Halloween is a time of fun, candy, and also many superstitions. When it comes to felines, I grew up with many common perceptions of black cats: they bring bad luck, they’re related to witches, and so on. It wasn’t until recently when I was doing research for another article that I came to learn the origins of some of these myths. Here are some of my findings:
Myth 1: Black cats bring bad luck
Whether black cats bring good or bad luck varies by culture. In Western and European history, black cats are often associated with satan or witches. In ancient Egypt, black cats were highly regarded and respected. These felines are also seen in a more positive light in Japan and Britain.
Myth 2: Black cats are less likely to be adopted
When going to adoption centers it’s very common to see signs asking adopters to consider taking a black furry friend home; especially black cats. There is a common belief that black cats are less likely to be adopted than differently-colored animals. An study from ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) found that black cats are actually adopted more often! There is also a larger intake of black cats at shelters, which may explain why shelters still have so much more black cats.
Myth 3: It’s dangerous to have black cats outside
Black cats have been mass-killed during the Medieval times in different places, probably because of the negative associations they have. As such there is also a common-day fear that these felines may be harmed or sacrificed, especially around Halloween time. Although I haven’t found much information backing this, the myths are enough for me to keep my cats indoors for October. For the same reason, some animal shelters may also be reluctant to give away their black cats during this time.
Share your thoughts!
What are some myths you have heard? Do you keep your cats indoors during Halloween season?
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Written by: Alexandra Wei