Terrassa, a town in the Catalonia region of Spain, has implemented an unusual measure to safeguard its black cats. From October 6th to November 10th, the local animal welfare service is prohibiting the adoption or fostering of black cats. This decision comes as a precautionary step to shield these animals from potential harm or exploitation during the Halloween period, a time often associated with superstitions and macabre themes.
The deputy mayor, Noel Duque, noted that adoption requests for black cats tend to spike around Halloween. While acknowledging that there have been no reported incidents of cruelty towards black cats in Terrassa itself, the ban is a response to warnings from animal welfare organizations and concerns about past events in other areas. “We try to prevent people from adopting because it’s trendy or impulsively. And in cases like these, which we know exist, to prevent any macabre practices,” Duque stated.
Terrassa is home to over 9,800 cats, with about 100 currently housed in the adoption center, 12 of which are black. The council has emphasized that this ban is a “temporary and exceptional” measure, intended as an extra layer of protection for animal welfare, and they have not ruled out repeating it in the future. Any exceptions to the ban will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the adoption center, with normal adoption processes set to resume after Halloween.
Historically, black cats have been linked to bad luck and witchcraft in Western traditions. However, many cultures, such as those in Japan and Egypt, view them as symbols of good fortune and prosperity.