!
Black Cat Appreciation Day timeline
During the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church associated black cats with witchcraft.
Felix the Cat debuts in "Feline Follies."
"Hocus Pocus" premieres with one of its stars being a black cat named Binx.
Everyone’s favorite teenage witch, Sabrina, makes her TV debut with her sidekick, Salem.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day
Local pet stores can host ‘Black Cat Adoption Weekends’ in partnership with shelters, offering discounts on supplies for newly adopted black cats. Cafes could feature ‘Black Cat Brews’ or themed treats, donating a portion of sales to animal welfare organizations. Groomers might offer special ‘spa days’ for black felines. Even non-pet businesses can show support by decorating with black cat imagery and sharing positive facts about them on social media, encouraging community engagement and dispelling myths.
Black Cat Appreciation Day FAQs
When is Black Cat Appreciation Day?
Black Cat Appreciation Day 2026 falls on Monday, August 17. It’s a perfect start to the week to celebrate these often-misunderstood felines.
Why do black cats have a bad reputation?
Historically, black cats have been associated with witchcraft and bad luck, particularly in medieval Europe. These superstitions, though unfounded, persist in some cultures, leading to lower adoption rates for black cats.
How many black cats are in shelters?
Black cats tend to have longer stays in shelters and are often among the last to be adopted due to lingering superstitions. While exact numbers fluctuate, many shelters report black cats making up a significant portion of their feline populations.
Are black cats a specific breed?
No, black cats are not a specific breed; rather, ‘black cat’ refers to a cat with solid black fur. This coloration can occur in many different breeds, including Bombay, Maine Coon, Persian, and American Shorthair.
Black Cat Appreciation Day Activities
Visit the Nekobiyaka Cat Café
This Japanese café pays tribute to black cats, letting them roam throughout the restaurant for guests to enjoy. Pay $10 to spend an hour with the kitties and order some soda or beer while you’re there. Guests are not allowed to pick up or hold the cats, but customers can pet them. Each cat wears a different color bandana so you can tell them apart.
Adopt a black cat
As unbelievable as this sounds, black cats are about half as likely to be adopted as other cats! This is silly but true. Show some love to a homeless or abused black cat or kitten by contacting your local animal shelter to find one in need of a good home.
Read Edgar Allen Poe’s, “The Black Cat”
The Saturday Evening Post originally published Poe’s short story back in 1843. It's one of the author's darkest tales — dealing with the psychology of guilt.
5 Myths About Black Cats
Black cats can change color
Black cats that also have the Tabby stripe gene have fur that can turn a rusty brown color after they’ve been lounging in the sun for a long time.
They were companions to sailors
Sailors and fisherman thought that having black cats on board would bring them good luck. It helped that they would eat the rats too!
Black cats are not a single breed
There are actually 22 cat breeds that have solid black coats.
Japan’s black cat cafe
In Himeji, Japan, there is a cafe that’s entirely devoted to black cats where visitors can pet them during their visit.
All cats are sacred
In Ancient Egypt, all cats were considered sacred, so they were worshipped. This includes black cats!
Why We Love Black Cat Appreciation Day
Black cats are good luck charms
Luckily, many cultures cherish black cats. In Scottish lore, good tidings would follow if a black cat came to your house. Fishermen often kept black cats on their boats, believing them to bring good luck.
Black cats are unique
Their eyes are yellow and their hair can gray with age. Some scientific research reveals that a black cat's hair can help their immune system because the genetic mutation for hair color makes the cat less likely to contract feline immunodeficiency virus.
Black cats inspire Halloween costumes
Black pants? Black top? Homemade or store-bought black ears? Then you, my friend, have got yourself a Halloween costume. You can kick it up a notch by drawing on a nose, whiskers, and a tail. Black cat costumes are good for those last-minute, need-something-to-wear situations that can pull any masquerade look together.
Social Media Tips for Black Cat Appreciation Day
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