Posted: Oct. 29, 2008, 3 a.m. EDT
Black cats can be at risk during Halloween, based on superstitions that date back to the Middle Ages. |
Black cats are often portrayed as evil and scary during Halloween, or at the very least a sign of bad luck if one crosses your path. These common superstitions have led the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles to ban black cat adoptions until Saturday, Nov. 1.
Effective immediately, the precautionary move is a way for the animal welfare organization to ensure the safety of black cats during Halloween, said Madeline Bernstein, spcaLA president. The ban has been in place for several years.
“We have found many people have ulterior motives when adopting black cats and it is a shame that all the myths and superstitions about black cats have made them targets,” she said.
These myths go as far back as the Middle Ages, when black cats were associated with witchcraft and black magic. Many pranksters target black cats during Halloween and the cats are more likely to be subjected to cruel treatment during this time of year, spcaLA said.
The organization encourages other pet adoption centers to do the same. Pet owners also are urged to take safety measures during the Halloween season to protect their cats, such as keeping them indoors.