You’ve seen them. That matte, "murdered out" silhouette that looks like it belongs in a stealth bomber hangar rather than on a basketball court. People call it the Black Cat Jordan IV. To the uninitiated, it’s just a black sneaker. To the person checking their bank account before hitting "Place Order" on a resale app, it’s a obsession.
Honestly, the hype is kind of weird when you think about it. There are no bright colors. No crazy patterns. No giant logos. It’s just black. Black nubuck, black mesh, black midsole.
But that’s the point.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Name
Most sneakerheads think the "Black Cat" moniker was just a cool marketing gimmick cooked up in a boardroom to sell shoes in the mid-2000s.
It wasn't.
The nickname actually goes back to Michael Jordan’s childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina. His friends called him "Black Cat" because of his speed and his ability to strike before anyone saw him coming. Later, Tinker Hatfield—the architect behind most of your favorite Jordans—stumbled upon the nickname while designing the Jordan 13. He didn't even know MJ’s friends called him that. He just watched Mike play and thought, "This guy moves like a giant predatory cat."
When Tinker showed Mike the 13s, Jordan allegedly got emotional. He asked, "How did you know they called me that?"
The Black Cat Jordan IV didn't actually drop until 2006. It took the 13's spirit and slapped it onto the 4's more aggressive, structural frame. It wasn't an "OG" colorway from 1989, but it felt like it should have been.
🔗 Read more: Finding reliable carpenters close to you: Why the best ones are usually hiding
The 2006 vs. 2020 vs. 2025 Battle
If you're hunting for a pair right now in 2026, you're looking at three distinct eras. Each one has its own "vibe" and, more importantly, its own set of problems.
The 2006 Original
The first one. These are basically fossils now. If you find a pair from 2006, do not wear them. The midsoles are made of polyurethane, which has a shelf life. They will crumble into black dust the moment you step into a Starbucks. These had a slightly different nubuck texture—thicker, almost rougher—and the Jumpman on the back wasn't as polished as later versions.
The 2020 Retro
This is the one that broke the internet during the pandemic. For fourteen years, we had nothing. Then, in January 2020, Nike finally brought them back. They retailed for $190.
A few months later? They were selling for $800+.
The 2020 version used a synthetic-feeling nubuck that was very dark—almost a "void" black. It was sleek, but some purists complained it looked a bit "plastic-y" compared to the original. Still, this is the version most people are wearing today.
The 2025/2026 "Nike Air" Era
The most recent drop changed the game again. For the first time, we got the Nike Air branding on the heel instead of the Jumpman logo. This is a huge deal for collectors. The retail price jumped to $225, but the materials also improved.
The nubuck on the newest version is "ashier." It has a lighter, more textured grey-black finish that actually looks like real skin. It’s less "shiny" than the 2020 pair. If you want the most "OG" feel with modern comfort, the 2025/2026 release is the winner.
Why Do They Cost So Much?
It’s the "versatility tax."
You can wear these with a suit. You can wear them with gym shorts. You can wear them to a wedding if the bride is cool enough. Because they are monochromatic, they don't scream for attention, which ironically makes everyone look at them.
Also, they are notoriously hard to keep clean.
Nubuck is a magnet for dust. If you walk through a construction site or even a dusty park, your $500 shoes suddenly look like they’ve been dragged through a chalkboard. This "scuffability" means the supply of "clean" used pairs is always low, keeping the prices for deadstock (unworn) pairs through the roof.
How to Tell if You're Getting Scammed
Because the Black Cat Jordan IV is so simple, it’s one of the most faked shoes in history. Scammers love all-black shoes because they think the lack of color hides the flaws.
They’re wrong. Here’s what to look for:
- The "Lollipop" Arm: Look at the Jumpman on the tongue. On fakes, the arm holding the ball is often skinny and straight like a stick. On real pairs, it has muscle definition.
- The Cage Direction: On the side of the shoe, the plastic mesh (the cage) should run parallel to the wings of the shoe. If the mesh is horizontal or vertical, it’s a bad fake.
- The Heel Bump: Authentic Jordan 4s have a very specific "bump" on the heel. Fakes often have a flat, straight back.
- The Scent: If you open the box and it smells like a chemical factory or superglue, run. Real Jordans have a very specific, slightly sweet "new shoe" smell.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Pair
If you're ready to pull the trigger, don't just go to a random reseller on Instagram.
- Check the Year: If you want a "wearable" pair that won't fall apart, stick to 2020 or the recent 2025/2026 releases.
- Invest in a Brass Brush: Since the upper is nubuck, a standard shoe brush won't work. You need a suede/nubuck kit to "reset" the nap of the material when it gets flat or dusty.
- Watch the Midsole: On the 2020 pairs, the paint on the midsole is notorious for cracking. It's not a fake indicator; it's just how the shoe is. If you see tiny cracks in the black paint after a few wears, don't panic.
- Go Up Half a Size: Jordan 4s are notoriously tight around the pinky toe. The "Black Cat" uses materials that don't stretch much. If you have wide feet, save yourself the pain and go up $0.5$ in size.
The market for the Black Cat Jordan IV is constantly shifting. Right now, prices are slightly dipping because the recent restocks have saturated the market a bit. If you’ve been waiting to buy, the next few months are likely your best window before they disappear back into the "vault" for another decade.