Black cats have a bad rep for being bad luck. But don’t judge a cat by its fur! Black cats are just as affectionate as other cats, and in my opinion, just as beautiful. Sadly many black cats in animal rehoming centres are overlooked by adopters.

To raise awareness of black cats that are desperate for loving homes, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA have reduced the adoption fee for black cats this Friday the 13th to just $13. Even cats that are partially black can be adopted for this low price. The $13 adoption fee will also apply to black cats adopted on the 13th of every month.

For $13 you can rehome a black cat that has a microchip, has been spayed or neutered and has had his first set of vaccinations. Your black cat will also receive a follow-up health visit and a health and wellness exam. All this for just $13!

If you are considering adopting a cat, don’t forget to look in on the black kitties. You might find your perfect feline pal in one of them!

So we love black cats, and we hope you do too. In fact, Newton the SureFlap cat is mainly black! And we wouldn’t have him any other way.

Do you have a black cat?

Why not tell us about your black cat and why you love them by commenting on this blog post!

A cat in Luton has found fame as a cat burglar! He has been caught on CCTV carrying all manner of objects through his cat flap including sponges, clothes and even pants!

Nicknamed Denis Cat Burglar Newman, the crafty collecting kitty has now been made a sponsor for Homeless Cat Rescue in Bedfordshire, using his fame to help raise money for the charity. ‘Denis Stole My Pants’ t-shirts can be purchased, and so far, the sale of these t-shirts has raised enough money to buy a microchip scanner for Homeless Cat Rescue. A microchip scanner is a vital piece of equipment to help determine if a suspected stray cat has a microchip or not.

Denis had a tough start in life. His mother was a stray and was found in a bad way. Unfortunately she passed away, and Denis now suffers from a permanently wheezy chest. Because he was taken in as a stray, his owners know first-hand how important it is to help fund cat adoption centres like Homeless Cat Rescue.

Homeless Cat Rescue in Bedfordshire relies on generous donations from the public to help rehome stray and unwanted cats. They need a regular supply of cat food and cat litter, and flea and worm treatment. They’re also looking for old bric-a-brac to sell at car boot sales and people that can provide foster homes for cats that are waiting for permanent homes.

Has your cat ever brought anything strange through the cat flap?

If so why not tell us about the strange things they bring you by commenting on this blog post!

From now until 4^th April 2012, World Stray Day, the GSPCA and Guernsey Animal Aid are offering pet microchipping for £4.99 per animal. At such a cheap price, there’s no reason not to get your cat or dog microchipped if you live in Guernsey!

Many lost animals are taken into the GSPCA and Guernsey Animal Aid and while some of them have microchips, many of them don’t. If a cat doesn’t have a microchip or collar then they may be considered as a stray and rehomed without their real owner knowing they’ve been found. Guernsey may be a small island, but that doesn’t stop lost animals posing a problem.

Both charities hope to highlight the importance of pet microchipping in support of World Stray Day to highlight the importance of having your cat or dog microchipped. Even if you have a collar and tag on your pet, you should still consider a pet microchip as collars can get lost.

The GSPCA has been caring for animals in Guernsey for 139 years. They prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals through education. To get your pet microchipped at the GSPCA Animal Shelter, you will not need to make an appointment. Just drop into the shelter Monday to Saturday between 9am and 4:30pm. Call 01481 257261 for details.

Guernsey Animal Aid is a newer animal charity that launched in 1998. Before the shelter was founded, the feral cat population in Guernsey was a real problem. Since they opened, over 700 feral cats have been neutered or spayed and rehomed. To find out about their £4.99 pet microchipping offer, call 07781 101052.

It’s National Microchipping Month in June and if you don’t live in Guernsey but would like to take advantage of discounted microchipping rates, many vets and pet shops all over the UK offer discounted microchipping during National Microchipping Month.

Image courtesy of ~Kenny on Flickr

A fat cat was dumped in the foyer of the Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter in Canada in December, containing the aptly named Tiny, who weighed a whopping 30.2 lbs. Initially the shelter workers had no idea the box contained an animal as it was taped shut; until it meowed. Inside the box were Tiny and another much smaller cat, Rapunzel.

Tiny the fat cat has been put on a special diet to help bring his weight down and a special Facebook page has been set up to help him, and other cats like him, lose weight. Follow Tiny’s Weight Loss Challenge on Facebook to find out how he gets on with his diet and to donate to the Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter to help fund his care. Tiny is the largest cat the shelter has ever seen and they are keen to get him down to a healthy weight with the help of support from the public.

It costs around $5 a day to feed Tiny his special food. Another fat cat in the shelter, Pepper, who weighs 19 lb., is also on the same diet. They both also need special, on-going veterinary attention. The Fredericton SPCA’s goal is to raise $4,900. Any money that isn’t used to care for Tiny and Pepper will be put towards the care of other animals at the shelter.

The Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter hopes that Tiny’s story will educate cat owners on the dangers of pet obesity. If you suspect that your cat might be overweight, take them to be weighed at your local vet. Your vet will be able to advise you on the type of diet your fat cat should be eating in order to get their weight under control. Don’t forget that regular exercise for your cat is an important part of any diet.

Do you have a fat cat?

Tell us how you are treating your fat cat and the type of diet and exercise regime they are on by commenting on this blog post! Has your fat cat managed to lose weight since going on its special diet? We’d love to hear how much they’ve lost!

The Anfield cat that skulked across the pitch during a Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur game last week will soon be up for adoption. Currently in foster care, the Anfield cat has now been renamed Shankly. Shankly is under the care of Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre in Formby, Merseyside.

Freshfields will ensure that the Anfield cat undergoes the same procedure as any other cat in their care that is up for adoption. He will be vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. The Anfield cat will be up for adoption in around three weeks. Freshfields have stressed that they will not be taking reservations for his adoption and that anyone wishing to adopt him should call the centre in three weeks and go through the same channels that they would if they were adopting any other cat.

When the Anfield cat took to the pitch, he created a storm on Twitter overnight, with multiple Twitter accounts cropping up claiming to be the Anfield cat! A similar Twitter sensation occurred when Larry the cat took up residence as Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street.

Now that the Anfield cat is in the care of Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre he has said goodbye to his life on the streets and is sure to find a good home. When Shankly was taken in, he was a little worse for wear, with bites on all over him and an abscess under his chin. In spite of his wild life on the streets, Freshfields reports that he’s an affectionate and friendly cat.

Freshfields Animal Rescue has two centres. In addition to the Liverpool centre, they also have one in Wales. They are dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted, homeless and abused animals. Check out their website to find out more information about this fantastic animal charity and to see what animals they currently have available for adoption. In addition to Shankly there are many more cats in their care that are waiting for loving homes!

If you haven’t seen it already, take a look at the footage below of the Anfield cat crossing the pitch!

Today is Black Friday in the USA, when many companies slash their prices on products and gifts across the States. There are a number of animal shelters and pet adoption centres in the US that are using Black Friday as a way to encourage animal lovers to adopt.

Kings Animal Services – ‘Black Fur Friday’ – Hanford Mall CA

On 25-27 November, Kings Animal Services are putting a twist on Black Friday by hosting their very own ‘Black Fur Friday’. Head down to their pet adoption center in Hanford Hall, California today, tomorrow or Sunday to take advantage of their half price adoption fees on all cats and dogs that have any amount of black fur! Cats can be adopted for just $37, which includes vaccinations, spaying/neutering and microchips.

The idea of Black Fur Friday is to raise awareness about black cats and dogs that often get overlooked when people decide to adopt animals. Black animals are gorgeous and they should be celebrated!

Don’t worry if you can’t adopt this Black Friday. Kings Animal Services are encouraging animal lovers to head down to the adoption center anyway to donate and show the animals some love.

Cat Town – Black Friday Event – Pet Food Express Oakland California

Head over to Pet Food Express in Oakland California from 12pm-5pm today to take part in Cat Town’s Black Friday event. Cat Town focuses on the fostering and rehoming of sensitive cats that might sometimes find it difficult to find new homes because they are timid or feral. Cat Town works in partnership with Oakland Animal Services to reduce the number of cats that are euthanized in the area.

Cat Town does not currently have physical premises, but they hope to open a cat sanctuary in the future. All cats in Cat Town’s foster program are cared for in a home environment.

Lucky Paws – Black Friday Extravaganza – Coronado Mall Albuquerque

Take advantage of 50% off all pet adoptions at the Lucky Paws center this Black Friday in Coronado Mall, Albuqeurque. Lucky paws will be open for adoptions today from 11:30am to 7:30pm.

Are you hosting a Black Friday Pet Adoption event?

If you work or volunteer at an animal shelter or adoption center that is hosting a special Black Friday pet adoption event, why not tell us and our readers about it by commenting on our blog post!

“It’s not a life if they’re in a cage. They need to be able to run full speed and climb a tree. That’s a cat.” Lynea Lattanzio, the Cat House on the Kings.

If ever there were the perfect sanctuary for cats, the Cat House on the Kings might just be it. The Cat House on the Kings is the largest no cage, no kill cat sanctuary and adoption center in California, which cares for hundreds of cats at any given time in an open, free, homely environment.

Lynea Lattanzio is the brains behind this very special sanctuary for cats. When she was a child Lynea was desperate for a cat of her own. Now her dream has come true above and beyond her expectations, as she’s currently living with around 700 cats in the Cat House on the Kings!

Lynea first worked in another animal shelter before setting up her own sanctuary for cats 16 years ago. Over the years, she has looked after a staggering 16,000 cats at the Cat House on the Kings, and they all have lived happy, contented lives.

All the cats that are housed in the sanctuary are up for adoption, and as it’s a no kill sanctuary, they could spend their entire lives there if they never find another home. For some of the cats, the Cat House in the Kings IS their forever home.

The cats have free roam of a grand five bedroom house and extensive garden complex. They can go in and out as they please through any of the many cat doors that surround the property and the cats can eat from any of the 10 feeding stations on the premises.

When Lynea was first starting out, she worked for a veterinarian to get some guidance on cat health so that she could be better equipped to look after so many cats. Now that she’s lived with so many cats over the last 16 years, she can quickly recognise when a cat is unwell.

But it’s not just cats that live at the sanctuary; there are a number of dogs also! Remarkably, all the cats and dogs get along perfectly, due to the way they are cared for and the loving home they find themselves in.

The Cat House on the Kings relies largely on donations. For more information about this awe-inspiring sanctuary for cats, visit the Cat House on the Kings website.

What do you think?

Do you live with lots of cats? Tell us about them by leaving a comment on this blog post!

Leading animal welfare charities Cats Protection and The Blue Cross are concerned that this summer could be a record year for the number of unwanted kittens. With the warm weather upon us, unwanted kittens are already starting to become a problem.

The Blue Cross already has over 70 kittens waiting to be adopted. Meanwhile, Cats Protection is also experiencing an influx in litters of kittens. An excess in the number of unwanted kittens that are taken into animal shelters creates a real strain on charities’ already limited funds.

Last summer, animal shelters across the UK were inundated with unwanted kittens, and the charities are keen to prevent a repeat of the crisis this year. But with kittens already swarming into animal shelters, is it too late to prevent another unwanted kitten crisis?

To prevent so many unwanted kittens, the message is simple – get your cat neutered. Not only will neutering your cat prevent unwanted kittens coming into the world, but it can also prevent your cat receiving unwanted attention from other cats and can keep certain diseases at bay.

Summertime is the most common time of the year for kittens to be born, resulting in unwanted kittens being dumped in animal shelters. But if a cat is neutered from a young age, then there’s no chance of them producing unwanted kittens.

If you are a cat owner and you haven’t had your cat neutered, why not take action now to prevent another unwanted kitten crisis like last year. Speak to your vet for comprehensive advice about neutering your cat. The RSPCA also has useful information on their website about neutering your pets.

What do you think?

Do you think cats should be neutered? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment on this blog post!

Black Cat Rescue in Boston Massachusetts is an animal shelter that specialises in rescuing and rehoming black cats. Black Cat Rescue believes that black cats are half as likely to be adopted as cats of other colours, probably due to the superstitions surrounding them. Due to the struggles that unwanted black cats face, Black Cat Rescue was born.

In some countries, people believe that owning a black cat is actually good luck, but black cats are more commonly associated with bad luck. It’s unknown where the superstition originated. Bad luck associated with black cats crossing your path spells bad news for black kitties waiting to be adopted.

Black Cat Rescue aims to dispel the black cat bad luck myth by offering new homes to black cats in the Greater Boston area. Many cat lovers don’t even think about the superstitions, and are more than happy to adopt a black cat.

Black Cat Rescue cats are cared for in foster homes whilst they wait to be adopted. Black cats over 12 weeks old are tested for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus. They are also spayed or neutered and current on rabies and indoor vaccines. Meanwhile, kittens under 12 weeks are current on age appropriate vaccines. Due to the excellent treatment that they receive, black cats that are adopted through Black Cat Rescue are in great health when they are rehomed.

If you want to adopt a black cat from Black Cat Rescue, you can visit the cats that are available for adoption before you make your decision. Once you decide to adopt a black cat, Black Cat Rescue will perform a home visit to ensure that they are being rehomed in a suitable environment. The shelter will also offer you advice on how to care for your cat. You will also need to pay a $125 adoption fee, which covers the cost of the cat’s care while they are at the shelter.

To find out more about Black Cat Rescue in Boston, USA, you can visit their website for further details. Also, check out our blog post about adopting a cat to help you prepare for bringing your new moggie home.