It's October...Let the Black Cat Debate Begin!

Let's see, it is now October 3 and it's the time of year when the leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping (or not!), the pumpkins are coming out, and shelters and rescue groups cease adopting out black cats.

Like many in the animal community, it's been drummed in my head countless times that satanic cults cease animals, particularly black cats, to sacrifice on Halloween. Lately, I've started to question this as well as the common practice of restricting black cat adoptions around this time. This Snopes article questions the claim.

(Most of those unfortunate cats that are discovered disemboweled All Saints morning undoubtedly had their lives cut short by nothing more mundane than coyotes, aggressive dogs, foxes, etc. rather than Satanic cults. People, let's keep our cats inside now...)

Now I'm sure crazy stuff like this happens. On Halloween 2004 some messed up freak apparently crucified a black cat at the Iowa City/Coralville Animal Care & Adoption Center. Then again, this particular shelter also refuses to adopt out black cats just before and after Halloween. It's not clear from the article if someone broke in and killed a cat or just left a stray outside.

I'm rather skeptical about the policy of not adopting out black cats during Halloween season. I mean, that's why shelters and rescues have (or should have) strict adoption guidelines and procedures. Somehow I doubt the mom and dad with two kids in tow will be sacrificing Fluffy to the devil on Halloween.

I think most of the "black cats get sacrificed on Halloween" myth is mostly overblown . Most of the "satanic" sacrifices involve small groups of alienated youth dabbling in the occult. These youth usually sacrifice whatever animal they can find, no matter the color. And these can occur throughout the year. Again, proper adoption procedures will prevent these sick individuals from obtaining sacrificial animals from shelters. The fact that practically all shelters and rescues will not adopt to individuals under 18 without a parent's permission, means such individuals more than likely do not turn to shelters for animals.

(Not to minimize animal cruelty at all; in fact, any youth discovered to be involved in such activity needs an immediate intervention by the authorities.)

In fact this looks to be a remnant of the satanic panic of the early 1980s where overnight Geraldo Rivera and Sally Jesse Rafael became "experts" in satanic ritual abuse. Remember the McMartin fiasco?

All in all, I think normal adoption procedures should weed out the weirdos.

(And FYI in Britain it's white cats that are bad luck. Well, this site says so at least!)