Black cats can ‘rust’ if they spend too much time in the sun.

If a black cat ever crosses your path, don’t be scared — be curious as to whether their fur has changed color. This is called “rusting,” and it happens when they spend so much time in the sun that portions of their coat take on a brown, orange, or even reddish tint. 

The pigment responsible for black fur is called eumelanin, and it isn’t especially hardy: Repeated exposure to ultraviolet rays causes it to break down and lose its dark hue. The change can also be caused by an amino acid deficiency, but this is less common. Rusting is also easier to spot in direct sunlight, meaning these kitties will remain as spooky as ever under cover of darkness.