The Halloween season is a magical time of year. A cool nip is in the air, all things creepy are fun, and curling up in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa is on everyone’s agenda. Unfortunately, due to past events and a bit of dark history, Halloween isn’t great for everyone and everything. In the past, strange things have been known to happen on Halloween night. Thanks to this stigma that has been placed on Halloween, many out there feel the holiday is dangerous or bad.
This is especially true for people who own black cats. Many of these owners feel their cats are in danger when October 31st rolls around, but this simply isn’t the case. However, you may find that shelters and rescues often halt adoptions of these cats around the holiday due to so many people adopting them for parties, picture opportunities, or festive activities, then returning them to the shelter or simply abandoning them.
Let’s learn more about black cats, why so many feel they are in danger on Halloween, and the true dangers these kitties face.
Black Cats and Halloween
Black cats have become a staple of Halloween. You’ll find decorations, movies, and even cartoons featuring these beautiful cats during this time of the year. Black cats have also long been associated with witches and are even considered to be bad luck. While most people out there, especially in modern times, have come to realize all this is superstition and folklore, there are still a few out there who choose to steer clear of these cats all year round, not just on Halloween.
For years, this stigma has led to black cats finding it more difficult to be adopted out at shelters and even being one of the top colors of cats finding themselves euthanized when they can’t find a home.
Are Black Cats Used as Sacrifices?
There’s no doubt that there are dark and dangerous people in the world. We may not encounter them every day, but they are out there. We’ve all heard people in our neighborhoods talk about cults, witches, and satanic rituals where black cats have been sacrificed. Most of these stories take place on Halloween.
As much as we wish these types of stories were not true, they unfortunately are. They aren’t, however, widespread. There have been instances of people purposely harming black cats on Halloween, but there simply aren’t enough instances of this happening to consider it a true danger.
The True Dangers Black Cats Face on Halloween
Halloween is just like any other day in local animal shelters. Thanks to so many homeless animals finding themselves on the streets, it is almost impossible to find enough space in rescues and shelters to house them all. Instead of spaying and neutering these animals and then returning them to their lives on the streets, many shelters choose to euthanize these animals instead. This is why the biggest danger black cats face on Halloween is death at the hands of those types of shelters.
Another issue black cats face at Halloween is false adoptions. Yes, there is always the chance that someone with sadistic plans can adopt a black cat for Halloween. This isn’t the biggest issue, though. The real problem is people who choose to adopt a black cat simply to use them as a living decoration. Having a beautiful black cat walking around a party can make everyone in town envious. Once the party ends, however, many of these cats find themselves back at the shelter or returned to the street instead of being cared for and loved as they should.
How You Can Help
If you want to help the plight of black cats, or animals in general, the best thing you can do is advocate. Try to help get humane animal services in your area. No-kill shelters and rescues that fight for the animals are the goals. Pushing for programs that catch, spay or neuter, then release homeless and feral cats is also another humane way to ensure these cats aren’t simply killed for space.
While it is not common for black cats to be harmed more on Halloween than on any other day of the year, we can’t deny that animal cruelty is a true issue around the world. If you see something you feel should be reported, do it. Push for investigations, prosecutions, and strict punishment in animal cruelty cases. This is where you can make every day safer for black cats and animals everywhere.
Final Thoughts
While black cats aren’t in more danger on Halloween than they are any day of the year, it’s clear these special kitties need to be taken care of. Yes, black cats were being euthanized in shelters more than other cats due to a lack of adoption, but now that’s changing. Luckily, the modern age is helping people realize there is nothing dark, spooky, or evil when it comes to these cats. They are simply beautiful animals with lots of love to give. All they need is a family to open their arms and give them a chance.
Featured Image Credit: Piqsels
