We've been black-listed!

ADORABLE cats with one similar feature are being 'overlooked' for new forever homes.

- By KIRSTIE MCCRUM

The RSPCA's Great Ayton Animal Centre, in Yarm Lane, Middlesbrough, is over-run with black, or black and white, felines who for some reason are harder to rehome.

They take, on average, three times longer to find new owners than cats with other coat colours such as tabby cats. And staff at the centre believe this is down to some seemingly insignificant reasons - one being that these cats don’t look as good in photographs.

Beverley Dunn from the centre said: "Half of the cats in our care at the moment are black, or black and white.

"Sadly, they can be overlooked. Some people associate them with superstitions or they don’t think they look as good in pictures as other cats, which is really sad to hear.

"In reality, all of these cats have so much love to give and are desperate for their second chance at happiness."

For example, Tutts and Lila are two long-stay cats who have been at the centre for almost six months and have had little or no interest shown in them.

Beverley said: "We adore black cats at the RSPCA and we're keen to encourage people to look at the wonderful and unique personalities each individual cat has."