October is finally here, in all its Autumnal glory. The leaves are beginning to shift their hues, the breeze leaves a nip in its wake, and pumpkins, bats, witches and cats are lining the shelves of stores nationwide. So many people, regardless of age, are preparing for the grand finale of October: Halloween.
We all create or buy elaborate costumes, decorate homes with
cobwebs and spider window clings, stock up on their favorite sweets, and
even find the time to dress up their pets. During the Halloween frenzy,
many people often find themselves liking and re-blogging pictures of
black cats; not truly understanding the danger these animals are in
during October.
Black cats tend to have a bad reputation throughout history – stemming all the way back to the times of the ancient Greeks. The myths tell of a young woman named Galenthia, sometimes shortened to Galen, who was transformed into a black cat. She became a priestess at the dark temple of Hecate, often referred to as the Mother of Witchcraft. This reputation only continued to fester during the superstitious witch-hunts of 12th and 13th century Europe, where those who were convicted had their pet cats burned alongside them at the stake.
We are obviously no longer living in the 12th and 13th centuries, but the danger to cats, black cats in particular, has not diminished. There are still people who practice ritual sacrifice to this day, and it often occurs near Halloween. Although many instances of modern ritualistic sacrifice are not published in a public domain such as a newspaper, if you ask any police officer (especially if you live in a rural area) they’ll more than likely tell you about the local cases that have turned up over the years. Black cats are often used for such occult practices, and because many shelters have stopped allowing adoption of black cats during October in order to help protect them, the individuals that participate in such heinous acts have had to find other ways of acquiring the animals; which includes stealing them from families who let their cats outside.
So have a blast trick-or-treating, going to parties, and stuffing your face with all the wonderful candies and treats that Halloween brings, but please keep your cats safe indoors, especially if you have a black cat. It’s not worth risking your furry friend for someone to snatch them up. Have a very spooky, fun-filled Halloween!
