Accommodating cats; their colors

[mtbc]

Nearly a year ago I was commenting here on the divisive issue of keeping pet cats indoors or allowing them to roam outdoors. The norm in the US is toward the former, in the UK the latter. In some cases simply not having a cat might be best but the perfect is the enemy of the good: I do think it behooves one not to be dogmatic about these issues: there is a veritable surplus of cats and a high fraction of likely homes are probably an improvement over being caged for many months in a shelter and possibly euthanized.

Recently I was reading that black cats, also black and white cats, are less popular than more colorful cats. This surprised me: though our cat Pippin is a tabby I find black cats adequately nice relative to others; I suppose that I differ from the mainstream but I have little idea why. However, I had been thinking that black cats might be more difficult to dye: it occurred to me that for the safety of outdoor cats among road traffic it may be responsible to dye them bright colors even if that impedes their hunting and raises eyebrows among the neighbors. Needless to say, I may differ substantially from the mainstream in imagining that dyeing cats could ever be a good idea as I do not notice dyes being advertised as being safe for cats to lick.

Comments

[aldabra]

Black cats are traditionally lucky/unlucky in a way that varies but flags them as potential trouble, I think.

Also, character correlates with appearance; perhaps they're differentially aloof?

White cats would be optimal for dyeing, but you want to avoid them anyway because they go blind.

I wouldn't choose a black and white cat because the asymmetrical splodginess disturbs me. I'd go for natural-looking tabby. Not that we've been allowed a cat at any stage.

[mtbc]

A tendency toward blindness might more highly demand visibility to road traffic! We don't rent in Dundee, where I work, because no landlord we asked would countenance Pippin. Cats seem much easier in American renting.

[aldabra]

OMG must not google cat dye images at work. Also, Daily Mail warning.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2760745/They-looked-boring-Pet-styling-salon-dyes-cats-look-like-green-dragons-dogs-resemble-bumblebees-claim-animals-ENJOY-it.html

[goldibehr]

The pictures at that link are so, so wrong. Pets shouldn't be treated like fashion accessories.

[goldibehr]

Have you seen the pictures of blue dogs in India (or Pakistan?), where clothes manufacturers were dumping waste dye into the river?

[mtbc]

(Took me a while to get there, but …) Goodness, no, I hadn't! Thank you for mentioning. It reminds me of when I lived in Cornwall, a mistake at a water treatment plant had them dump tons of aluminum sulphate into the drinking water: ended up turning people's hair blue and green and stuff.