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

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.