Ray came into my world (as best as I can remember) in early summer 1983. He was named after Ray Charles, although we never called him by that full name. He was my first black cat, but definitely NOT my last!

He was my very good friend. At that time and for the next few years our cats were indoor/outdoor cats. We would let them out when we were at home to watch. I could go out and call for Ray, and he invariably would stop whatever he was doing and come to me.

I think it's interesting that if you see a black cat in full daylight, they may be seen to be really dark brown. Some appear almost bronze, and with some you can actually see the tabby-type stripes.

Ray developed some sort of mass along his spine, and we lost him on September 22, 1997.

It's rather difficult to take good pictures of black cats, because without appropriate lighting their features just disappear into the black. But here are some pictures of Ray.