I'm wondering about my black cat's safety as Halloween approaches?

Question

I have a pure black cat named Wolfgang. I love him dearly. He's an in-out cat, who spends part of his day hanging around the neighborhood. And no, he doesn't kill birds, except maybe in his dreams.

This is a very Halloweenie town, and not small or close-knit. I'm quite frightened of letting him out.

Will he get picked up and used in Satanic rituals or to dress up someone's party?

Of course, he's bothering me to go out so much right now that it's tempting . . .

He says "Hi" to your cats.

Wow! Thanks for all your answers thus far. I've decided to open up the window so he can sit on the sill. He's going to be inside until the big day's over, whether he likes it or not.

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain to you, too!

Kisses, I'm so sorry. Condolences. And thanks for the warning.

Answer 1

I think forcing Wolfgang to stay inside on Halloween shows remarkable restraint on your part. I can tell by the way you talk about him that you love him dearly and forcing him to do something he isn't going to want to do is going to be tough. He is a very lucky lil boy indeed to own a human like yourself. I have this picture in my head now of this black cat sitting in a window sill,watching the little trick-or-treaters go by....PRICELESS!!!
Cats DO frequently go missing this time of year. Especially the black ones. Most anyone involved in cat related rescue work beg people not to let those lil black guys out on Hallowen. I do caution you though. Watch the doors. If he gets one split second with that door open he's probably going to bolt.
I'm glad you're keeping him in. I'm also very glad to see someone so devoted to the welfare of their cat. It's very refreshing when I see the effects daily of the opposite end of the spectrum.
Right now I have 10 solid black cats in the rescue. Normally they live outside.They have a 24x16 shed that's been converted to a house for them in the woods on the property behind my house. For the week surrounding Halloween, the ten will be confined in their house totally. People are sick and we don't take that chance.

Answer 2

Yes, there are satanic rituals and I know more than one person who has lost a black cat around halloween. THere are PLENTY of sicko's around.

My brother even FOUDND a black cat, injured and almost dead.. in an abandoned brick factory, surrounded by satanic symbols.. He took the cat, got it fixed up, and it is still his pet!!

I'm not saying that ALL Satanists harm animals or people.. but yes it DOES happen!!

It's a well-known fact that most shelters won't adopt out any black cats during october and first week of november

EDIT: I am sure the people who do these disgusting things are mostly teenagers or kids who just think it's cool to do something they see as "a satanic ritual" for halloween.. Not a reflection on "satanists" per se..

Answer 3

Ok, the fear of satanic rituals is unfounded. I remember back in the 80's when everyone was freaking out about satanic rituals. It turned out to be nothing. Yes, there are some people out there who profess to worship satan. However, it is not some giant organization with secret rituals happening every halloween.

Dress up someone's party is a more valid concern. I would not be suprised to hear of someone taking a black cat for a party. It would not do them too much good. I can just imagine how much fun an abducted cat would be at a party. Someone would have to call the paramedics because that cat would kill someone before the night was over with.

The cat is probably not under much more danger around halloween than any other time of the year. However, if keeping him inside is doing nothing more than driving him and you crazy and it gives you peace of mind then go for it.

Answer 4

The best thing to do is keep him in until at least a week after Halloween. Nothing could happen but whay take the chance?

I would worry more about teenagers using him to play a prank than satanic ritual. For some reason teenagers think it is fun to make others think it was satan worshippers who do this to animals. It is a sick thing to hurt any animal that way.

Also don't believe that Witches or Wiccans hurt black cats.
We love all animals and would never hurt one at all. I have a black cat and love her alot.

Keep him in and give him lots of extra attention, he will be fine until the holiday is over.

Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain to all.

Answer 5

I LOVE black cats and have had a two in my life:
the first black cat I had was named "Billy" he was a purely indoor cat, although I leash trained him and took him for walks in the park (as I've done with all my cats since they've all been indoor cats but I didn't want to deprive them of the outside world). Billy and I lived in a nice apartment building in one of those nice suburban towns: good school district and low crime rate...I thought I was safe. A few days before Halloween I came home from work to a broken window and the only thing missing was Billy. The police who investigated said it looked like a break-in. The window that was broken was done so from close-range and it was the same window that I set up Billy's perch in. They had no leads so the case didn't go very far until about a week after Halloween. 6 days after Halloween the cops came back to my apartment, they had found a large amount (several dozen) black cats and kittens (some solid black and some that were mostly black with some white) dead about a block away from my house in an open lot. Most of the cats were still wearing collars, the police gave me Billy's collar. The officer who gave me the collar said I did good by keeping him in but the kids probably saw him in the window and decided to break-in to get him. Two days after the dead cats were found the officers came back to my apartment; they had found the people who stole and killed all the black cats. It was a group of teenagers who thought it was funny. No satanic reason behind it; they just thought Halloween was their free ticket to do whatever they wanted. Billy was only three years old and he was such a good cat, they had no right or reason to break in to my apartment. They had no right or reason to hurt my Billy but they did. I later found out that two of the black cats that were murdered were adopted from the shelter where I worked over a month before Halloween by the people who murdered them, so I know this was a planned act.
Some people make me sick; how they could do it I'll never know...
right now I have another black cat, his name is Eclipse and he is only a year old; I don't trust him out of my sight during October so he'll be going trick-or-treating with me and my muscle-buliding boyfriend (protection from idiots) and he'll be going handing out candy with us as well.
I'm not saying that something bad will happen to your cat; I'm just saying why would you risk it?
I was showed pictures of the crime -scene after the investigation was closed and I wouldn't wish that kind of feeling I got from those pictures on anyone. Billy was a good cat and he didn't deserve to get what he got; I'm alot more careful with all of my babies because of my past experiences.
if you do keep him inside there are things you can do to simulate the outside for him:
1-bring in a tree branch or some leaves for him to smell the outdoors
2-simulate the hunt outside by hiding food, treats, toys around the house
3-provide him with toys that move or sound like mice/birds/prey
4-expand his territory: give him a cardboard box or a cat condo to explore and claim as his own
5-take him outside on a leash and harness (they can slip out of collars so get a harness) for a few minutes a day
Happy Halloween to you and your kitten
remember to stay safe

Answer 6

Great question but PLEASE keep him indoors around Halloween, also if you can the night before as well. As people have already stated, a lot of twisted things go down with creeps and black cats. That's also why most humane societies and other cat adoption agencies refuse to sell any black cats around Halloween. The cat with be fine staying in for the nights

Answer 7

My kitties say "Hi" to Wolfgang.

Thank you for keeping Wolfgang in during Halloween. What you might want to do to make it easier on Wolfgang would be to buy him a few new cat toys, preferably with catnip, and get him some special treat that he really likes. Maybe get him one of those kitty videos with mice, birds, hamsters, squirrels, etc., pull an ottoman up in front of the TV, and watch HIS movie instead of some half-baked scary movie for Halloween. Way more fun for both of you!

Answer 8

I would not let the cat out at all on Halloween. We also have a black cat and never let him out during Halloween. Unfortunately, there are cruel people out there that will try and harm him. Even if he is bothering you to get out, it's better safe than sorry.

Answer 9

I would keep the cat inside on Halloween...and the days leading up to it. Better safe than sorry. Plus, Wolfgang would love it.

Answer 10

I wouldn't let him out. I doubt he would be picked up for satanic rituals, but more-so from someone who would say "Hey NEAT, I found a black cat on Halloween!"

I also have a black cat, who was actually born on Halloween. She's quite the little witch. :op