Toronto waives adoption fees for black cats on Black Friday

Looking for a good deal — and a black cat? The City of Toronto sure hopes so.

In an effort to boost black-cat adoptions at shelters across the city — black cats are typically the last to find new homes — the city of Toronto is waiving the fees on all black-cat adoptions today and this weekend.

Happy Black Friday!

Instead of paying the regular $75 adoption fee for a "spayed/neutered, microchipped, dewormed, vet-checked, and vaccinated" black cat, adoptees will only have to pay for the $15 pet license fee, the Toronto Star reported.

"Our shelters are really full right now and we always look for creative ways to bring the public’s attention to the fact that these cats need homes," Mary Lou Leiher, program manager at Animal Services, told CityNews on Wednesday.

"Traditionally, black cats are harder to re-home and we're really not sure why. Just like any other cat, they make lovely pets."

Are we really all so superstitious?

Besides, as Toronto Star columnist Royson James pointed out, "To the Japanese, black cats bring good luck. The Russians love them. And in everywhere but Yorkshire, the English give them as wedding gifts and consider them a good-luck charm."

Oddly enough, even rats are easier than black cats to adopt out.

Leiher said that campaigns like this Black Friday example often boost adoption rates.

"When we do a campaign and we reduce adoption fees, it's always very successful – it's always an increase over the year before," Leiher said, referring to the Fall in Love campaign during which 210 cats and kittens were adopted across Toronto.

If you're open to giving a black cat a loving home, visit one of the following Toronto shelters this weekend, where more than 150 cats are currently up for adoption:

• North Animal Shelter and Spay Neuter Clinic on 1300 Sheppard Ave. W.

• South Animal Shelter at 140 Princes’ Blvd.

• East Animal Shelter at 821 Progress Ave.

• West Animal Shelter at 146 The East Mall