In the fall of 2023, I went to rescue a kitten from an unwanted litter and came home with a brother/sister pair of black kittens. When I told my daughter about the unexpected addition, she replied, "That's good, because they're the hardest to adopt."
"What do you mean?" I queried, as she proceeded to explain that black cats are the least likely to get adopted and the most frequently euthanized. Surprised by this, I did my own research and sure enough, she was right. According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and 3.2 million of those are cats. And according to the National Institute of Health (.gov), black cats are the least likely to get adopted (13%) and the most frequently to be euthanized (70%). Curious as to what contributed to these numbers, I explored and discovered the following history.
The Stigma of Black Cats
Domesticated felines date back to early civilization and were considered beneficial for pest control to ancient Egyptians, chasing away scorpions and snakes, according to Julia Troche, an Egyptologist, assistant professor of history at Missouri State University.
In a history.com article called ‘How Cats Became Divine Symbols in Ancient Egypt’, Dr. Troche explained, “In addition to appreciating their ability to keep rodents, snakes and other pests out of their homes, the ancient Egyptians understood that cats of all sizes are smart, quick and powerful.” She later added, “The animals were initially adopted as useful predators in ancient Egypt and gradually became symbols of divinity and protection.”
Things took a turn in 13th century Europe when black cats became associated with the occult and declared “an incarnation of Satan” by Pope Gregory IX. In another history.com article, 'Why Black Cats Are Associated with Halloween and Bad Luck' by Elizabeth Yuko, cats became inseparably linked to witches. Yuko used the words of author and wiccan priestess Cerridwen Fallingstar to explain, “Although the early Christian church in Europe coexisted with witches, as the church gained power, they saw witches as their direct competition in gaining the hearts and minds of the people. That’s when the church began hunting, persecuting, torturing, and killing witches in vast numbers.” Fallingstar added, “Witches honored the natural world, having deep respect for plants and animals. Affection between human and animal therefore began to be seen as 'diabolical', or devilish, and the old lady with her cats became seen as suspect.”
Not only did witches, cats and the devil have that connection, but they shared another connection that the early Christians feared - they were seen as threats. “Cats, like the women accused of witchcraft, tend to exhibit a healthy disrespect of authority,” she highlighted. “They don't fawn, like dogs, upon even the unworthy. In the church, neither independent women, nor independent animals, were to be tolerated.”
Fast forward to today, and people are less likely to adopt a black kitten because some still believe they are bad luck. And some people won't adopt black, I have heard, because "I can't see their face" or "they don't photograph well".
The Stigma about Mental Health
According to https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues in America, affecting 40 million people a year (and that’s just the adults). Thirty two percent of our babies under the age of 18 struggle with anxiety as well.
Anxiety disorders are caused by a complex mix of genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life. Therapy, medication management, and alternative treatments have proven effective in managing symptoms.
Studies have also shown that animals help reduce symptoms. In fact, a 2018 study by the Biomedcentral Psychiatry found on https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov concluded that pets provide benefits to those with mental health issues. “By providing unconditional positive regard, pets promoted emotional stability through the regulation of feelings, management of stress and helping people to cope with difficult life events. For people living alone, pets provided a source of ‘connectedness’, reassurance, and normalcy.”
With kittens specifically, the vibration from their purring can lower blood pressure, lessen stress, and promote healing. Petting the littles reduces the level of cortisol (stress hormones) in your body and leads to feelings of calm (and even happiness) and a decreased heart rate. For real. Google it.
Now, it is important to know the difference between Emotional Support Animals and Psychiatric Service Animals, as they are two distinct categories of animals that provide support and assistance to their humans but serve different purposes and have different legal rights and protections. Emotional Support Animals provide emotional support and comfort to individuals with emotional or psychological disabilities or conditions. They are not trained to perform specific tasks or actions like service animals. To have an Emotional Support Animal, a person must have a diagnosed mental or emotional disability, and a licensed mental health professional must provide a letter stating that the presence of the animal is necessary for the individual's well-being.
Service animals are highly trained to perform specific tasks that are directly related to mitigating the effects of their human’s disability. These disabilities can be physical, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual. Service animals go through extensive training to perform their tasks. Their human must have a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For more information, visit: https://adata.org/guide/service-animals-and-emotional-support-animals
Despite the various treatment options, more than half of people with mental health issues don't get treatment out of fear of being treated differently. The public stigma of being discriminated against or devalued by others, and the systemic stigma of reduced access to care and resources due to policies are deterrents and discouragers to the marginalized in need of support.
The Mission
During the those first days after rescue, I fell in love with the dark beauties, and developed a particular bond with Cuddles, the only one I had originally set out to adopt. Every night she would crawl on my shoulder (I sleep on my side) and fall asleep in a purr. It usually takes my mind time to wind down before I fall asleep, but I found her intrusion of my space therapeutically distracting and the sound of purring in my ear soothing. I began to fall asleep quicker and
slept more soundly.
Something about Cuddles felt different. I felt different with Cuddles. Although I had had my fair share of loving experiences with animals, and, as a therapist, had prescribed them to a few of my clients to help address their anxiety (or depression), I had never actually experienced the therapeutic benefit of an emotional support animal in this way. That was the difference with Cuddles, she was now mine.
My experience with Cuddles took on new meaning as an advocate for emotional support animals, while the increased awareness of the plight of black cats took on a new interest for me. Then it hit me - why not merge passions into something to truly benefit others. And with that, the Rescue Black Project was born.
Over the next three months, I rescued/fostered 18 kittens, 10 of them black. After the initial adjustment, I noticed that, although all of them were adorably loveable and fun to be around, only select ones had significant, identifiable emotional support characteristics, like being intuitive, responsive and attachment friendly for example. After reflecting on the above, I decided to combine my personal experience and professional expertise to merge two stigmas and turn them into something positive for all involved. This (first) Rescue Black Project is designed to promote the rescue, fostering and adoption of black cats. All the kitties will be supported in finding their forever homes, but select kittens who identify as having emotional support capacity will be paired with adopters who meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis, and provided Emotional Support Animal Letters, if needed, to address any housing issues.
Requests for letters to certify emotional support animals are on the rise. According to counseling.com, this is because word is spreading that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes the benefits of emotional support animals and provides regulations allowing them to live with an owner in designated non-pet housing (with a few exceptions) without requiring a pet deposit fee.
Rescue Black Magic
Magic is the power to influence a course of events using mysterious forces. This is where you come in. I've gathered some kittens, established a free range home-based rescue, registered and gotten Rescue Black Project approved as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and will be submitting the application for tax exempt status by year's end. You are the mysterious forces that can help ensure that Rescue Black Project is a success with your charitable giving.
Listen, I know times are hard, and this economy isn't making things easier. The other day, I went to Wendy's and ordered a salad, fries (don't judge me) and a drink and the total came up to almost $20 (for one meal)! Then, I went to the grocery store and bought groceries for just me for the week and walked way with $200 less in my account and I didn't even come away with a lot of items. It's ridiculous! I get it. So I am not asking for any sacrifices. I am, however, asking for a few of you to give a little (not even a lot) out of your abundance to help feed and house littles ones who struggle, or die, without human support, and contribute to the mental health and wellbeing of humans who need these little ones to enjoy life a little bit better.
Magic starts when a group of people like you commit to giving as little as $20 a month, and with those who can give as much as $200 a month. There is a lot that goes into maintaining a rescue. There's the obvious needs - food, litter, pet beds, cat trees and toys for mental stimulation. But there's the not-so-obvious expenses, like unexpected vet bills when the kitties catch a cold (yes, they do that), spaying/neutering to help control the population (RIP Bob Barker), the abundance and variety of cleaning supplies, rental space, support staff compensation to ensure things get done in between volunteer service, record keeping and the list could go on. It is a lot for one person, but it is better, and easier, when we can do it together, a little bit at a time.
Please consider donating to the Rescue Black Project, all donations are tax deductible. Even if you don't like kittens, you would be supporting the project to help the humans. And if you don't like humans, you would be supporting the project to help the kittens. Either way, you are helping to make a difference, and that is what matters.
Comments