Why so many animals, especially cats, have white booties.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-do-cats-and-so-many-other-animals-look-like-they-re-wearing-socks?utm_source=pocket-newtab

None of my cats have white booties.  My back cat and the Russian Blue are unicolor all over.  One of the Russian Blue's kittens has black booties.  The feral cat that walked in and decided to stay is mixed colors all over but no booties.

How about your cats Martin?

Noel

 

Edited March 7, 20224 yr by birdguy

It would be that any cat that is named "Socks" would have 'em!  Toon and her sister Tiara were both pure color!

 

We had a similar pair Charlie. Phrick and Phrack. They were litter mates and both passed within 90 days of each other (at age 11). Now we have what some call a Tuxedo cat. But a black cat by any other name is still a black cat. Every chance she gets she basks in the sun trying to tan those white parts. My oldest son told me many years ago......black cats are best.

56 minutes ago, W2DR said:

My oldest son told me many years ago......black cats are best.

Well, unless one jumps out at you in a dark alley while passing under a ladder!

When you have a black cat it crosses your path a dozen time  day.

Noel

To quote Nomi Berger:

"For centuries, black cats were revered. Then, in the blink of a great, green eye, their fortunes were reversed.

What changed history’s good luck charm into a symbol of all things bad? Is it similar to a child’s game of broken telephone, where the message mouthed at the beginning is mangled at the end? Or is it more a case of one person’s myth (read “superstition”) being another person’s magic (read “allure”).

Because, ironically, for cats colored black, their status seems to depend on when they lived, where they once lived, and where they live now.

Cats were deemed sacred by the ancient Egyptians and killing a cat was considered a capital crime. Family cats were even mummified and buried alongside their loved ones. Some cultures believed that black was a protective color and that black cats had the power to ward off negative forces. Many believed that black cats were reincarnated beings capable of foretelling the future. But after the Romans, devout cat worshipers themselves, introduced them to Europe, a coin was tossed and heads flipped to tails.

Beginning in the 1400’s, cats became inextricably linked with people accused of practicing witchcraft. Cats, especially black ones, were thought to be these witches’ familiars, or supernatural guides. The Irish believed that a giant, mythological black cat could steal a dead person’s soul before the gods could claim it, forcing loved ones to maintain round-the-clock vigils until the deceased was safely buried. The English believed that witches transformed themselves into black cats in order to roam the country, spying on people and wreaking havoc wherever they went.

The belief that witches could change themselves into black cats crossed the Atlantic with the first American settlers, and reached its zenith during the infamous Salem witch-hunts and trials. In the southern states, folklore about supernatural black cats and their misdeeds abounded, while pirates believed that if a black cat walked onto their ship, then just as quickly walked off again, the ship would sink on its next voyage. 

The stigma dogging black cats has even spilled over into modern times, where, in some countries, a black cat seems synonymous with bad luck. Examples? Meeting a black cat early in the morning. Having a black cat turn its back on you. Chasing a black cat from your property. Walking under a ladder after a black cat has walked under it.

And yet, ironically, other countries believe that same bad-luck black cat brings only GOOD luck. Examples: Meeting three black cats in a row. Touching a black cat. Having a black cat enter your home. Owning a black cat. Having a black cat greet you at the door.

In fact, more people in more places have always felt that a black cat stood for good, not evil. Fishermen’s wives believed that owning a black cat kept their husbands safe at sea, while stage actors were convinced that a black cat in the audience on opening night signified a successful run. Peasants were convinced that feeding and showing respect to blacks cats would bring them good luck, while villagers felt that presenting a bride with a black cat as a wedding gift would bring her good fortune.

Adding to the confusion is the greatest superstition of all — that having a black cat cross your path is unlucky. But only for those living in North America and in some European countries. For those living in Japan, having a black cat cross your path is considered LUCKY.

Today, practitioners of Feng Shui, who believe that cats are drawn to harmony, place a figurine of a black cat in their homes, facing north, to ward off evil. And best of all? Simply dreaming of a black cat is considered a lucky omen in itself.

And so, for all those in doubt or in fear — sweet dreams."

On Halloween the Great Pumpkin will arise. Through the skies on a sled pulled by 12 black cats.

My Grandmother told me about evil black cats that would suck your breath.

Even though I was a pretty young kid, I nonetheless heard breasts, and was confused about the whole thing for years afterwards..... 🐈

Firstly, confusion about why a cat would even want to do such a thing, and secondly, exactly how the kitty accomplished the deadly deed.

This confusion continued even after I correctly realized Grandma meant to say breath, because I still could not figure out exactly how it would all work.

From time to time I hear of babies in the crib that stop breathing for some strange reason and doctors find no symptoms. And they are facing upwards, should have been lots of oxygen.

35 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

My Grandmother told me about evil black cats that would suck your breath.

Even though I was a pretty young kid, I nonetheless heard breasts, and was confused about the whole thing for years afterwards..... 🐈

Sort of like when a young girl went to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor pulled out his stethoscope and said "big breaths". To which the young girl replied "yesth, and I'm only twelve yearsth old".

If black cats have anything to do with luck I am fortunate to be the owner of a black at.  His name is Dreamer.  His mother is our Russian Blue who is my favorite; probably because she spends most of the day on my desk with me.

Dreamer is a roamer.  And in the winter when it gets cold he'll sleep in one of the cat beds outside on the patio while the other three are inside where it's nice and warm.

He is also the largest of our cats.

Noel

I have been blessed with polydactyl pawed cats, I ask my Mr. Blazin which team is he  playing for?.[catchers mitts]. There is another here that is wearing white go go boots.Good fun topic.

Edited March 8, 20224 yr by Paul Deluca

21 hours ago, birdguy said:

 

Why so many animals, especially cats, have white booties.

How about your cats Martin?

 

Last night, when I read you said  "bootie" and knowing that's an American expression for the body part we Brits call "bum"... my daughter and me found ourselves carefully examining my cats rear end. 🤨

Now of course, embarrassingly,  I see you actually meant their feet. 

I should have payed more attention to the title. 

 

In addition to current cat..

Two cats all black.

Two Siamese and they don't have white feet.

Another black and white cat that did.

One tabby cat that did.

One brown and white cat that did.

4 had white feet 4 didn't. 

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 20224 yr by martin-w

17 hours ago, birdguy said:

When you have a black cat it crosses your path a dozen time  day.

Noel

 

And night... when you are coming down the stairs at 2 in the morning. 

Edited March 8, 20224 yr by martin-w

1 minute ago, martin-w said:

 

And night... when you are coming down the stairs at 2 in the morning. 

That is cat under foot.