By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

Black Cats:

Did you know that black cats have lower rates of adoption in North American shelters than any other animal? Unfortunately, the superstition that black cats are bad luck still survives to this day. All too often we are faced with potential cat adopters whose only criteria is that it "not be a black cat." Those of us who work with cats every day know something about black cats that we would like to share with our readers. The black cat is often the gentlest and most affectionate cat in the shelter. Over time, we have observed some characteristics specific to many (although not all) black cats. A common trait of the black cat is its obsession with water. They are the cats that patiently wait while their owner is in the shower only to jump in after to lick the water. Some even enjoy splashing around in the tub and the water bowl can provide hours of entertainment for the black cat. They enjoy following you around and are never far out of sight. They can be found sitting on your lap or cuddling beside you but aren’t always comfortable being picked up. They can sometimes appear shy at first but are fiercely loyal to their owners and enjoy their companionship.