Black Cats, Halloween, and a Bum Wrap
Why your jet-black feline deserves a little respect this month.
It’s October, and that means ghoulish décor, ill-fitting costumes, and far too many Halloween treats. It’s also the month that conjures images of witches, vampires, black magic, and, of course, black cats.
So, what’s the deal with black cats and Halloween? Further, why are so many cat rescues and shelters reluctant to allow potential adoptees to opt for a feline of the jet-black variety during the witching month?
Let’s tackle that last question first. As one shelter so aptly put it, not adopting out black felines in the month of October follows the same protocol as to why they don’t adopt out bunnies on the days leading up to easter. The concern is that taking on that cute little critter is not about bringing a new family member into the home, but something akin to a themed prop that will lose its appeal shortly after the event has passed. And it’s a position taken by many shelters and rescues. Yes, cost, care, and effort have me remembering the dread COVID puppy return once back-to-work came into effect, and eager pet owners decided the new pooch had been a bad decision.
But back to the first query. How did black cats become linked to all things, sorcery? It started back in the 13th century, when the Pope of the day proclaimed that black cats were a reincarnation of Satan. Further, that witches were able to use black cats to spy on those they considered to be a threat, or even take on the form of a black cat to wander around and do the spying themselves!
Hence the superstition that has survived even to this day, that if a black cat crosses your path, it means bad luck is on the way. I mean, one never knows if it’s a witch out doing a little espionage or the devil in disguise.
Back to the 13th century. With witches fairly common at the time and considered a threat to the Christian church, the move to black-list (pun intended) these felines was strategic. And ultimately, it was this ill-fated, conjured-up connection that led to the mass extermination of black cats throughout Europe. Of no surprise, is that it was shortly thereafter that the famed witch hunts began.
Well, old habits die hard, and when settlers arrived in America, they brought with them the same belief that black cats were directly linked to Satan. The natural assumption was that this ebony-colored creature was a threat to the settler family, and as a result, they were again banished or exterminated.
Wiccan Priestess, Cerridwen Fallingstar, states that black cats tend to exhibit a “healthy disrespect” for authority, and unlike dogs, they don’t “fawn” upon those they deem unworthy. As a result, it may have influenced those knee-jerk assumptions from days gone by.
But while we can all agree that not much has changed over the centuries vis-à-vis cat attitude and a defiance that knows no bounds… how interesting that we now celebrate this by creating funny little memes and videos of our cats that highlight their indifference, impatience, and overall disregard for social norms. Still!
Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife
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