Black cats face lower adoption rates and higher euthanasia rates at shelters, according to research conducted by Robert Carini, PhD. He says it’s clear that ideas rooted in stereotypes around black cats are strong and enduring.
Source: AAHA Trends, June 13, 2025. Link. The study found that “white cats had the most favorable euthanasia and adoption outcomes while brown and gray cats had middling outcomes between those of white and black cats.
Black cat bias is the phenomenon where cats with black coats are viewed more negatively, adopted less often, and euthanized more often than lighter colored cats.”
Photo by Martin Martz on Unsplash