Black Cat Awareness Month
October 1 - October 31
About Black Cat Awareness Month
Black Cat Awareness Month takes place throughout October every year, including October 2026, when it runs from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October. The campaign exists to challenge the superstitions and biases that leave black cats waiting longer than any other colour to find a loving home, and to encourage adopters to look beyond coat colour when choosing a companion.
What is Black Cat Awareness Month?
Black Cat Awareness Month is an annual observance dedicated to black and black-and-white cats, who are statistically less likely to be adopted and take longer to be rehomed than cats of other colours. It brings together animal charities, rescue centres and cat lovers to celebrate these often-overlooked felines and to dispel the centuries-old myths that paint them as unlucky. In the United Kingdom the cause is championed by Cats Protection, the country’s largest feline welfare charity, which uses October to spotlight the issue and promote adoption. The month is sometimes referred to as International Black Cat Awareness Month, reflecting its growth beyond any single country.
When is Black Cat Awareness Month?
Black Cat Awareness Month runs for the whole of October each year. In 2026 it begins on Thursday, 1 October and ends on Saturday, 31 October. The observance is fixed to the calendar month, so the dates never change from year to year. It conveniently encompasses two related single-day events: National Black Cat Day in the UK, held on 27 October, and the wider Halloween period, when black cats feature heavily in seasonal imagery and folklore.
Why Black Cat Awareness Month Matters
Black cats consistently face the longest odds in rescue centres. When Cats Protection first launched its campaign, research showed that black and black-and-white cats took, on average, seven days longer to find a home than cats of other colours. The reasons are a mixture of lingering superstition, with black cats historically associated with witchcraft and bad luck in parts of Europe, and more modern factors such as the belief that black cats photograph poorly for social media. In the United States, some estimates suggest black cats are adopted at noticeably lower rates than cats of other colours, and shelters sometimes nickname them “the invisibles” because they are so easily passed over. Raising awareness during a dedicated month helps shorten those waits, reduce the number of cats left in care, and remind would-be owners that personality, not colour, makes a great pet.
How to Get Involved in Black Cat Awareness Month
There are many ways to support black cats throughout October, whether or not you are in a position to adopt:
- Consider adoption – If you are ready to welcome a cat into your home, ask your local rescue centre specifically about their black and black-and-white residents, who are most likely to have been waiting the longest.
- Foster a cat – If a permanent commitment is not possible, fostering gives a black cat a temporary home and frees up space at busy shelters.
- Donate to a cat charity – Organisations such as Cats Protection rely on donations to feed, house and provide veterinary care for the cats in their care.
- Volunteer your time – Rescue centres always need help with cleaning, socialising cats and assisting at adoption events, all of which improve a cat’s chances of being rehomed.
- Share black cat photos online – Posting flattering pictures of black cats with the right lighting helps counter the myth that they do not photograph well, and shows just how striking they can be.
- Use the campaign hashtags – Spreading the message on social media with the official hashtags amplifies the reach of every shelter and charity taking part.
- Sponsor a cat – Many charities offer sponsorship schemes that fund the ongoing care of cats who are harder to rehome.
- Educate others – Gently correcting the bad-luck superstition when it comes up, and explaining the real welfare issue, helps change attitudes one conversation at a time.
History of Black Cat Awareness Month
The roots of the campaign lie in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the charity Cats Protection launched National Black Cat Day on 27 October after its research revealed that black and black-and-white cats were being overlooked by adopters and were spending significantly longer in care than other cats. The single-day event was designed to draw attention to the problem and to celebrate black cats rather than fear them.
As the message resonated, the observance expanded. International Black Cat Awareness Month grew out of a desire to give black cats more than a single day of recognition. It was promoted by cat advocates who noted that while the UK had National Black Cat Day in late October and the United States marked National Black Cat Appreciation Day on 17 August, there was no sustained, month-long focus on the issue. October, with its existing black cat associations through Halloween, was the natural choice.
Cats Protection reports that its long-running campaign has made a measurable difference: black and black-and-white cats now spend less time in its care than when the work began, resulting in thousands of successful adoptions. The month-long format allows charities to build momentum across several weeks rather than relying on a single news cycle, and it has helped turn a date once steeped in superstition into a celebration of feline welfare.
Noteworthy Facts About Black Cat Awareness Month
- National Black Cat Day was founded by Cats Protection in 2011 and is held annually on 27 October.
- Early Cats Protection research found black and black-and-white cats took around seven days longer to rehome than other cats.
- In the United States, National Black Cat Appreciation Day is marked separately on 17 August, a different event from the October month.
- The bad-luck superstition surrounding black cats is widely believed to date back to medieval Europe and associations with witchcraft.
- In some cultures, including parts of the UK and Japan, black cats are actually considered a symbol of good luck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Cat Awareness Month?
It is an annual observance held throughout October to celebrate black cats and encourage their adoption, countering the superstitions and biases that leave them waiting longer than other cats to find homes.
When is Black Cat Awareness Month in 2026?
It runs for the whole of October 2026, from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October.
Who runs Black Cat Awareness Month?
In the United Kingdom the cause is led by Cats Protection, which founded National Black Cat Day on 27 October in 2011. The wider month-long awareness effort is supported by rescue centres and cat advocates internationally.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Black Cat Awareness Month with your friends, family and followers. Use the hashtags #BlackCatDay and #BlackCatAwarenessMonth on social media, and post your best black cat photos to show just how photogenic these cats can be. The more people who know about the cause, the more black cats will find the homes they deserve.
Related Awareness Days
- National Take Your Cat to Work Day – A light-hearted celebration of feline companionship that, like Black Cat Awareness Month, puts cats in the spotlight.
- National Garfield the Cat Day – A day honouring the world’s most famous fictional cat and the joy cats bring to our lives.
- National Dachshund Day – Another animal awareness day encouraging responsible pet ownership and celebrating a much-loved companion.
Links
- Visit the Cats Protection National Black Cat Day page
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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