City Bans Black Cat Adoptions Ahead of Halloween

Terrassa, Spain — The city of Terrassa, Catalonia’s third-largest city, has temporarily halted all black cat adoptions this month to protect the animals from being used in Halloween rituals or as decorative props.

City officials say the ban will remain in effect until the end of October after receiving reports that some individuals were seeking black cats for “ritual purposes” linked to the Halloween season.

“We have been alerted by organizations and citizens that people want to adopt black cats to use them in rituals,” explained Deputy Mayor Noel Duque. “We’ve issued instructions to suspend adoptions and fostering of black cats during this period to ensure their safety.”

Duque added that the city wants to prevent impulsive or trend-based adoptions, emphasizing the need for responsible and long-term care of pets.

Anyone hoping to adopt a black cat in Terrassa must now wait until after Halloween and show proof that they can provide proper care.

Animal welfare groups note that interest in black cats typically spikes around Halloween — often for the wrong reasons. Some people seek them as spooky party decorations or for superstitious practices dating back to medieval times, when black cats were wrongly associated with witchcraft and bad luck.

While such beliefs persist in parts of Spain and Europe, perceptions are shifting. In Ypres, Belgium, for example, black cats were once thrown from a belfry in a grim medieval ritual known as “Cat Wednesday.” Today, the same town celebrates cats of all colors with the joyful Kattenstoet festival, symbolizing a long-overdue change in how society views these misunderstood animals.

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