Happy 5th Birthday, Raven the Cat!

Raven, about two months old.

I admit it, I don’t know Raven’s actual birthday. He was the only living cat found along a highway in October 2006. This little black ball of fur was extremely lucky; he was found by a Humane Society worker on her way to work.

Raven was brought in that day, and as luck would have it, I stopped by there to do some volunteer work. I volunteered every week at the Humane Society. I brushed and played with the cats. They brought Raven to me, wrapped in a blanket like a baby, and asked me to bottle feed him.

When they told me he was only about 4 weeks old and had a small chance of survival at the shelter, I couldn’t say no when they asked me to foster him. So, five years ago, I took in a little black cat that I swore was going back to the shelter.

Raven, 5, enjoying his box.

When is peculiar behavior began, I knew he wouldn’t get adopted. He is afraid of most things and not always that friendly. And being black decreased his adoption odds, too. So, I adopted him. I paid the fee, signed the paperwork and named him Raven.

At 5, he is still a handful. He keeps me on toes, always getting into things and attacking his older sisters, Maddy and Chaos. I love this little neurotic ball of black fur and I can’t imagine my life without him. So happy birthday, Raven!

Absence Makes a Cat’s Love Stronger

One of the few times Chaos, Maddy and Raven are together: when they're eating.

I recently started a second job, which keeps me out of the house for an extra three hours every day. I feel bad leaving the cats for a little longer, but I think the cats like it.

When I get home, I’m showered with love from all three. They all want pets and they all want to be by me. It’s like that most of the time now. Before, they didn’t spend nearly as much time with me. So even though I’m away from the house for longer each day, I actually spend more quality time with the cats.

I don’t really understand this. I was worried that by being gone longer, my bond with the cats would weaken. But, my bond seems stronger than ever. It seems that maybe they appreciate me more since I’m not around as much. At least that’s what I think it is. Cats are hard to figure out, but I think this job will benefit my relationship with my cats. It also shows another plus cats have over dogs; leave a dog for hours and he’ll destroy stuff and hate you, leave a cat for hours and he’ll be your best friend.

Cat, Witch Association Needs to Stop

Raven, he's not evil or unlucky and I'm no witch.

I was disappointed when I watched the TNT show, “Rizzoli and Isles” this week. The show was about a group of modern-day witches who had been killed. One was even burned at the stake.

The show was great until the main characters went to one of the dead witches’ houses and wouldn’t you know it, she owned a black cat. My jaw dropped. Was it really necessary for the writers to do that? Is our society still really that backwards that people think if you have a witch you have to have a black cat, too?

This is so cliche, a witch and a black cat, I was surprised they didn’t have her riding a  broom. It disgusts that no matter how hard animal welfare supporters try to dispel terrible animal myths, pop culture just can’t let these things die.

I own a black cat, he is lovely (most of the time). I’m not a witch. He’s not evil. But I bet it wouldn’t be difficult to find someone who would believe the opposite.

Black cats are not unlucky and they are not Satan incarnate. Pit bulls, German shepherds, rottweilers, etc., are not vicious attack dogs roaming the streets looking for their next victims. Animals are what we make them, treat them well, and they will return the favor. I hope someday, more people will see things this way.

Always Being Watched by a Cat

Raven blocking the computer and watching me.

My cat Raven, 4, watches me. He is always watching me. As I type, he is sitting on my speaker, watching me. I’m not the only thing Raven likes to watch.

I’ve noticed, when I play with Raven, he prefers to sit back and watch the wand toys move, only occasionally, attacking it. He gets upset if I put it away, so I know it’s not that he loses interest, he just likes to watch.

Raven also watches things outside. Perhaps leaves blowing in the breeze or cars driving by our house pique his interest. I’ve also notice him sitting in front of me for hours, watching me watch T.V.

I don’t understand why Raven prefers to watch things instead of interact with them. It’s definitely a little weird and somewhat disturbing to visitors who suddenly notice my black cat is in the corner, watching them.

Black Cat Appreciation Day Aug. 18

Raven, a very handsome black cat.

I love black cats. They are beautiful and tend to be very affectionate. In honor of black cats, Aug. 18 (some say Aug. 17) is National Black Cat Appreciation Day. Read a story about it here.

Black cats get a bad rap in most places. People are superstitious and think black cats bring bad luck (although in Asian countries, black cats are good luck.) It’s because of these old myths that black cats don’t get adopted as often as other cats.

It’s also believed that because black cats are difficult to photograph, it makes it harder for people to see them and adopt them. Whatever the reason, black cats deserve some appreciation.

I have a black cat, Raven, 4, and I love him. He’s much more affectionate than my other two cats and spends the most time with me. I wouldn’t trade Raven for anything in the world. He was a foster I couldn’t give back. I would encourage anyone looking for a cat to check out the black ones, too. You never know, you may just find your best friend.

Neighborhood Cat Left Me a Gift

One of the many cats I've seen roaming my neighborhood.

I’ve been leaving food in a dish in a spot inside my garage that and industrious animal could eat. I’ve been doing this for almost a year. Last week, I surprised a cat leaving my garage. It was a big, black cat. I’m not sure if it is an outdoor, owned cat or a community cat. Regardless, a fed cat is a better hunter than a hungry one, so I don’t mind leaving a little food out.

Last night, I discovered a gift one of these cats left in my garage. It was parts of a rabbit. I could make out a tail and that’s about it. I nearly screamed when I discovered this “gift.” I happen to like rabbits, so I’m a little disappointed by this. I understand it’s a part of nature, but it still bugs me.

I can honestly say, I’ve never found a mouse or evidence of a mouse near my house or garage. I love that, especially since I know there are rodents in the area.  I wish there weren’t cats like the one(s) in my neighborhood. All cats should have loving homes, where they are indoors-only, always. Since this isn’t possible, I will continue to help out by giving the my neighborhood cats a safe place to stay. Maybe someday, I’ll be able to interact with these cats.

I Love My Black Cat

Looking out the window

I’ve always liked black cats, there is something mysterious about them. When I was looking for a cat, there wasn’t a black one available. Chaos the tortie and Maddy the blue cat, sort of spoke to me, that’s how I picked them or they picked me. Raven was a foster who became permanent. He is a handsome black cat.

Raven is a great cat and I was sad when I read that black animals don’t get adopted as much as other colors. According to studies, black animals are overlooked. While the real reason is unknown, some theories are that black animals are harder to see in certain lights and are hard to photograph. And in some cultures, black animals are considered bad luck.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that animal can be good or bad luck. What I do believe is the countless studies that link an animal’s coat color to its temperament. Those studies show that black dogs and cats are more affectionate than some other coat colors and they can be friendlier.

I wouldn’t judge a cat or dog based solely on how it looked. Nor would I judge a cat or dog based solely on its breed. Each animal is unique and should be judged based solely on its behavior. That being said, I hope that the black animal theory is really just a myth. A quick search on Petfinder.com did find a large number of black cats available, finding black dogs was harder because you can’t really search for coat color. I’ve spent quite a  bit of time at shelters and I didn’t see a large number of black animals waiting for homes.

Despite my personal experiences, I can’t say for certain that black animals are discriminated against. I would encourage anyone adopting to consider all the animals available. Don’t just look for a certain color, look for a personality. If more adopters judged animals based on that one animal’s personality, there would be a lot fewer animals ending up in shelters. So spread the word, black animals are great!

Wordless Wednesday: Raven the Cat