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Selfies make black cats less popular, rescue centre owner claims as she offers to neuter the creatures for free | Selfies make black cats less popular, rescue centre owner claims as she offers to neuter the creatures for free |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Black cats are being left behind at a rescue centre as nobody wants to adopt them because they do not show up as well in photos posted to social media. | Black cats are being left behind at a rescue centre as nobody wants to adopt them because they do not show up as well in photos posted to social media. |
"People will not even come and see them,” Christine Bayka, founder of the Moggery in Bristol, told the Independent. | "People will not even come and see them,” Christine Bayka, founder of the Moggery in Bristol, told the Independent. |
She added that it had become much harder to re-home them "because of selfies". | She added that it had become much harder to re-home them "because of selfies". |
"People live their lives to put pictures on Facebook, and so black cats are even less popular," she said. | |
The 67-year-old said that for the first time, all 40 cats at the centre are black. This has prompted her to offer free neutering to all black cats in February in a bid to reduce the number of leftover kittens. | The 67-year-old said that for the first time, all 40 cats at the centre are black. This has prompted her to offer free neutering to all black cats in February in a bid to reduce the number of leftover kittens. |
“Every autumn I am left with black kittens," she said, adding that people "will wait for the next kitten season rather than adopt what we have." | “Every autumn I am left with black kittens," she said, adding that people "will wait for the next kitten season rather than adopt what we have." |
They were "delightful and friendly but the wrong colour and people will not even look at them," she said. | They were "delightful and friendly but the wrong colour and people will not even look at them," she said. |
The Cats Protection charity recently said that black cats took 13 per cent longer to rehome than cats of any other colour in 2017. | The Cats Protection charity recently said that black cats took 13 per cent longer to rehome than cats of any other colour in 2017. |
“In France and Germany, black cats are considered unlucky but they aren’t here,” Ms Bayka said. | “In France and Germany, black cats are considered unlucky but they aren’t here,” Ms Bayka said. |
“Tabbies are snapped up on day one. Torties are the next. Gingers are the marmite colour, they’re either loved or hated. But nobody wants black. | “Tabbies are snapped up on day one. Torties are the next. Gingers are the marmite colour, they’re either loved or hated. But nobody wants black. |
Even if someone wants to adopt a black cat, they may reject a perfectly healthy, friendly kitten because of other aesthetic reasons, she said. | Even if someone wants to adopt a black cat, they may reject a perfectly healthy, friendly kitten because of other aesthetic reasons, she said. |
“I’ve had kittens turned down because their faces were too rounded and they wanted pointy faces,” she added. "Alternatively, someone wanted a black fluffy cat, which I had - a lovely, friendly, black fluffy cat - and she came with a tape measure. | “I’ve had kittens turned down because their faces were too rounded and they wanted pointy faces,” she added. "Alternatively, someone wanted a black fluffy cat, which I had - a lovely, friendly, black fluffy cat - and she came with a tape measure. |
“Her last cat had three-inch long fur and this one was not quite that long, so she went away empty handed.” | “Her last cat had three-inch long fur and this one was not quite that long, so she went away empty handed.” |
This was why the centre will arrange for black cats to be neutered for free with the local vet - it is a “desperate effort” to prevent kittens being left over. | This was why the centre will arrange for black cats to be neutered for free with the local vet - it is a “desperate effort” to prevent kittens being left over. |
“It’s very easy to get rid of kittens but it is difficult to find caring, permanent homes for them,” she said. | “It’s very easy to get rid of kittens but it is difficult to find caring, permanent homes for them,” she said. |
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