Celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day With These Iconic Black Cats

If you're superstitious or even just a little stitious, you probably know by now that black cats are a bit like Taylor Swift: they've got a reputation. And unfortunately for black cats, that reputation often precedes them - as undeserved as it may be. As the old saying goes, "It's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path!" 

But black cats are also pretty iconic if you didn't know it already. They appear in tv shows, films, and make for some of the best historic photographs. We thought Black Cat Appreciation Day was the purrfect day to debut this list of iconic black cats, whether animated or real-life, to show that black cats aren't as in the shadows as everyone thinks! 

Salem Saberhagen

While the burgeoning teen witch, Sabrina, was the lead character on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem was pretty much the star of the show (if you ask us.) Salem Saberhagen is Sabrina's snarky BFF that also happens to be a black cat. Even though Salem's technically a male witch trapped in a cat's body, he is paws down the king of catitude. He's full of sass, sage advice dating back to the 1500s, and plenty of snark. 

 

 

Thackery Binx

For kids that grew up on the '90s, it just wouldn't be Halloween without watching Hocus Pocus! If you've ever come across a black cat named Binx, it's likely you can trace that name back to this movie. Binx is another "person trapped in a cat's body," and like Salem he is full of wisecracks and snarky jokes. But he's also full of heart and helps save the day - er, night.

 

Luna

The 90s really couldn't get enough of their magical teen girls, could they? Luna is the ally and mentor of Sailor Moon (or Usagi, depending on which translated version you watch). It turns out that black cats make the purr-fect sidekicks for magical teen girls. Who knew?

 

 

Jiji

Jiji is another onyx-furred familiar, this time more feline than human! Starring in Kiki's Delivery Service, Jiji is the feline companion to Kiki, another young magical girl on her way to becoming a full-fledged witch. 

 

Isis

Appearing the original Star Trek, Isis was technically a feline shapeshifter that accompanied a man named Seven on a secret mission. Though apparently Seven's pet cat, Isis was more: she communicated with him through telepathy, and understood his spoken words. She accompanied him wherever he went and watched out for him. We're just here for the GIFs of Spock holding a cat. 

 

Of course, there are real-life black cats that have made hiss-tory.

Henry Behrens and his Black Cat

While we don't know the name of the cat in this iconic photograph, it features a delightful scene of "The World's Smallest Man", Henry Behrens, dancing with his inky feline friend circa 1895.