| Halloween and Cats | | | | - A black cat sneezing near a bride was a |
| When we think of Halloween there are a myriad | | | | precursor for a happy marriage. |
| of images that come to mind. Witches coursing | | | | - The Druids thought black cats were humans |
| across a full moon on a broomstick; vampires | | | | being punished for evil deeds. |
| looking for a throaty feast and pumpkins carved | | | | - Finally, some believed black cats could fly on |
| with caricatures that either scare or bring a smile | | | | broomsticks. Obviously, none of them had seen a |
| to your face. There're Werewolves, ghouls and | | | | witch, yet. The truth is that cats, black or |
| goblins that lurk in shadows just beyond the light. | | | | otherwise, are not supernatural and bring no |
| All topped off with the ancient practice of | | | | special luck... unless they choose to live with you. |
| dressing in costume and painting our faces. So, | | | | Being loving and loyal creatures, her choice would |
| how did the aristocratic cat become involved in | | | | make you very lucky. |
| such pagan ritual? I'm sure if you asked her, she | | | | October 16th is National Feral Cat Day |
| would deny any responsibility for a willing | | | | Everyone has seen them. In alley ways, at the |
| association. | | | | back of restaurants, often scurrying, low to the |
| Cats have been associated with myth since they | | | | ground, at dusk or dawn. In rural areas they may |
| first came in from the cold to live with people | | | | inhabit barns or hedgerows on the edge of a |
| around 5000 years ago. The mystery of their | | | | yard. Some 70 million feral cats roam the edge of |
| exquisite senses, such as their eyes, exceptional | | | | society in the U.S. alone. Human sensitivities |
| hunting instincts, independence and seeming | | | | suggest that they live a difficult life buffeted by |
| aloofness have all contributed to the various | | | | the forces of nature in a continual and all |
| myths that have originated in different cultures | | | | consuming search for nourishment, safety and |
| throughout history. Early Egyptians regaled then as | | | | shelter. It's not a life that most people would |
| gods and the Medieval Church burned them alive, | | | | choose to live. But then, in today's societies most |
| believing they were the embodiment of Satan. | | | | people have lost the tools to truly survive in the |
| They were thought of as 'familiars' of witches, | | | | wild without social structures to provide for them. |
| that is, close companions who looked out and | | | | Cats accept their fate without complaint, but, |
| guarded a witch. Both a symbol of good luck and | | | | face a complication exasperated by their feral life. |
| bad, depending which culture you might be visiting, | | | | Wild cats are cats who are not, and have never |
| cat behavior evokes the extremes of human | | | | been domesticated. They live in environments |
| nature. | | | | that exert natural procreation and population |
| So, is it any wonder that cats, especially black | | | | controls. These controls don't exist in feral cat |
| cats, should be an important icon of Halloween? | | | | environments. The result is a feral cat population |
| Halloween is a celebration of born in pagan | | | | that has literally exploded. This boom in the |
| mythology. It was believed that, the 'souls of the | | | | numbers of feral cats causes problems for both |
| dead' would rise from their graves to visit the | | | | feral cats and people: |
| living during the Celtic festival 'Samhain'. | | | | - For the cats there are problems surrounding the |
| Halloween's ghosts, goblins, cemetery effluvium, | | | | basic cat instincts of territoriality, hunting habits, |
| witches, black cats, bats, haunted houses, frightful | | | | their solitary nature, and mating and sexuality |
| skeletons, devils and scary stories originated from | | | | urges. |
| the Samhain festival (pronounced SOW-ehn) | | | | - For people feral cats can have a negative |
| meaning "summer's end". It was celebrated by the | | | | impact on environments in which cats are new |
| Celtic people from Ireland to make themselves | | | | members. Reduction in the numbers of rats and |
| ready for the coming winter. During the festival of | | | | other rodents might be welcome, but the impact |
| Samhain, the 'souls of the dead' visited the homes | | | | on birds, squirrels and other welcome creatures |
| of the Celts and on the Eve of Samhain tricks | | | | that frequent your backyard might not be |
| were played on humans in the vanishing sunlight | | | | appreciated. The feral cat situation is a problem |
| that forebode winters shorter days. Supposedly, | | | | best solved by the intervention of human |
| there were ghosts, goblins, black cats and witches | | | | ingenuity. There are those who advocate a |
| flying about because the barriers between the | | | | draconian/medieval response by tracking down |
| natural and supernatural were broken during | | | | and killing feral cats. Fortunately, such a solution is |
| Samhain. The dead kept the secrets of the future | | | | not favored by most who have a respect for life |
| and people would consult with them, asking for | | | | in all its forms. What is needed is an approach |
| guidance. | | | | which anyone can embrace. Trap-Neuter-Release |
| The Festival of Samhain influenced the Christian | | | | programs are just such an approach. Feral cats |
| celebration called "All Saint's Day", also called "All | | | | are captured, neutered and then released back |
| Hallow's". All Hallow's was celebrated on November | | | | into the environment they came from. Then voila!! |
| 1st and established in 700-800 AD by the Catholic | | | | Populations reduce naturally and the mating rituals |
| Church. The night before "All Hallow's" (October | | | | are eliminated which leaves the cat to live a more |
| 31st) was called "All Hallow's Eve". The name was | | | | stress-free life. What is required for the success |
| eventually shortened to All Hallow'en and then just | | | | of TNR programs is for people to participate. |
| Halloween. | | | | Participation is easy because it doesn't require a |
| Early American settlers from England brought | | | | compromise of ethical values. It does take time |
| rituals, superstitions and beliefs in ghosts and | | | | and effort. But, even the effort can be made |
| witches with them to the U.S. In the 1800's, | | | | easier when implemented by a neighborhood of |
| immigrants from U.K. came to the U.S. and | | | | friends or it could become a classroom project |
| brought their Halloween traditions with them. | | | | for students. |
| Germans brought their witchcraft stories and | | | | In celebration of our homeless cat friends National |
| Haitian and Africans brought the voodoo beliefs | | | | Feral Cat Day has been designated as October |
| about black cats, fire and witchcraft. The holiday | | | | 16th. The following is borrowed from Alley Cat |
| was gradually made into a non-religious holiday in | | | | Allies, an organization that is dedicated to relieving |
| the U.S. by the late 19th century. | | | | the problems associated with feral cat populations. |
| Today Halloween has evolved from the souls of | | | | A visit to their site is a good start to becoming |
| the dead visiting homes to "Trick-or-Treaters" | | | | aware of not only the problems of feral cats, but |
| dressing in costumes as ghosts, witches, black | | | | how each of us can contribute to its solution. |
| cats and demons and pleading for candy... or an | | | | "On October 16th, National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), |
| evil prank may be played on the non-sharing | | | | Alley Cat Allies will launch a campaign to change |
| victim. | | | | the policies that kill feral cats and kittens. This |
| Some Black Cat Superstitions: | | | | year, along with newly developed materials to help |
| - Depending where you come from, a black cat | | | | you introduce the public to feral cats, we begin |
| crossing your path can mean good luck... or bad | | | | shedding light on the archaic and entrenched |
| luck. | | | | animal control systems throughout our |
| - There is a Medieval belief that black cats are | | | | country-systems that do not protect the lives of |
| witches in disguise, or witch familiars, creatures | | | | stray and feral cats. |
| that aid in witchcraft. | | | | Our message is edgier than in the past because |
| - Fishermen's wives would keep black cats to | | | | the time has come to stir people up, to help public |
| protect their husbands while at sea. | | | | officials discover the facts about cats, and to |
| - When a sailor walked on the pier, a cat going | | | | begin changing animal control policies. |
| ahead of him was good luck. If the cat crossed | | | | Alley Cat Allies implores you to take action: talk to |
| his path, his luck would be bad. | | | | your public officials, ask questions, engage |
| - Cats were kept on ships for good luck. | | | | residents to question animal control policies, and |
| - If the ship's cat approached a sailor, good luck | | | | discuss how animal control practices are hurting or |
| would follow. If the cat approached but then | | | | helping cats in your area. |
| diverted away, bad luck was to fall upon him. | | | | Bringing the facts to the public's attention is our |
| - A cat thrown overboard was an omen for a | | | | charge for 2007 NFCD. |
| storm and very bad luck. | | | | |