A childhood friend in Cleveland would always be vigilant over her black cat every October and especially so on Halloween. She explained to me that ‘punks dabbling in Satan worship like to steal black cats around Halloween to use them to perform rituals’ or just torture the cats. Many pet adoption agencies across the country suspend black cat adoption in the month of October to safeguard against putting the cat in a bad environment.
However, the American Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty of Animals says that there isn’t any data to support that black cats are at more risk than other cats, and neither are in more danger around Halloween. Like ASPCA, the Louisville Humane Society must not see much of a threat around the holiday because they do not restrict the adoption of black cats in October (the photo above is of one of the several black cats available at the Louisville Humane Society for adoption now). Kidnapped black cats around Halloween are have turned out to be an urban legend, which is good considering that black cats are usually harder to adopt out anyway because of people’s superstitions.
It seems like the only real danger this Halloween is that cats can get out easier and run off from fear, or eat discarded candy and get sick. All animals should be watched closely on Halloween as they are on any other night of commotion at home. However, as far as ‘witches’ stealing your black cat to commemorate the holiday, you’re safe because the black cat urban legend is false.
Picture: courtesy Louisville Humane Society
