Amy Newmark's Blog - Posts Tagged "black-cats"

Hey all you cat lovers out there... did you know that Saturday, August 8 is International Cat Day?

What better way to celebrate than reading stories from our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Cats.

Here is a preview of one of my favorite stories about a cat that gave its owner the courage to have an adventure - dare I say it's purr-fect!

In her story "Westward Ho" Lori Shepard realized she was not living her best life in retirement. Lori had always dreamed of taking a road trip across the United States, but when she set out on her 8,000-mile adventure, accompanied only by her cat Libby, she had second thoughts. What motivated her to keep going was Libby’s own flexibility and delight in each new hotel room and experience. Lori says that Libby’s calm presence made it work. “She was a trooper. If she could persevere through the insecurities of what came next, then I could, too.”


Amy Newmark

Most of us grew up with the myth that seeing a black cat brought bad luck. But did you know in many cultures black cats bring good fortune? In Europe black cats were thought to bring good luck for sailors — having them on board was believed to ensure a safe journey.

At Chicken Soup for the Soul, black cats hold a special place in our hearts. In fact, we’re always advocating for the adoption of black cats, the ones who are often left behind at shelters.

One of my favorite stories from our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Clever, Curious, Caring Cat, is about a precious little black cat named Rhiannon. In the story, The Magic of the LBC, Margrita Colabuno did not want a black cat. She wanted a cat like the one she’d lost, with a colorful coat. But when Magrita 's son and his girlfriend lived with her during the COVID-19 pandemic, they added a little black cat named Rhiannon to the household.

It took a while for Magrita to warm up to Rhiannon, but she grew to appreciate the complex and colorful personality behind the black fur. She says, “The more I noticed and appreciated her cute, little quirks, the more I realized how vastly I’d misjudged the bewitching powers of the Little Black Cat. Like the infamous LBD, or Little Black Dress, LBCs may seem plain and unadorned, but there’s nothing basic about them.”

And don't forget to mark your calendars— October 27th is National Black Cat Day!


Amy Newmark