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I photograph adoptable animals as a volunteer at the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) in Santa Clara, California.
Each year, the black kittens and cats are the last ones to be adopted, and each year that bums me out because black cats are wonderful! They've gotten some bad publicity (I'm talking about you, silly superstitions) but nothing that can't be overcome with some better PR—right?
So, this year, my SVACA colleagues and I decided to highlight black and tuxedo cats in a fun way that would celebrate them and take the 'spooky' out of the black cat myth.
Using my own photographs of shelter animals and taxing my wobbly graphic-design skills, I created a series of faux magazine covers and posted them on SVACA's social media for their Black Cat Appreciation Week in January 2019.
Here are my six favourite covers, created over the course of about ten days. Enjoy!
By the way, don't worry about the black cats at SVACA. SVACA is a no-kill shelter and even if black cats have to wait a little longer, everyone finds their forever home. For more information, check out their website at svaca.com—and follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see more fun posts. (Dog magazine covers coming soon!)
More info: svaca.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Final score:
37points
Valerie Shepherd 5 years ago
I had a little black female cat for 19 and a half years called Poppy who was the runt if the litter no one wanted when I volunteered with the Uk's CPL, so I adopted her and she became the life long companion for my tuxedo boy Pepe her older brother who lived for 26 and a half years. Miss them both. I have Cleo a grey moggy 8 yrs and Carmel a Maine c**n mix 7yrs now. Just wish my babies could live forever though xxx
Sandra Mason 5 years ago
I love the name Poppy. every time I see a name I like, I want to adopt another so I can use the name. part of the reason why we have 18. the last one was a live trapped kitten... my boyfriend kept wandering around muttering "18".. every time he said 18 I thought of Alice Cooper. so her name is Alice Coopurr.
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Garry Plesha 5 years ago
I have a black cat that is 19years old, had him since he was 2 months old, best, most talented cat ever, he's my man in a black cat suit, love him dearly.
Amanda Stonebank 5 years ago
I don't know how these two tiny TNR black kittens knew to come to my condo, but they did, and I'm a happy Mom of Hallie, and my vet took the second baby to adopt out to a nice family. Hallie is my lovable little runt of the litter.. she's so cute & tiny.. 7 years later!
Lori Carpenter Patterson 5 years ago
My most beloved cat of all time was a black cat name Lou Rawls. He was the smartest, most loveable boy ever!!
Sandra Mason 5 years ago
I love people who care about cats.. I love no-kill shelters.. I love shelters that care about cats. people should look at a black cat in the sun.... they are so shiny and gorgeous. "A BLACK CAT CROSSING YOUR PATH SIGNIFIES THAT THE ANIMAL IS GOING SOMEWHERE" GROUCHO MARX.
Sandra Mason 5 years ago
we have a black rescue named Boo Kitty. (-: and we have 17 other cats. we have a tortoiseshell named Fearless Fancy who is almost all black.. its the shiny black with just the tiny flecks of orange that makes her so beautiful.
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Melanie Thompson 5 years ago
I love it!! This black panther has the same eyes as one of my black panthers (I have 3)
Nancy KeislingMiller 5 years ago
do with them , it was so nasty , gross and disgusting , , needless to say , I Vowed til the day i die , i will Fight to save and rescue all the Black ones first and Foremost , they are no different then any other color cat , or person form that matter , Blonde , Red Head , brunette , what ever , i Love ( d ) each one of my Black kitties amd each one has been luckier then the last one , so i pray that that old wives tale will be done and burried soon , Long Live the Black Kitties ,
Nancy KeislingMiller 5 years ago
this is just bull c**p , I am a 13 time Black kitty rescue mom , so far and not all at the same time , when i was younger i Volunteered at my local shelter and i had seen some pretty mean things and heard even worse about black cats , People would come in looking for a kitty and i would steer them towards the black ones and the parent people would freak out and run the other way , then when i got older i was a caretaker of 2 - 4 plexes , one of my people called me and told me there was this atrocis smell coming from the apt across the hall from her , ok so i said i'll get right on it , got to the outside of the door and it smelt so bad i thought i'd better call the police to go inside with me , thank you God above i did , when the police opened the door , we found 4 adult Black cats and 3 babies dead , hanging up side down and cut open , the people that lived there were a little wacky anyways , but come on now really , They were devil worshipers and was doing that demonic thing they
Sandra Mason 5 years ago
I could literally kill people like that without a second thought and with no guilt whatsoever.
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Cindy Johnston 5 years ago
My house panther, Bear, aka BooBoo, died a couple years ago at less than 2 years old. He hadn't been sick and he wasn't injured. I had my eye on another recently (6 month old stray) but he bit me a couple times when I put the food dish down so he went to the pound. It's a no kill shelter so he was neutered, given his shots and was slated to be a barn cat. I forgot the two month old that crawled up into my undercarriage in a restaurant parking lot. After an hour and a half of animal control not believing she was even there they found her over the muffler. I had 5 cats at the time so I couldn't keep her. 😿
RELATED:
#2
Final score:
34points
#3
Final score:
32points
#4
Final score:
31points
Bluebell Rizzi 5 years ago
"A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere" - I love it.
#5
Final score:
30points
#6
Final score:
27points
Matt Palmer 5 years ago
I have a black cat and a stripey cat. I will always have a black cat. Black cats look amazing. She is like a slinky shadow gliding around the place.
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What do you think ?
Sue Knerl 5 years ago
I love these covers. When I adopted my black kitten from the kill shelter there was no fee to get the blacks moving. He's a big cat now and I love him. Very sleek, soft and shiny. I was going to name him Slick but settled on Ninja instead after seeing him zoom around and launch himself 3ft off the hallway wall. Yep, Ninja tendencies.
Fuzzball Photography (Post author) 5 years ago
Ninja! Love it! Thanks for the kind words.
Load More Replies...
Zoe's Mom 5 years ago (edited)
I like the idea but not only are black cats the last to be adopted but so are black dogs. I didn't know that until I adopted my Zoe; an almost all black Shepherd mix. But since I've had her, I had someone wanting to buy her from me. I told him that I don't sell family. People have stopped their cars to tell me how pretty she is. That can be a bit creepy at times. I hope your projects boost the adoption of these beautiful creatures.
Fuzzball Photography (Post author) 5 years ago
Thanks for the great idea, Zoe's Mom! Since I'm working on some dog-themed magazine covers now, I'll try featuring black dogs on one. Black is the new black, right? :)
Load More Replies... 
Teree Tart 5 years ago
These covers are excellent, very funny and a great idea. I have two full black cats and two black and white. I've had lots of black cats and a few other colours, I can't resist the black ones though, just so beautiful.
Johane Roberts 5 years ago
I had a black cat named Pushkin. Named for the Pushkin vodka bottles in the rubbish bag I found her in as a kitten. Someone threw her away because she was black. She disappeared three years ago, I suspect someone killed her because in my country black cats still have a lot of stigma attached to them. But black cats are beautiful. These covers are gorgeous!
The True Red Panda 5 years ago
I have a black cat named Sansa, and her worst quality is probably vanity! She loves attention and must always be licked to perfection!(she does the licking, not us.) I don't know why black cats are disliked, even now! They are beautiful. A cat's faults can only be in personality, not color.
Paw Paw 5 years ago
What an amazing job! The pics, the inventive titles, AND the little descriptions of contents. "Fuzzy Blanket Care Tips"! "Litterbox Zen Gardens". "Blackus Catus". PRICELESS! Sharing this with all my cat and animal-loving friends. Thank you for caring about cats - especially the forgotten blackies. I miss our Pepper, Tobey (October) and sweet Kaity.
Dolly Addams 5 years ago
These are absolutely AMAZING!! As a retired copywriter, I'm drawn to the truly creative, and these covers are the best. And not incidentally, I'm a total pushover for black cats AND black dogs — in fact, when we adopted our beautiful black Lab mix 11 years ago, we specifically sought out a black dog, having just heard it was harder to get them adopted. Fuzzball Photography, you're a hero in my book!
Marilyn Hingston 5 years ago
I have 3 black cats (and one black dog) and they are awesome.....they all have different personalities, but are all so loving and beautiful.
PeggyLynn Caudle 5 years ago
These are wonderful - and I would also love to read the articles ;-) We had a black/white and tabby for 23 years and now have a beautiful black girl, Gigi, and her tuxedo brother, Spats. I can't imagine losing the love and fun they share because of silly myths and superstitions. And the kids who come to the door at Halloween obviously feel the same! Thanks for the work you and SVACA are doing. Porch-time...d44e99.jpg 
Pat Newman 5 years ago
Beyond darling. I can’t see how this would not find forever homes for those beauties. Cuddles & kisses. Who doesn’t want those
Pat Newman 5 years ago
Beyond darling. I can’t see how this would not work finding forever homes for those beauties
Lee Tingle 5 years ago
These are awesome! So funny, stylish and clever...I wish they were real mags...I want to read the stories, so much better than the human version of these mags:) Black Beauty Kitties Rule!
Nancy Dinkel 5 years ago
Love these! And I love black cats. I recently moved in with my mom and she does not like cats in her home, so I am currently feline free. After she is gone, I plan to get 3, circumstances permitting - 1 white, 1 grey, and 1 black!
Rick Haywood (graywoulf) 5 years ago
These are pawsome! Black cats are my favorites and always will be.
Kathleen Fitzgerald 5 years ago
I have three black cats, each awesome in its own way. Love 'em!
Angela Hudson 5 years ago
Rascal was a 'found' kitten on facebook. messaged "I want to adopt if his people don't show up" couple weeks later 4lb little bit of a cat was mine. now 14 lb 1yr old cuddle kitten bigger than older sis Joy Grey cat and where ever I am , he is. da-king-5c...490caf.jpg 
Shirley Smith 5 years ago
Great idea!!! Black cats rock and I don’t understand the superstition or whatever it is that keeps people from adopting these babies!!! Thank you for helping them.
Susan Rosemarin 5 years ago
Thank you for making my day with these adorably funny covers ! LOVE THIS!
Sue Knerl 5 years ago
I love these covers. When I adopted my black kitten from the kill shelter there was no fee to get the blacks moving. He's a big cat now and I love him. Very sleek, soft and shiny. I was going to name him Slick but settled on Ninja instead after seeing him zoom around and launch himself 3ft off the hallway wall. Yep, Ninja tendencies.
Fuzzball Photography (Post author) 5 years ago
Ninja! Love it! Thanks for the kind words.
Load More Replies... Zoe's Mom 5 years ago (edited)
I like the idea but not only are black cats the last to be adopted but so are black dogs. I didn't know that until I adopted my Zoe; an almost all black Shepherd mix. But since I've had her, I had someone wanting to buy her from me. I told him that I don't sell family. People have stopped their cars to tell me how pretty she is. That can be a bit creepy at times. I hope your projects boost the adoption of these beautiful creatures.
Fuzzball Photography (Post author) 5 years ago
Thanks for the great idea, Zoe's Mom! Since I'm working on some dog-themed magazine covers now, I'll try featuring black dogs on one. Black is the new black, right? :)
Load More Replies... Teree Tart 5 years ago
These covers are excellent, very funny and a great idea. I have two full black cats and two black and white. I've had lots of black cats and a few other colours, I can't resist the black ones though, just so beautiful.
Johane Roberts 5 years ago
I had a black cat named Pushkin. Named for the Pushkin vodka bottles in the rubbish bag I found her in as a kitten. Someone threw her away because she was black. She disappeared three years ago, I suspect someone killed her because in my country black cats still have a lot of stigma attached to them. But black cats are beautiful. These covers are gorgeous!
The True Red Panda 5 years ago
I have a black cat named Sansa, and her worst quality is probably vanity! She loves attention and must always be licked to perfection!(she does the licking, not us.) I don't know why black cats are disliked, even now! They are beautiful. A cat's faults can only be in personality, not color.
Paw Paw 5 years ago
What an amazing job! The pics, the inventive titles, AND the little descriptions of contents. "Fuzzy Blanket Care Tips"! "Litterbox Zen Gardens". "Blackus Catus". PRICELESS! Sharing this with all my cat and animal-loving friends. Thank you for caring about cats - especially the forgotten blackies. I miss our Pepper, Tobey (October) and sweet Kaity.
Dolly Addams 5 years ago
These are absolutely AMAZING!! As a retired copywriter, I'm drawn to the truly creative, and these covers are the best. And not incidentally, I'm a total pushover for black cats AND black dogs — in fact, when we adopted our beautiful black Lab mix 11 years ago, we specifically sought out a black dog, having just heard it was harder to get them adopted. Fuzzball Photography, you're a hero in my book!
Marilyn Hingston 5 years ago
I have 3 black cats (and one black dog) and they are awesome.....they all have different personalities, but are all so loving and beautiful.
PeggyLynn Caudle 5 years ago
These are wonderful - and I would also love to read the articles ;-) We had a black/white and tabby for 23 years and now have a beautiful black girl, Gigi, and her tuxedo brother, Spats. I can't imagine losing the love and fun they share because of silly myths and superstitions. And the kids who come to the door at Halloween obviously feel the same! Thanks for the work you and SVACA are doing. Porch-time...d44e99.jpg
Pat Newman 5 years ago
Beyond darling. I can’t see how this would not find forever homes for those beauties. Cuddles & kisses. Who doesn’t want those
Pat Newman 5 years ago
Beyond darling. I can’t see how this would not work finding forever homes for those beauties
Lee Tingle 5 years ago
These are awesome! So funny, stylish and clever...I wish they were real mags...I want to read the stories, so much better than the human version of these mags:) Black Beauty Kitties Rule!
Nancy Dinkel 5 years ago
Love these! And I love black cats. I recently moved in with my mom and she does not like cats in her home, so I am currently feline free. After she is gone, I plan to get 3, circumstances permitting - 1 white, 1 grey, and 1 black!
Rick Haywood (graywoulf) 5 years ago
These are pawsome! Black cats are my favorites and always will be.
Kathleen Fitzgerald 5 years ago
I have three black cats, each awesome in its own way. Love 'em!
Angela Hudson 5 years ago
Rascal was a 'found' kitten on facebook. messaged "I want to adopt if his people don't show up" couple weeks later 4lb little bit of a cat was mine. now 14 lb 1yr old cuddle kitten bigger than older sis Joy Grey cat and where ever I am , he is. da-king-5c...490caf.jpg
Shirley Smith 5 years ago
Great idea!!! Black cats rock and I don’t understand the superstition or whatever it is that keeps people from adopting these babies!!! Thank you for helping them.
Susan Rosemarin 5 years ago
Thank you for making my day with these adorably funny covers ! LOVE THIS!
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