Black cats protected ahead of Halloween

Officials in northeastern Spain are so concerned that black cats could be targeted for misuse in superstitious rituals around Halloween that the authorities have decided to temporarily halt adoptions from local shelters for their protection.

The measure, in effect in the municipality of Terrassa, Catalonia, aims to protect the domestic pets during the Halloween season, which is known for costumes, pranks, and occult-themed events.

The animal welfare service for the city, north of Barcelona, announced that from Oct 6 to Nov 10, any adoption or fostering request for the felines would be refused to prevent "possible risk ... derived from superstitions, rituals or irresponsible uses", reported Agence France-Presse.

Authorities said the move was made "due to the arrival of the Halloween period and following the prudence criteria applied by various animal protection entities".

Local newspaper Diari de Terrassa (Terrassa Daily) last week quoted animal welfare councilor Noel Duque as saying adoption requests for black cats rise near Halloween "for ritual purposes" or "as decoration because 'it's cool'".

Animal welfare charities caution that cats may be injured, killed, or used as props in Halloween rituals, noted AFP.

Terrassa's city council said there is no record of cruelty toward black cats in the city, but noted incidents elsewhere and said it had moved to act after warnings from animal welfare groups, reported broadcaster RTVE.

"We try to prevent people from adopting because it's trendy or impulsive. And in cases like these, which we know exist, to prevent any macabre practices," said Duque.

The council stressed the measure is "temporary and exceptional" and serves as an added safeguard for animal welfare, but left open the possibility of imposing a similar ban again in the future.

It said any exceptions will be "duly justified and assessed by the technical team of the center, where there is a full safety guarantee and a reliable history of the applicant". It added that routine adoption and fostering will restart after the Halloween season.

Figures shared by authorities showed Terrassa has more than 9,800 cats, and the town's adoption center is home to around 100 felines, 12 of which are black, the Catalan News Agency reported.

Although black cats are frequently linked to witchcraft and considered unlucky in Western culture, many other traditions — including those in Japan and Egypt — regard them as symbols of prosperity and good fortune.