Adopting Black cats in Oct.?

[ramanth]

I think our shelter has gotten to the point where no animals are adopted out in October.

It's sad but understandable.

[catlover4ever]

I don't know if it is policy around here (CT) but I always remind my mom to make sure all of her kitties (black or not) stay in at least 4 - 5 days before Halloween and about 2 more days afterwards. There have been some pretty nasty, cruel "jokes" done to animals, not just the cats, in my area.

[Samantha Puppy]

Same here, catlover4ever. Sherman HATES being kept inside (if it's nice weather, anyway), but after some of the things that've happened to poor innocent kitties around here, I'd rather have him mad at me than to have something horrible happen...

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by 2kitties
I know two black cats who will stay snug as a bug INSIDE my house on Halloween night!

I see you and up you 4.......

[Fox-Gal]

Originally posted by ramanth
I think our shelter has gotten to the point where no animals are adopted out in October.

It's sad but understandable.

No animals at all? I know people do some sick things with balck cats but other animals too?! I guess better safe then sorry, but I'm sure that hurts the shelters some for that one month.

I know more I thought about that woman wanting a Black cat so bad, it was scary just thinking about what she might have had in mind for the cat. I hate judging people, but after more thought about it, I'm not sure I even let her have the cat in Nov. if it was up to me. A woman with no understaning about the cats welfare shouldn't have a cat at all.

[BastetsMum]

That is just so sick!

I can understand why shelters and responsible pet store owners would not want to adopt out Black Cats in October.

The reason why black cats are not adopted in October is that in the Northern Hemisphere Halloween (Samhain) is a pagan sabbat where the veils are the thinest between our world (world of the physical) and the otherworld (world of faeries).

Cats (any colour) have always been linked with witches. It was written in the dark ages that witches used cats to spy on other people by transforming themselves into the cat. So by killing a cat you are also killing the witch. Black cats in particular where mostly the *harbourer* of witches since they are the most powerful of the domestic cat.

This of course is a complete fallacy but the fear still is ingrained in some people that black cats are evil and have a witch inside them etc ....

I would like to point out though - that being pagan myself - we have a rule of *harm ye none* that INCLUDES animals. The people who want black cats in October in the northern hemisphere would probably want to harm the animal. The person at hte shelter did right by not giving that lady that cat. Animal Abusers come in all shapes and forms.

Sorry for the long post. End of rant.

[carole]

I have not checked with any of our shelters here, but I think most new zealanders at least the sane ones, don't have this stupid superstition about black cats, infact I think they are considered good luck here.

However I agree with your shelters doing that, very responsible, I cannot believe any human would believe a black cat has a witch in them ,good grief some people

If anything my lil Lexie has an angel in her, nothing else.

Sad to think, in this day and age such silly ideas are still believed.

[BastetsMum]

I wholeheartedly agree Carole. There is a long list of black cats and superstition, there is a longer list of why cats are bad for everything from allergies to birdlife.

What people(s) don't understand is that cats have been here a little longer (by a few thousand years) than what we have.

I think its a tragic situation that we are supposed to be a rational society and some of us still beleive that cats harbour somekind of fictional evil in them.

[Soledad]

I don't really think Americans walk around thinking black cats have a witch inside them. A lot of people here just like an excuse to do disgusting things on Halloween/Devil's Day. It just happens that cats are symbolically linked to the holiday.

Halloween is actually a big deal in the U.S., as compared with my experience in NZ where it is barely discussed. I remember a lot of protests in NZ over Halloween because it was an "evil" holiday. So, I guess we all have our superstitions.

[ramanth]

Originally posted by BastetsMum
This of course is a complete fallacy but the fear still is ingrained in some people that black cats are evil and have a witch inside them etc ....

I would like to point out though - that being pagan myself - we have a rule of *harm ye none* that INCLUDES animals. The people who want black cats in October in the northern hemisphere would probably want to harm the animal. The person at hte shelter did right by not giving that lady that cat. Animal Abusers come in all shapes and forms.

Sorry for the long post. End of rant.

Thanks for the post BastetsMum. I'm pagan too. It's good to point out that animals are cherished in our belief (at least I cherish/worship them ). NOT sacrificed.

What a weird rule! I have never ever heard about this before ! I've never liked Halloween before, and now even less
btw: Halloween was pretty unknown here up to about 5 years ago; people learned all about Halloween from certain movies, and now it is become popular too; but mostly only among adults; the habit of kids going from door to door for "trick-or-tricking" is still not done here(which was the only fun part in Halloween )

Poor black cats!!!

[kitten645]

Being a black cat mom x2 I've heard all sorts of odd things. Also being pagan I've heard all sorts of weird things about that as well. I adopted my kids in July and was told then that they were so happy they were being adopted because blackies (complete blackies w/not a stitch of white) are the hardest to place. I also know that the SFSPCA doesn't adopt out black cats around Halloween. My kids are strictly indoors, not only for ANY kitties safety but ESPECIALLY because they are black. Wicked people AND additionally hard to see at night (learned very well when Calvin escaped one night!) I just left a note on the door of a neighbor who allows her blackie out to please consider keeping Mr. Chip inside for the next few weeks especially at night. He's older and SO friendly that I fear for his safety especially around nasty kids/teens.
I also like the Wicca philosophy that what you do will return to you threefold. People who abuse animals are the worst excuses for humans there are.

[carole]

Soledad, halloween is starting to become a big deal in NZ, the shops are full of the gear to buy, sweets, and my daughter always wants to go trick and treating, alot of people are against it here, as I am because for one, it is just another way to get you to spend ,spend,spend, and I see no point to it, the retailers are the ones who get the most out of it, and trick and treating can be dangerous.

I don't have any religious beliefs either way, if it is evil or not, I just think its another money-making venture.

We in NZ never bothered with it before , so why now?

I am also one who does not think celebrating some guy blowing up the british parliament GUY FAWKES necessary either, but I don't allow my personal opinion to spoil my children's fun.

I think as long as the fireworks were controlled and only available at large outdoor displays, I would be ok with it, too many kids get hurt, and animals as well, not to mention how scared they are.

Back to Halloween, people here were saying , we teach our kid's not to take sweets from strangers, and here we are endorsing trick and treating and taking sweets from exactly that, there are some kooky people out there that would do anything.

When we go trick and treating , I always go with her and a group of her friends, and only to a neighbourhood I know, but even then there are still some dangers.

[Soledad]

Carole,

You should have seen my husband's reaction to his first American Halloween! He can't believe all of the fuss. He asked me why people are putting pumpkins and decorations out already and why there are so many costumes, etc. I told him that it's October and people usually put stuff up for the month. He couldn't fathom this and muttered, "you people are crazy!"

He has conflicted feelings about Halloween because of the way it is regarded in NZ - he is not a Christian, but his basic feeling towards the holiday is that it's evil. I know when I was there last year for Halloween, and the previous years, it was barely noticeable to me. I saw very few things in the shop, several articles on the evils of the holiday by very Christian groups, and one child dressed up on the actual holiday.

It saddened me because I LOVE Halloween. It's a chance to get in costume, and my brothers and I always put a lot of creativity into our costumes. We'd think about it for months! We also helped make a haunted house through Boy Scouts, and always enjoyed making a scare crow and decorating our porch and carving pumpkins for the holiday.

There's nothing sinister about this holiday, as far as I'm concerned. Never once had I or anyone else I'd known received anything other than candy. No razor blades, no weirdos. I don't believe I've ever heard of that happening in America. I believe Snopes.com dispelled the myth of the razor blade apple and went onto say how no such tricks have actually occured on Halloween. Not sure, though.

I think it's a great time to have fun, be someone different for a night and score some great candy!! It's more a celebration of the fall and an excuse to have some fun.

[carole]

I hear what you are saying soledad.

I am not one to spoil anyone's fun, at least I hope not, but its just so commercial like xmas is, and I find it is just another thing I have to try and afford.

I can imagine it is on a very small scale in NZ, but it is starting to get bigger, when I was a child it did not even exist, and its only been here for a few years, I just don't see why we have to follow suit and copy everyone else, why celebrate it now, when it never was before.

Honestly I am not scrooge, infact I get a kick out of seeing people dressed up , on their way to parties, or trick and treating, but when I hear that black cats are subject to cruelty because of this celebration, that sends shivers up my spine and makes my blood boil, and I am sure you feel the same.

Guess I am just a party pooper after all, sigh.........