October 17, 2025, 1:44 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
A silent black cat in a flooded world–sounds unusual? It is. But this very concept made the animated film “Flow” an international surprise hit. After winning an Oscar and numerous other awards, the film is now available on Disney+. There, it could not only captivate fans of stylish animation but also amplify a remarkable trend: the global increase in the adoption of black cats.
A Cat Fights for Survival–and Unity
For a long time, black cats were considered bad luck. Superstition and prejudice often made them the last animals to find a new home in shelters (PETBOOK reported). But this perception seems to be changing. The U.S. broadcaster “NPR” reported that the Oscar-winning film “Flow” likely played a crucial role in this shift.
At the heart of “Flow” is a black cat that awakens in an abandoned, waterlogged world. Only debris and remnants hint at a former civilization. Together with other animals also fighting for survival, it embarks on a perilous journey. Along the way, they learn to trust each other, accept differences–and survive together. The silent storytelling works as a modern fable that connects generations.
“The story is told from the cat’s perspective, and the cat doesn’t know where the people have gone or where the flood comes from. That’s why it was important to stay in this viewpoint. I wanted to create an experience where you feel like you are the cat,” explained director Gints Zilbalodis in an interview with “NPR.”
Reports of Increased Black Cat Adoptions Worldwide
This cinematic empathy seems to be having an effect. Several international media outlets have reported a sharp increase in black cat adoptions since the film’s success. According to “NPR,” a similar trend is evident in the U.S. Beth Caffrey from the California cat organization The Cat House on the Kings says, “When we get litters, we often see many black kittens in a litter or mixed litters–and the black kittens were always the last to be adopted.”
But that is increasingly changing: “Through campaigns–some very clever–organizations have raised awareness that you should connect with the personality, not necessarily the cat’s fur color. That has definitely helped change people’s perspectives. And in the past two years, we’ve seen an increase in the adoption of black, dark cats, even tortoiseshell cats, which is really wonderful.”
And following the success of “Flow,” the organization is now receiving targeted inquiries: “We’ve had calls from people specifically wanting to adopt a black cat,” Caffrey continued. Those not ready to permanently adopt a cat can also engage as foster homes.
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Visual Power Instead of Dialogues: Zilbalodis’ Innovative Approach
Gints Zilbalodis began working on “Flow” in 2019 and developed the film over several years. He experimented with technologies like game engines to create a unique aesthetic–a blend of stylized animal figures and atmospherically dense landscapes. The film is entirely without spoken language. The animals remain deliberately animalistic–which critics say enhances the emotional impact of the narrative.
In Latvia, “Flow” became a cultural phenomenon. With over 320,000 moviegoers, it is the most successful film of the last three decades–surpassing “Titanic” or “Avatar.” The film also became a hit in the merchandise sector. Prime Minister Evika Siliņa stated that the cat is an ambassador for Latvia and is winning hearts worldwide.
The international career of “Flow” began in 2024 with its premiere in Cannes. It was followed by over 40 awards, including the European Film Award, a Golden Globe, and finally the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. For Latvia, it was a historic moment–celebrated with a special postage stamp and a place in the Latvian National Museum of Art.
Critical Acclaim, Strong Numbers–and on Disney+
“Flow” also impressed on review platforms. Ninety-seven percent of critics and 98 percent of viewers on Rotten Tomatoes gave it top marks. IMDb shows a rating of 7.9, and the FBW awarded it the distinction of “particularly valuable.” The film grossed over $30 million at the global box office–an impressive success for an independent European production.
Those who missed the film can catch it starting October 17, when “Flow” launches worldwide on Disney+. And perhaps not only a new favorite film will be discovered, but also a black cat will find its new home.
A Silent Film That Leaves Me Speechless
“It’s a well-known mantra in storytelling: ‘Show, don’t tell.’ In terms of films, it’s better to explain and narrate characters and the story through actions and images rather than using extensive, obvious dialogue lines that leave nothing to the viewer’s imagination. And hardly any recent film captures this better than ‘Flow.’
Without spoken language and carried only by animal sounds and atmospheric music on the soundtrack, director Gints Zilbalodis creates a mysterious post-apocalyptic world on a purely visual level, inhabited only by animals. Nothing is explained, but everything is shown, and as a viewer, the mystery of the world’s condition provokes both thoughtful pondering and a pleasant chill.
That the animal protagonists around a black cat are not only extremely cute but also convey something about unity despite differences is just the icing on the cake. ‘Flow’ is immensely atmospheric and narratively patient yet demanding, so you quickly forget that no hundreds of millions in production budget flowed here like at Disney.
I saw the film twice in theaters and bought the Blu-ray and the music on vinyl. I can hardly wait to dive back into the mysterious world of this masterpiece, for which there can only be one conclusion in the truest sense of the word: without words.”