Black cats have been unfairly saddled with a reputation for being bad luck, being associated with the shadows, evil doings and sorcery. Despite that, there have been many black cats loved by society over the years, including Felix the Cat and Sylvester the tuxedo kitty, who can't stop chasing Tweety Bird.
Some black cats were even revered in some parts of the world. In Egypt, one goddess, named Bastet, was part cat and part woman. She was one of the most important deities, and she granted good fortune for people who housed and protected cats. A black cat on a pirate ship was also considered good luck, especially if it stayed on board. If it walked off again, the ship was foretold to sink.