AN ANIMAL charity is proving black cats do have photogenic qualities, following reports dark felines are being abandoned because they do not look good in selfies.

The RSPCA reported this week that 70 per cent of more than 1,000 cats in care in Britain are black or black and white. The disproportionate number of these cats being abandoned has been put down in part to the growing trend of posting cat pictures on social media, as black cats do not photograph well.

Now staff at the Blue Cross rehoming centre, in Topcliffe, Thirsk have taken fetching photographs of some of the black cats in their care.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “Black cats do tend to find it harder to find homes than other coloured cats – we aren’t sure why. Perhaps superstition or they don’t show up as well in photos.”

Anyone interested in giving them a home, or making a donation to their care, can contact the centre on 0300 777 1540, email; thirsk@bluecross.org.uk or visit the website; www.bluecross.org.uk/1714-2613/thirsk-rehoming-centre.html