Black Girls Love Cats, Too
As a Black cat lady, I often wonder, “what do black people have against cats?”
Cats are my favorite beings and I do not discriminate! Large ones, small ones; long-haired, short-haired, tabby, tuxedo, calico, tortoiseshell; Siamese, Persian, Sphynx, etc…all have a special place in my heart.
But…
As a youth, I was weirded out by cats. They seemed shifty and had an air of mysticism that made me wary. Their pupils, especially when dilated, reminded me of reptiles which furthered my fear. I used to say they were “furry reptiles”. My feelings were reinforced by family and friends. No one I knew had a cat as a pet and expressed disgust towards them.
“Uh-uh I just can’t stand how they stare at you with them evil eyes!” A beloved aunt of mine bellowed one day while passing a beautiful grey tabby sitting on a porch. All I could do was agree and be glad I didn’t have a creepy animal as a pet.
One day, a wiggling bush changed my mind forever.
Summer rain had chilled the summer heat, giving my little brother and I the idea of taking a walk down the dirt road. We were talking and playing when we came across a quivering bush. Initially, we were frightened but I decided to investigate. I looked into the brambles and a pair of dreamy green eyes stared back at me! After much cooing and wooing, I managed to lure the tiny grey kitten out of the bush, cradling her close. My mother quickly agreed to keep her and dubbed her “Meka”. From that point on, my family began a love affair with kitties and owned several for many years.
This chance event changed my feelings about felines.
As a Black person, there is always much negativity spewed about cats. My grandmother would say that they were evil, worked for the devil, and assisted witches; a sentiment shared by most black people. What baffles me most is the unfounded ignorance people harbor about cats when they’ve never personally interacted with one.
I adore cats and their unpredictable mannerisms and expressions. They are incredibly intelligent & independent and even domesticated themselves. They keep rodents away, comfort you when you’re sad and even lie on books while you’re reading. What’s not to adore? I proudly display my love of felines and am typically met with disdain from my black peers:
“Cats are weird”, “They’re evil”, “They’re shady and sneaky”.
I then attempt to explain feline behavior and that if they only took the time to understand they would love them as much as I do!
I like to meow when nervous which draws stares and ire.
I hate to make this about race, but people that aren’t black love cats! There are tons of media online depicting cat lovers all over the world, the majority being non-black individuals which makes me wonder what do Black people have against cats?
In my opinion, it is sheer misinformation and superstition that keeps black people from realizing the whimsical beauty of felines. If they’d only encounter cats without preconceived notions, they would find that they are a lot like people and have a range of emotions and personalities that conflict or mesh with open energies that match theirs lol.
If I could speak to the masses of black people that dislike cats I would urge them not to allow stereotypes and preconceptions to turn them against beings that they don’t understand.
One day I hope to provide a foster home for kitties of all colors, ages, and dispositions cuddling them and helping them find a forever family.
