Why are black cats difficult to home?

[Ripeberry]

I would love a black kitten and I've noticed that lots of cat's homes say that black cats are hardly ever adopted.

Surely people aren't that vain or superstitious (sp?) about it?

I'm amazed at that. I don't see many black cats around though at the moment. Superstition seems to go both ways though - black cats = lucky as well as unlucky if you believe that sort of thing.
I've always wanted a ginger cat but it hasn't happened yet, I bet you get waylaid by a tabby or something equally bonkers.

I have got two black cats - they are moggies but must have a bit of burmese in them, they are very sleek and elegant.

I love black cats. They are my gorgeous little boys

i love black cats, too. right now we have a black and white. she sort of landed on our laps.

I have always wanted a black cat - but have ended up with two tabbies and a fluffy black and white one

I can never understand why they are overlooked for adoption, they are gorgeous. I want one.

I know this about cats, but, when i got my Greyhound they told me the black Dogs also get over looked. (I chose a mostly black one!)

I think we are getting to an answer. THey are hardly ever homed because people hang on to them..

Because they don't have patterns on their faces so it might be difficult to recognise your black cat in a lineup of black cats.

I had a black cat, but she was run over :( she was beautiful, part siamese I think.

We've had a ginger one (died last year), have a tortoiseshell and a black and white one currently. I've always wanted a tabby :)

We've just collected our two black kittens (brothers) from a cat sanctuary. The woman told me that they have real trouble housing a) black cats and b) male cats - my two are absolutely GORGEOUS and I've always had black cats anyway. I'm such a proud mum and I'm glad no-one else wanted them!! Yes...I am sad....

IME black tom cats are the softest friendliest ever. We lost our male black cat last year, he was such a character and I would definately get a black cat again!

I would worry about them being super-invisible outside after dark - mine are black and white and I worry enough about them. But not enough to prevent me having a black cat if one came my way - a friend at work has one, she is a tiny little thing due to early neglect and is absolutely beautiful.

But then I don't really understand when people say 'I'm looking for two ginger kittens' or whatever, we just looked for kittens. I like black cats, and I like silver tabbies, but two jellicle boys came our way instead.

i have 2 black cats: one girl and one boy. They are lovely (also have a ginger male, a tabby female and a half tabby/half white female)

I used to have a black newfoundland dog and he too was lovely.

If you want a kitten, surely as long as they are fit and healthy, colour isn't that important?

I don't get it either - we've had almost 30 foster cats and the black ones always take longer to rehome. We have a gorgeous long-haired black two year old girl cat at the moment who's been in our foster care for almost two months. Even bearing in mind the summer lull, that's a long time.

I think it must be superstition. The only other reason I can think of is that it's REALLY difficult to photograph black cats so if people are looking online, they might unwittingly be biased against the black ones. But the problem goes much further back than the internet, I'm told.

my mum only adopts black cats! But we have always suspected that shes a witch...

We have an absolutely beautiful long-haired, sweet-tempered tortoiseshell cat, and a vicious short-haired black cat. everyone comments on how beautiful the black one is and no-one ever mentions the other one. Strange.

I am a little scared of cats ... and for some reason sleek black cats scare me more then normal...the fatter/fluffy ones are fine ... it is like i cant read their faces or something...although stunning ..slightly evil looking !!

I love black cats. All mine have been great and out of the litter of tortoishells and black and whites I chose the all black one.
She is asleep, sprawled out on the desk behind my laptop.
My black cat would stand out on a line up as she is very noisy and would have a mouthful of mouse. (she is still noisy with a mouthful of mouse)

My auntie had a litter of 3 black and one tabby, I wanted a black, but my brother wanted the tabby and he won out.

I did eventually get my black cat (well black chocolate half persian) :)

I don't know why people don't like them though, rather black than white (white hair is really annoying!!!)

I think its all about witches.

And ironing boards.

I am a witch
but i never iron my cat she's not very wrinkly

We've got a beautiful tuxedo cat at the moment but our last cat was all black except for the tiniest white patch on his chest.

I love all cats, but black ones the best

YY about black male cats.

Love 'em!

Our tuxedo is a lovely, soft, sleek cat.

She's indoors only.

We'd like another indoors only cat, preferably rather elderly, black an added bonus! :)