I posted this last year and got some shit for it, but I don't care...it's still a valid and important topic.

October: Black Cat Month

The Perils of Halloween



While October may be the favorite month of thousands of humans, who excitedly plan their costumes of spooks, vampires and monsters, in anticipation of Halloween, cats, particularly black cats, have little cause for celebration this month.

Much has been said about the more violent indignities that may be practiced on black cats at this time of year, but a more subtle cruelty has surfaced in recent years. Some shelters have noted a spate of black cat adoptions shortly before Halloween, with many of these cats returned to the shelters in the days after the holiday because "He just didn't work out." One might assume that these people just wanted another Halloween decoration for their house - a black cat in the window, perhaps, or a "familiar" to go with that new witch costume. It probably did not even occur to them that this practice is cruel and inhumane - this kind of individual typically thinks of cats as property, and not as sentient beings who suffer real trauma from being dragged back and forth from shelter to home and back again.

Let's talk about the violence. It is true that statistics on black cat torture during October are lacking - most of the stories we hear are heresay, and some, no doubt, have been drummed up simply for the shock value. The conundrum is that the problem can be self-fulfilling. Young minds are vulnerable, particularly the minds of youths who have themselves been abused. When they hear stories of ritual Satanic abuse of cats, a spark ignites, and a new crime wave is off and running, with a "stray" black cat the target.
Ritual sacrifice still exists. Talk to almost any police officer in a rural area about it and you may hear a story or two about cattle found, completely drained of blood, often with vital organs missing. These stories crop up in newspapers once in awhile, and while some may be dismissed as "urban legends," the possibility exists that some are true.

The perception of danger to black cats on Halloween has become so prevalent that many shelters and humane societies refuse to allow adoption of black cats during the entire month of October. Lacking this previously easy source of victims, practitioners of the black occult and other sadists look to the streets for their sacrificial cats, and color is not always the highest priority.


Black Cats
Black cats have taken a bad rap throughout history. Greek mythology taught that a woman named Galenthias was turned into a cat and became a priestess at the temple of Hecate, the "Dark Mother," and sometimes known as the Mother of Witchcraft. During the 12th and 13th century, witches in Europe were often found with their "familiars," usually black cats, and were said to turn themselves into cats at times. During the witch-burning era of the 17th century, witches' cats were put into baskets and burned alongside the witches.

Even in the 21st century, old superstitions have survived. In many European countries and in the U.S., black cats signify bad luck, while in England, your luck is said to turn good if a black cat crosses your path.

Keep Them Indoors
For the reasons cited above, it is best to keep all cats indoors during the month of October, regardless of their color, but especially if they happen to be black. (Indeed, cats are safer indoors any time of year.) Even though there may be no cultists in your neighborhood or community, the sheer numbers of people out and about on Halloween, along with increased vehicular traffic make the outdoors a frightening and unsafe place for small furry creatures.

In addition, on Halloween night and the weekend before, you'll be wise to keep your cats locked inside an interior room in the house, lest they panic and slip out when hobgoblins come to your door. Even the calmest cat can become upset at endless doorbell ringing and youthful voices shouting "Trick or treat!" Enjoy your holiday while saving your kitties from unnecessary stress.

Happy Halloween!


~~~

Tips for the Halloween Season
(source: Petopia.com)
Here are some important things to keep in mind during the Halloween holiday:

Don’t share Halloween candy with your pets. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and other candy could damage their teeth and overall health. Make sure that when the kids come back from trick-or-treating, they put their stash out of paws' reach.


Keep your pets a safe distance from trick-or-treaters. Having a steady stream of strangers on their turf might can make pets anxious and unpredictable.


As you open and close the door to dish out candy, keep an eye on your dog or cat -- pets can easily slip away and end up lost.


If you put a costume on your pet, make sure that nothing about the costume could interfere with his breathing or ability to see. Also make sure that no parts of the costume could tangle or choke him. And keep on eye on him the whole time -- never leave an outfitted pet alone.


If you take your dog trick-or-treating with you, make sure that he is on a leash and has the proper ID tags on his collar. You don't want to have to go looking for him, but if he does get lost, tags with your name and phone number make it much more likely that you'll get him back.


If you have a black cat, or even a dark gray one, keep close tabs on him during the days and weeks leading up to Halloween. If possible, keep him indoors to prevent him from being the victim of any pranks.

Let's keep our pets safe

Good post.

I will NOT let my cat out during this time!

She is not black, but she's dark enough -- a tortoise shell.

She's my sweety!

2the9s said:

Hey apples some people do some crazy shit at this time of year...

REDFEATHERS said:

2the9s said:

My sister has two tortoise shell kitties, they're beautiful!
She also has a little, black cat (she's my 12-year-old niece's favorite) who was shot by a neighbor because 'black cats are bad luck for jews' Minnie (our nickname for the kitty) is fine, but she'll always have the pellet inside her...they couldn't remove it during surgery.

spelling edit

[This message was edited Sun Oct 5 14:29:41 PDT 2003 by applekisses]

REDFEATHERS said:

Hey Red! yes, they do...stupid bastards.

black cats are awesome! i have a soft spot for black kitties cuz i had one for a pet as a child. the last tattoo i got wuz in memoriam of her.

but yeah, it is sick to torture cats (or any animals, for that matter)...

I have a black cat...but I don't think I have to worry too much about him. We don't celebrate Halloween here like you guys, so there wouldn't be a problem.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I've got two of them they're my babies. I'm trying to find their pic so I can post it

Hope you can see her.


[This message was edited Sun Oct 5 17:43:26 PDT 2003 by 2the9s]

Thanks Lleena!

I couldn't read your whole post because that stuff freaks me out but I got the message that people should keep their dark cats in. I have a neighbor who has a dark calico and a black cat with white feet that are always outside. I called her and now she's keeping them inside until a little after Halloween.

However she now thinks I'm a nut because I never talked to her before and and I think she could hear the uneasiness that was in my voice over the fact I was calling a complete stranger to tell them to bring their cats inside or else bad things would happen to them (even though I tried to make it clear it wouldn't be me, I love animals) and she didn't seem to buy the fact that I got her number from one of the cats' collars and I was so busy trying to think of a way to convince her I'm not psychotic, I didn't realize the conversation was over and she wanted to go.

But at least the cats will be ok.

And maybe since she thinks I'm crazy she'll be more convinced to keep them in..

Thanks AK...

I dont have a cat but i'm gunna b singin Janet Jackson's Black Cat for a concert more toward da end of this year!!!

Black Cat, nine lives
short days...long nights
better watch ur step
or ur gonna die...
Heart beat
real strong
but not for long
better watch ur step
or ur gonna die

K, dat song rocks... and absolutely no offence to all those kitty kats out therez...

don't hurt cats

I luvs me some Blackcat.









Purrr i mean GRRRRR edit
[This message was edited Sun Oct 5 20:09:27 PDT 2003 by CtheUncanny]

2the9s said:

Awww...she's so cute She looks like my sister's cat, Ebony

Here are my babies...



And here is Jinx by herself on her favorite pillow



She's such a sweetie, but SUCH a brat

I'm sure you guys have seen these pics before, but they're the only ones I have scanned in right now

applekisses said:

I love that pic of the two huddled together.

2the9s said:

Don't let it fool you...they are true sibings (from the same litter) and fight like it...(Iggy kicks Jinx's ass) and then when I come home from somewhere I'll find them all curled up on the couch or the bed...

Awww they are so cute Apples!

9's you're a cat guy?

I've had my kitty since I was 9...she's old but still kickin. Sometimes I think she's never going to die...unless she continues to shit NEXT to her litter box...then my mom will take it upon herself to get rid of her!

CarrieLee said:

Thanks I love them!

You know, my childhood cat was 24 by the time my mom had to put her to sleep (she was peeing behind the livingroom sofa.)
Maybe your kitty just hates the type of litter or something...

CarrieLee said:

I bought her those toys for Christmas! I even wrapped them up!

2the9s said:

applekisses said:

I think she's just spoiled. Seriously, we scoop out the poop and change the litter after EVERY time she uses it. I think she thinks it's funny.

2the9s said:

Oh dear!

CarrieLee said:

Maybe she does
But, you should have a talk with her...it might get her wacked!

july said:

Whoo Hoo! Black Pussy Month!

applekisses said:

I've tried. And then she pukes on my bed