ChrisH
05-07-2003, 06:11 PM
I am putting quotes for this first bit as I am copy-typing it from a book. :)
A cat that is completely black is comparatively rare. Most black cats (apart from pedigree Black Shorthairs) have a small patch of white somewhere on their body, usually under the chin or on the face. The reason for this has to do with medieval superstition. We all know that cats were persecuted during the Middle Ages because they were associated with Devil worship and witchcraft.
Black cats in particular were singled out for the worst treatment, but those with a touch of white on their black coats were more likely to be given the benefit of the doubt. A white patch was thought to be a sign of innocence and was referred to as an `angel`s mark`. As a result of this grisly selection process, totally black cats became exceptionally rare, while those that were black with a touch of white survived.
Now on to Ebby`s coat colour. As anyone who has seen her picture knows, she is a black cat, and yes, she does have the `angel`s mark` too, in fact two of them plus two easily missed tiny white dots on her right side. But now the sun has begun to shine I have noticed she is not ebony black as I thought, more mahogany black. I hope you will be able to see what I mean in these pictures. :)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pc959b9026bbef5d0da5ac9502d6c1b2a/fc33b4b2.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pd2bc6e3701d879512dc2f89599f1e68c/fc33b4af.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pb328a1d9ffef02abe906fdeafa845fc8/fc33b4ae.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pc627fc301df795a0c45757ace09e1084/fc3df9b0.jpg
Christine
A cat that is completely black is comparatively rare. Most black cats (apart from pedigree Black Shorthairs) have a small patch of white somewhere on their body, usually under the chin or on the face. The reason for this has to do with medieval superstition. We all know that cats were persecuted during the Middle Ages because they were associated with Devil worship and witchcraft.
Black cats in particular were singled out for the worst treatment, but those with a touch of white on their black coats were more likely to be given the benefit of the doubt. A white patch was thought to be a sign of innocence and was referred to as an `angel`s mark`. As a result of this grisly selection process, totally black cats became exceptionally rare, while those that were black with a touch of white survived.
Now on to Ebby`s coat colour. As anyone who has seen her picture knows, she is a black cat, and yes, she does have the `angel`s mark` too, in fact two of them plus two easily missed tiny white dots on her right side. But now the sun has begun to shine I have noticed she is not ebony black as I thought, more mahogany black. I hope you will be able to see what I mean in these pictures. :)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pc959b9026bbef5d0da5ac9502d6c1b2a/fc33b4b2.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pd2bc6e3701d879512dc2f89599f1e68c/fc33b4af.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pb328a1d9ffef02abe906fdeafa845fc8/fc33b4ae.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pc627fc301df795a0c45757ace09e1084/fc3df9b0.jpg
Christine