Spanish Town Implements Temporary Black Cat Adoption Ban to Protect Felines During Halloween Season

Spain:

Black cats, long associated with misfortune and occult practices, have found protection in a Spanish municipality that has implemented a temporary ban on their adoption to prevent potentially dangerous Halloween "rituals."

The animal welfare department of Terrassa, a town located north of Barcelona, announced on October 6 that any requests to adopt or foster these felines will be denied between October 1 and November 10 to prevent "possible risks... stemming from superstitions, rituals or irresponsible uses."

Authorities in the Catalonian town stated that the decision was made "due to the approach of the Halloween season and following precautionary measures implemented by various animal protection organizations."

According to local publication Diari de Terrassa, animal welfare councilor Noel Duque explained that adoption requests for black cats increase near Halloween "for ritual purposes" or "as decoration because 'it's cool'."

The town administration "could not ignore" this "disturbing issue," said Duque, who displays a ginger cat in his Facebook profile picture.

Animal welfare groups caution that cats may be harmed, killed, or used as props during Halloween ceremonies.

Exceptions to the ban will be "properly justified and evaluated by the center's technical team, where complete safety guarantees and reliable applicant history exist," the animal welfare service stated.

The regular adoption and fostering procedures will resume after Halloween, they added, not excluding the possibility of similar restrictions in the future.

According to municipal data, Terrassa is home to more than 9,800 cats.