October: A Cruel Month for Black Cats

Did you know that some animal shelters in Iowa (and other states) have strict policies banning adoptions of black cats during the month of October? Black cats have it hard as it is; they are stigmatized as omens of bad luck and evil, but when Halloween approaches these kitties have an even worse issue to face. There’s a popular belief that black cats are used as ritual-sacrifice on Halloween by sick, Satanic cultists in America. This rumor gained momentum after a tragic incident occured in Iowa on Halloween in 2004 when the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center found a black cat hung on an 8-foot cross as a sacrifice. The good news is that this was a one-time incident, because no other crimes against black cats have been reported in Iowa within the last 9 years of that horrifying act of animal cruelty.

However, the rumors still circulate every October that black cats are at the mercy of Satanic cults when Halloween draws near. National Geographic tried to dispel the myth in 2007 by publishing an article showing that there’s no correlation between increased cat-sacrifices during the month of October. Although this is true, animal shelters still increase efforts to protect cats during Halloween season by adding a ban on black cat adoptions along with the standard customer screening process that’s used for every prospective adopter.

Even though it is unlikely black cats will be harmed physically by someone trying to adopt them during October, the adoption ban is an attempt to stop psychological harm on cats as well. Many shelters have records showing surges of cat returns after Halloween. A possible explanation of this is that people adopt black cats to serve as a living prop to have around the house for Halloween, and when the holiday is over they want to get rid of their adopted decoration. You may think this isn’t a big deal, but transferring a cat from shelter, to new home, and back to the shelter, and then a third home (if it’s lucky enough to get adopted) is psychologically and emotionally taxing on the animal. It’s cruel to use animals as decorations because it’s objectifying; they should serve as a companion and deserve a stable home. 

Photo Source: Flickr Creative Commons