Ever since I was a child, I've had this thing where I just adore black cats. I think they're majestic, beautiful, strong, captivating, and a creature that has a sad tendency to be treated like garbage when they should be loved beyond measure. I have been so lucky to have parents who have let me have pets, both large and small, all my life and three of these pets just so happened to be black cats.

My first black cat was named Thomas. Thomas was not all black though as he had a good amount of white on him. He joined the Kerns clan before I was born. My mother noticed he was a stray that would hang by our house and began to leave food out for him. Eventually, he got comfortable with her and she brought him into the family, where he would stay forever. When I came along in the summer of '95, this old, sweet, adorable cat with a messed up eye become my closest little companion. As a little baby with a host of problems, a broken left shoulder because of a doctor's mistake and sleep apnea, Thomas can literally be seen in pictures sitting over me watching me sleep, or curled up next to me to keep me warm and comforted.

When Thomas The First passed away, I was in desperate need for another little companion. At the time I was five and my grandparents had a lot of barn cats who had just so happened to have kittens 8 weeks prior. So, my mama told me my father could take me down to my grandparent's barn where I could pick out one kitten to take home with me. The first few I picked out were girls and I was not allowed to have girl pets when I was little although I don't remember why. Eventually, I picked out a tiny all black kitten who my five-year-old self-decided to name Thomas The Second.

However, this is not the end of the barn story. You see as a little girl, I could be pretty convincing and on this particular day, I managed to get my dad's hand wrapped around my little finger. I got to pick out a second kitten to take home with me. The second kitten, although not a black cat but a grey tabby named Sparkie, is integral to this story. Thomas and Sparkie came from the same litter so they had an unbreakable bond and wherever you found one, the second was surely near.

Since Thomas was the leader of this little pride (behind my mom's cat Charlie of course), Sparkie always followed my beloved Thomas. Thomas again was my little companion. Thomas slept with me every night curled up right by my face, he stayed in my room when I was not home, and he followed me through the house. Years later, Charlie and Sparkie had passed away leaving Thomas the only cat left. Although at the beginning I think Thomas was confused and a little lonely, the sense of loneliness appeared to grow on him. Eventually, I got two more cats and let me tell you they were not allowed in my room; Thomas would chase them out, and if they got on my bed, Thomas would sit there and stare at them for a second before he would smack them in the face and they ran off.

Thomas The Second was my absolute favorite cat. He was so temperamental and truly hated everyone but me. Just ask Blair. She'd come over and we'd be sitting on my bed talking, doing homework, or watching a movie and here comes Thomas who would see her sitting in his "spot." I swear Thomas could form a stare that would send fear straight into your soul. Every time he did this, Blair would simply move over a tad while saying "Ok, I'm sorry, I'm moving, here's your spot back." Thomas would then go curl up in his "spot" right next to me.

I now currently have two cats and one of them is the last of the black cats thus far. Her name is Pride. Another kitten from my grandparent's barn caught on Christmas day 2014. I caught the whole littler that day and two of my cousins took home Pride's siblings, but this little black kitten put up one hell of a fight to not get caught. It was like I was performing a show out in the barn and surrounding fields. I was running through the barn and the fields trying to catch her and in the process almost fell in horse manure. Just picture it; trust me you'll laugh.

Anyways, Pride is three now and she like all black cat's has one hell of a personality. Pride gravitates towards my mom as being her person, has these crazy bursts of energy where she runs through the entire house and you can hear her little paws go a-thudding. Pride also is the queen of sarcasm. She will roll over onto her back and look so sweet and innocent like she wants a belly rub. But, don't be fooled because the second you touch her she latches onto your hand like its the catnip.

Black cats are so amazing. Here's a list of a couple things I've learned over the years:

1. They are the truest companions.

2. They are demigods and everything is done on their time and their way.

3. If you want to learn the evil eye and sarcasm at its best, you must learn from a black cat. They are the masters.

4. They will make you laugh.

5. They purr incredibly loudly. Thank you, Thomas The Second for getting me to sleep like the dead. Because of you increasing my tolerance for noise as I sleep, I think a bomb could go off and I wouldn't even know.

6. You don't need to worry about being covered in cat fur, especially in the winter months because let's face it, you're wearing all black anyways.

7. If you're their person, they will shower you will love and attention; literally every girl's dream.

8. If you are a black cat's chosen person, remember they chose you not the other way around. Embrace that title with pride. You are the most important thing in the entire world to them.

9. Never has Halloween been so easy. You can dress as a black cat yourself or you can dress as a witch and dress your cat as a little bat.

Contrary to historical belief, black cats are not evil or the devil's workers. Some countries even view them as good luck! I personally think having a black cat is a great thing. You gain so much and get to give a wonderful little creature a forever, loving home. As Halloween is right around the corner, I'm sure we'll all see at least one decoration depicting an evil black cat, but I think it is so important to change this stigma. Cats can't protect themselves from the evil in this world and many shelters will not let black cats be adopted out during the month of October because evil people will do evil things to them. Throughout the rest of the year, when black cats can be adopted out, these perfectly healthy, loving, full of personality felines stay in shelters 24% longer than other cats simply because of the ancient stigma attached to them. It's time to change this notion! Every child needs their own mini black panther!

*Obviously don't not adopt cats of colors other than black too!