A black domestic shorthair cat looking for a new home since August is 660 NewsRadio’s latest feature in its weekly “Pause for Pets.”
At eight years old, Leo has been “perfecting the art of calm supervision” since joining Calgary’s Animal Services.
Being a senior in the facility, his status has given him a “lifetime of wisdom” on when to enjoy affection and when to enjoy his “me time.”
However, black cats and canines are often given a pass at rescue shelters. So much so, paws.org said that the phenomenon is sometimes dubbed “black dog” or “black cat syndrome.”
Anna Lee Fitzsimmons, Calgary Humane Society’s director of public relations, says it’s definitely an issue.
“We do see it both with our cat population and our dog population and even with our Bunny population,” she explained in an interview with 660 NewsRadio.
“A lot of people believe that there’s superstition around Black Cats, and the more time I’ve spent in this industry, I actually do not think that that is the case.”
The bias goes back to everything from superstitions to beliefs, and can often be reinforced in social media, that those animals are bad omens simply because of the colour of their fur.
Fitzsimmons says the bias might have a lot to do with the fact that dark animals don’t always photograph as well as lighter ones.
“We try and do promotions where we can. It’s always nice to do a little bit of myth-busting and then try and really just highlight kind of their best qualities,” she said.
“Often our black cats are particularly cuddly, a lot more calm … very great companions. So I think it’s really just about featuring kind of their best qualities to help find them homes.”
At the city’s animal shelter, right now, Leo has been looking for a home since August.
The black beauty is not just another black cat; he’s chill, he likes naps, lounging sessions, and is up for a cuddle and will offer purr when the mood strikes.
You can head to the city’s animal services adoption page for more information.