October marks the International Black Cat Month, but countless stigmas have followed black cats for many centuries. Some believe that if you cross a black cat while walking, then your life is headed for the worst. Others believe that being around a black cat will cause you bad luck until you get away from it. Unfortunately, there are people who seek to harm black cats during the month of October. As a result, many shelters have learned to put black cats on hold from adoption until after Halloween. This prevents the possibility that the animal will be used for a Halloween “prank” or endure abuse due to the stereotypes surrounding the cat. As it is currently International Black cat month, here is what you should know about the history of the stigma behind the black cat.

There are records as far back as the 13th century that link black cats to witches and cults. In a church document called “Vox in Rama,” from June 13, 1233, black cats were associated with the devil. The devil the people worshipped at that time was thought to be half-man and half-cat. This is where the original fear of cats came from, and these superstitions carried down through generations to the present day. The connection between black cats and Halloween, however, is more modern. Their connection to the spooky month may be traced back to the first few Celtic festivals. These festivals are sacred celebrations that mark the end of summer and the harvest season. These festivals took place between sunset on October 31 and sunset on November 1. Black cats were often involved in Samhain rituals because of their connection to witches. This is where the felines became tied to Halloween and its dark themes.

Since 2020, several animal shelters have begun suspending black cat adoptions ahead of Halloween. Though not all black cats are in danger during Halloween and not all black cats will be abused if adopted, several shelters make this decision to be safe.

All cats, no matter the color of their fur, deserve good homes with loving owners. All the superstitions explained above are obviously very false myths. They do not represent the soft, playful, and loving characters of black cats in the slightest. This is why it is so vital to dispel false notions that they are bad luck!