The Open Veterinary Science Journal

2013, 7 : 18-22
Published online 2013 August 07. DOI: 10.2174/1874318820130718001
Publisher ID: TOVSJ-7-18

Cats in Animal Shelters: Exploring the Common Perception that Black Cats Take Longer to Adopt

Lori R. Kogan , Regina Schoenfeld-Tacher and Peter W. Hellyer
Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1601, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

ABSTRACT

Secondary analysis of pre-existing data from two Colorado animal shelters was conducted to assess the impact of shelter cats’ coat color on time required for adoption. One shelter included adult cats and kittens, the second shelter included kittens only. Results indicated that black cats, regardless of age or sex, require the longest time to adopt. They are followed by primarily black cats with other colors. Other color cats take less time to adopt than either black cats or primary black cats with other colors. This additional time in shelters negatively impacts the health and therefore, the welfare, of black shelter cats. Factual, rather than anecdotal knowledge about black cat adoption rates may allow shelters to direct additional resources into strategies designed to increase black cat adoption rates and decrease time black cats spend in shelters.

Keywords:

Cat, adoption, coat color.