"Black Cat" was well received among critics, who praised Jackson's "maximum advantage" vocals and her seamless foray into the hard rock genre.

It was a departure from her prior material, being her first sole writing credit and the first time she had worked with producers other than Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis since the release of Control.

The song was a stark contrast for Jackson, transitioning from her customary style of industrial-based dance-pop to the heavy metal and hard rock genre.

[9] Jackson's idea for "Black Cat" was based on a warning to a rebel involved in substance abuse, in addition to the consequences of drug addiction.

"[11] Jackson was heavily involved in the song's production, stating: We were finished with the entire album and I came up with a guitar riff, and ran up to Jimmy and Terry and told them, 'Hey, we should do this.'

In addition to Johnson, guitarist Dave Barry was asked to contribute after previously providing guitar on "You Can Be Mine" from Jackson's prior album.

It was mixed by German recording engineer Michael Wagener, who had not previously worked with any pop acts and was approached due to Jackson's desire to "cross over into hard rock.

"[18] Dave Navarro recorded an additional opening and riffs throughout the version performed on Jackson's Rock Witchu Tour, appearing on screens during the rendition.

[31] It opens with a panther growl and cowbells before transitioning into a "scorching" guitar solo, its intensity likened as between Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" by The New York Times.

Chuck Campbell of The News Journal called it her "most intriguing track", saying "Miss Jackson relishes the role of a rocker with unexpected fervor.

"[35] Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly stated, "Most hair metal bands would have paid a lifetime in spandex to come up with that guitar line, and then Janet goes and melds it with her funky-fresh backup singers and suddenly you can dance to it — and believe you me, it is not easy to make You're gonna die into a danceable lyric.

"[37] Jon Pareles of The New York Times commended its "grimy" and "guitar-driven" approach, which "unleashes a guitar riff somewhere between the Robert Palmer hit 'Simply Irresistible' and Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water'.

"[23] Andy Kellman of AllMusic considered it a "headbanger" with a "hot, distorted lead guitar break, while Alex Henderson applauded Jackson's vocals as used to their "maximum advantage", declaring it a "pop/rock smoker.

"[45] The Los Angeles Times applauded its "headbangin' bravado",[46] and Renowned for Sound called it a "hard-hitting pop-rock track with great harmonies".

"[48] Dave Tianen of The Sentinel called its theme "a radical statement", considered a "blunt challenge to young men to turn away from gang violence.

"[51] David Koen of Phoenix New Times likened it to Joan Jett, saying "Jackson proves how nasty she can really be", calling its guitar riffs "dirty" enough to induce blushing.

"[55] Elsewhere, it was declared "rock-edged" and "metal-tinged", featuring "sizzling guitar work", while The Boston Globe stated the song immortalized the superstition that some people already feel towards black cats.

It was filmed on April 5, 1990, using live concert footage from Jackson's Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.

[65] The Los Angeles Times called it "elaborately staged" and "meticulously detailed", considered among several "great showcases for Jackson's willingness to stretch beyond her public's conceptions of her."

"[66] Upon its premiere, Dennis Kelly of The Morning Call said, "It stands out as much for its hard-edged guitar as for the fact that Jackson wears white instead of her customary black.

During the performance, the singer ripped open her top to expose a black bra underneath, and became highly controversial in the media for its provocative nature, considered to usher in "a new age of sexual spontaneity."

It was viewed as the first "shocking" performance of her career due to Jackson having a virginal teenage image, in addition to the portrayal of femme sexuality considered taboo at the time.

"[71] It was ranked among "10 Amazing, Shocking Unscripted Moments From '90s MTV", saying "Janet Jackson ushered in a new age of sexual spontaneity on live television [...].

"[60] It was performed on the Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990, in a "pyrotechnic interpretation" which ends using illusionary magic of Jackson transforming into a panther in a cage.

Jackson's rendition on the Janet World Tour was praised for maintaining "familiar elements" such as its "feline choreography", endeavoring to "bring her MTV videos to life.

"[66] It was considered a highlight performance on The Velvet Rope Tour, with The Baltimore Sun saying "her singing on "Black Cat" was commanding enough to hold its own against the wailing electric guitar.

[79][80] For the Rock Witchu Tour, Jackson performed a "fiery rendition" with guitarist Dave Navarro appearing on screens, "contributing pealing licks via a recorded video.

"[82][83] In a review of Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated, "'Black Cat' engulfed us in rock 'n' roll bliss, the band's lead guitarist shredding the notes while Janet knelt and undulated in front of him.

"[84] Jackson also included the song on her 2015–2016 Unbreakable World Tour; according to George Varga of The San Diego Union-Tribune, "when she ripped into such classics as [...] 'Black Cat' and the climactic 'Rhythm Nation', she soared like a champion".

[102] Finnish metal band Warmen covered the song on their fourth album Japanese Hospitality, featuring vocals by Jonna Kosonen.