Weekend Cat Blogging #230: Hallowe’en Black Cat Edition!

Luna welcomes everyone to Weekend Cat Blogging #230. As has become an annual tradition here at CatSynth, we are hosting the Hallowe’en Edition in celebration of black cats.

Hallowe’en can be a difficult time for any cat, with kids and mischief-making and such. But it can be exceptionally hard for black cats. Hallowe’en traditions for celebrating the dark, macabre, and scary collide with the (primarily American) superstition that black cats are bad luck. You can read an interesting article on the history and mythology surrounding black cats:

On our cat forum recently, I asked the members what they thought of when they heard the words “black cat.” Being true cat lovers, they answered that the following words come to mind: mysterious, alluring, beautiful, playful, elegant and gorgeous. But when non-cat owners are asked the same question on another internet forum they come up with these words: bad luck, witches familiar, evil, demonic, mean, spooky and Halloween… So you can see the superstition lives on even today.

Indeed, many shelters block adoption of black cats in the weeks immediately before and after Hallowe’en, some blocking adoptions for the entire month of October. However, this practice is not without its controversy, as suggested in this recent article. But as Kathy Covey’s cat blog suggests, black cats can have a hard time being adopted at any time of the year.

However, we at CatSynth, and we suspect many of our readers, fall into the category who see black cats as alluring, beautiful and elegant – and of course, playful as well. And with that, we invite all our feline friends to join us in celebration of cats this Hallowe’en.

To participate, please leave a link to your post as a comment, and we will add you to the round-up throughout the weekend.

The Kitty Limericks blog featured black cats during the week leading up to Halloween, and on Friday Karen Jo composed and posted a limerick for Luna!

Luna’s a black cat with eyes of green —
One of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.
She loves her nip;
Goes on a trip.
Now she’s ready for Halloween.

Our friend Mickey is a bit nervous, but we’re pretty sure it has very little to do with being a black cat on Hallowe’en. Visit Mickey, Georgia and Tillie to find out more.

Hallowe’en of course features costumes, and Raymond is enjoying a Hello Kitty costume, i.e., by mauling and drooling on it rather than wearing it.

Hallowe’en is also about treats, and Jules enjoys banana popsicles. Vincent seems to prefer the more conventional mouse toy.

One needs a bag to tote all those treats, and the Criz Cats remind us to use bags responsibly. Reusable bags are the best option for Hallowe’en treats and all your carrying-stuff-around needs.

At sidewalk shoes, Patchouli says Happy Hallowe’en to everyone while remaining safely inside her screened-in porch. We at CatSynth definitely recommend that cats stay indoors this weekend.

Conventionally speaking, Hallowe’en treats are candy. But the cats over at Friends FurEver think that tuna makes a better treat that candy. I suspect that Luna agrees.

Hallowe’en is associated with autumn colors (including the iconic orange), and Ernie’s black fur complements the fall colors perfectly in this photo.

Salome (in black silhouette) has a “trick or treat” plan of her own at Paulchens FoodBlog?!

Our fellow “house panther” Mr. Hendrix (or perhaps his evil alter-ego Bendrix) and the “blurpy boy” wish everyone a Happy Hallowe’en! Seems like there ready to go and enjoy the unique holiday nightlife.

15 thoughts on “Weekend Cat Blogging #230: Hallowe’en Black Cat Edition!”

  1. Luna, to think anyone could hurt you or any other kitties upsets me lots. You are such a good kitty, very pretty and elegant. You deserves treats just for being you.

  3. It makes me sad to think that there are so many superstitious and cruel people out there that shelters have to block the adoption of black cats around Halloween. I think that black cats are elegant. I am glad that you like Luna’s limerick.

  10. I am sad I am posting so late on our special WCB Halloween edition! We never use black cats in our Halloween decorations because we don’t want to reenforce supersitions is silly beans who should know better. Mommy is always sad when she goes in the shelter she volunteers at and sees all the House Panthers.

    On the flip side, Cat Fancy did a poll and black was the most popular kitty color! I can’t argue with that.
    http://www.mrhendrixthekitty.blogspot.com

    I had to share my post with the blurpy boy, but I think it counts right?

  11. That’s an awesome roundup of House Panthers for Halloween!

    My OTW is pleased to say that the stigma of black cats is not everywhere in North America. Big cities in Canada still have a problem, but up here in Northern Alberta the shelter says they have no more trouble finding homes for black kitties than any other!

    Also, she’s noticed a lot of black kitties in commercials lately, and not as evil kitties, or as especially mysterious kitties, but just ordinary kitties, in commercials where a tabby or a tuxie or any other cat would have worked just as well!

  12. Pingback: Carnival of the Cats #294

  13. I got my post up way late but it is up! Please visit my Midnight Monday Halloween edition at

    http://www.mrhendrixthekitty.blogspot.com

    My beans saw a black cat just off the road when they were driving yesterday. They pulled off and tried to get it, but it ran away. Luckily it looked well fed and the coat was shiny but mommy is still worried about the poor dear being out all alone/

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