As 31st October approaches, pictures of witches, pumpkins and black cats flood social media and shop displays.
Yet behind this popular folklore lies a major challenge for animal rescue charities.
A long-standing superstition
Associated with witchcraft between the 15th and 18th centuries across Europe and America, black cats suffered from a terrible reputation for centuries. Many people believed they brought bad luck.
Although this superstition is now largely a thing of the past, rescue centres still struggle to rehome these cats.
According to figures from the PetHelpful website, a black cat will spend between 24% and 40% longer in a rescue centre than a light-coloured feline.
The trap of pausing adoptions in October
To prevent these animals from being used as temporary props for a single night or suffering neglect, many charities routinely freeze black cat adoptions throughout October.
Dr Adamo, a vet, considers this decision counterproductive. He believes that pausing adoptions for a whole month in shelters already struggling with space could lead to higher rates of euthanasia.
The vet also adds that suspending adoptions keeps alive the myth that these animals are uniquely threatened or dangerous. This unnecessarily discourages potential owners from coming forward.
Translated from the FR Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
