Black kittens (who are often actually not black at all, but all shades of brown - hence the inconsistent use of inverted commas hereafter) are some of the friendliest felines I have met. And no, this doesn't mean that I will make any sweeping generalisations about connections between coat colour and personality. It's just that I can't recall a single 'black' kitten who was reluctant to cuddle or play. What I can remember of our time with the dark-furred felines is heaps of joy, and hours of cuddle time, but also frustration over people's hesitance to adopt the 'black' ones. To be honest, I find it difficult to comprehend someone's aversion towards an animal because of the colour of their coat. But then I also don't understand people who shop for a pet with a certain look, as if purchasing an accessory, or an addendum to their image. Yet this happens more often than feels comfortable to admit. For example, you might find that any self-respecting