Rescue centers urge not to judge cats by color for rehoming
Rescue centers are urging potential adopters not to judge cats by their color, as black and white cats are the hardest to rehome.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Animal rescue centres are urging potential cat owners not to judge a cat by its colour, as black and black and white cats are the hardest to rehome. Staff say these cats make up around three quarters of all those waiting to be adopted, yet they often wait far longer than other colours to find a home.
At a rescue centre in the West Country, workers report that tabbies, tortoiseshells, gingers and greys are snapped up more quickly. They hear a range of reasons from people who overlook black and white cats: some think they are unlucky, others believe they are less photogenic for social media, and some assume their personalities are different. Staff insist that black and black and white cats have just as much love to give and make healthy, loving pets.
One cat owner near Yate, who recently adopted a black and white cat named Poppy, said she felt a bond regardless of colour. She noted that some people think black and white cats are not very photogenic, but she disagrees. The rescue centre hopes that by highlighting the issue, more people will look beyond appearances and give these cats a chance.
Kitten season has also added to the pressure on rescue centres, with many black and black and white kittens also waiting for homes. Staff emphasise that because these cats are moggies, they tend to have fewer health issues than specific breeds that people buy due to social media trends. They urge the public to consider the personality and love a cat can offer, rather than its colour.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Black and black-and-white cats make up about three quarters of cats waiting to be rehomed at a rescue centre. | |
| Moggie cats (black and white) typically have fewer health issues than specific breeds bought due to social media trends. | |
| Some people believe black cats are unlucky, less photogenic for social media, or have different personalities. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the local angle in the West Country, featuring a specific rescue centre and a recently adopted cat named Poppy. It highlights the reasons people give for overlooking black and white cats, including superstition, social media appeal, and personality myths. The tone is sympathetic to the cats and encourages adopters to look beyond colour.
- “We hear a mixture of reasons from people coming into the center. Some people think they're unlucky. Some people want a cat that they think is going to photograph better on social media. And some people just think their personalities aren't quite the same as other colors.”
- “I think it's a shame that black and black and white cats are being overlooked so much because they have so much love to give and would make lovely pets.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.