If you’re a diehard animal lover, or you have a pal who volunteers at an animal shelter, you may have heard that black cats are less likely to be adopted.
Twitter exploded with #BlackCatAppreciationDay tweets on Wednesday urging folks to consider a black furball for their next adoption.
While research shows that black cats have higher euthanasia rates, they’re actually just as likely to be adopted as cats of other colors. Research by Dr. Emily Weiss, published by the ASPCA, found that the reason it appears black cats are being adopted less is that their intake numbers are higher.
So it may be a myth that black cats are at risk, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate and adopt one anyway!
However, some haters dared to mock the hashtag.
#BlackCatAppreciationDay. Who came up with this hashtag. My grandpa?
— 𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀 (@TimBarnes451) August 17, 2016
While other jokesters made excellent points.
#blackcatappreciationday taught me that there's more than one black cat. I thought there was just the one we were all avoiding.
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) August 17, 2016
Others geeked out.
Have a Spock-tacular #BlackCatAppreciationDay! #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/VaqYULLGi7
— Star Trek (@StarTrek) August 17, 2016
There were also moving posts from owners who clearly adore their babies, both living and deceased.
This is Salem. The collar I always wear was hers before she passed. Hope you liked Mt. Fuji#blackcatappreciationday pic.twitter.com/HTM1qyMD7C
— Sky ✨ (@YoSkylerSeymour) August 17, 2016
Clearly, black cat pride is real.
https://twitter.com/alisonrapp/status/765956472945516544
And we can’t argue. I mean look at Effie. Effie is the best.
It's #blackcatappreciationday and here's the best black cat of them all, EFFIE pic.twitter.com/CNtN4XtOg8
— SungWon Cho (@ProZD) August 17, 2016
Yes, black cat owners love their babies.
It's #blackcatappreciationday 😸. Another reason to show off my beautiful 14 year old mini-Panther! 😊 pic.twitter.com/nxpicIGZGP
— Dr Charlotte Orr (@Charlotte_0) August 17, 2016
And how could they not? They are seriously cute.
Pfft! It's #blackcatappreciationday so mum insists on tweeting this pic of Tilly pic.twitter.com/PZMLtJbxse
— MedleytheLakeland (@MedleyPup) August 17, 2016
They are really, really cute.
Black cats are so underrated and so cute. Here's my little teddy bear. #blackcatappreciationday pic.twitter.com/yax6HLDBWj
— Parveen (@Parveen_Comms) August 17, 2016
So why not adopt one? Or two?
https://twitter.com/GulDag87/status/765823862231695361
Who run the world? Black cats.
Assembling for the #blackcatappreciationday Opening Ceremonies. pic.twitter.com/dDmnYB2mvH
— Undine (@HorribleSanity) August 17, 2016