# You can't adopt a black cat. Lunacy, I say !! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333 "2006-10-29T15:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/1 "2006-10-29T15:44:49Z")
Apparently it is not allowed for folks who visit plenty of animal shelters to adopt either a [black cat OR a white rabbit](http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/28/blackcat.ap/index.html), beacuse of fears- which shelter administrators admit are mostly Urban Legend- that said animals will be used for sacrifice or mutilation/abuse. Gawd help us. I’ve almost **always** had a black cat in my life. When the current alpha male, Bumper, dies I will undoubtely actively seek a black cat to have. We also have a handful of others in the family. ( usually 3 or 4 in the house ), but I think they’re gorgeous and fun. Now I’m supposed to be afraid to go to a shelter and ask to adopt a black cat? Bullshit, I say !!! I could start the American Black Cat Diversity and Empathy Foundation ( **ABCDEF** ) 😉 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/2 "2006-10-29T15:49:34Z")
[QUOTE=Cartooniverse] I could start the American Black Cat Diversity and Empathy Foundation ( **ABCDEF** [/QUOTE] You started this entire thread just so you could do that, didn’t you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/3 "2006-10-29T15:50:13Z")
I first heard of this in the early 90’s and I agree that it is totally fucking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/4 "2006-10-29T15:50:59Z")
Absolutely not !!! It was an afterthought. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/5 "2006-10-29T15:57:31Z")
I think I was responsible for getting this policy rescinded at my humane society when I worked there. I agree, it’s stupid–not least because anyone looking for a cat to torture and kill is just going to kidnap one from their neighborhood, not pay $80 at the animal shelter after giving an ID to an animal-welfare person. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/6 "2006-10-29T16:00:56Z")
They had that rule back in the '80s when I went to college. The Humane Society there sort of farmed out the care of neglected and abused animals because they did not have a lot of room. I had a big yard so I took care of several. I had one brother/sister pair, one black and one white, who had been rescued (along with a lot of other animals) from a place where they evidently were slated for some kind of ritual slaughter. While they were resident in my house somebody stole a gravestone from a nearby cemetery and put it in my yard. Some kind of connection between the cats and the gravestone was suggested; I didn’t really worry about it much once the gravestone was returned to its former location. This cannot be an urban legend as it happened to me and I was there. But the cats were not adopted from the Humane Society; they were rescued and then sent to it. So I don’t think a ban would have done any good. I don’t really see the huge burden imposed by waiting until November 1 to get a particular animal. But it probably doesn’t help all that much. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/7 "2006-10-29T16:01:00Z")
That’s all kinds of stupid. We just adopted a black kitten a few months ago, so you guys definitely have some weirdos in charge up there! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/8 "2006-10-29T16:16:55Z")
I understand this policy is in force around Halloween time in the US. An October-only rule. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/9 "2006-10-29T16:33:17Z")
I believe \*\*Paul \*\* is right - on the news this morning, I think I heard Oct 15- Nov something as the “black out” 😉 dates… ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/10 "2006-10-29T16:47:53Z")
Even knowing it’s an urban legend, my family has a habit of keeping our black cat in the house on Hallowe’en night. She tends to roam around the neighbourhood and I wouldn’t want her to fall victim to some random kids who think seeing a large black cat is the perfect opportunity to do something stupid. That said, I think banning the adoption of such animals at this time of year doesn’t make that much sense… as **LHOD** said above, I don’t imagine anyone going through the trouble and cost of an adoption just to abuse the animal. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/11 "2006-10-29T16:52:53Z")
I saw only the headline for this story, and assumed they were blocking black cat adoptions because idiots were adopting them as part of a witch costume or something, and returning them on Nov 1. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/12 "2006-10-29T17:06:39Z")
I was freaked when I got a freecycle “wanted” notice yesterday wherein a woman wanted to “borrow” a black kitten to use as part of a Halloween costume. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/13 "2006-10-29T17:10:11Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] I understand this policy is in force around Halloween time in the US. An October-only rule. [/QUOTE] It was in the headline of the OP’s link. In big, bold type. Obviously the whole thing was a set-up for his punchline. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/14 "2006-10-29T17:13:52Z")
I adopted my black kitty (Pepper) from the Animal Rescue League. It was not during Halloween season, however. Oh, and here’s what [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/blackcat.asp) has to say about it all. FS ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/15 "2006-10-29T17:16:39Z")
Dude, white rabbits? Why? Don’t see them in the article. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/16 "2006-10-29T17:19:53Z")
I always thought the problem was that many idiots think they want a lifelong relationship with an animal all of a sudden just because it’s Halloween and they suddenly think black cats are “real cool-like”. And then within a month or so, all of these cats are ending up back in the shelters (often after having been neglected and/or having reproduced). ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/17 "2006-10-29T17:24:02Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Dude, white rabbits? Why? Don’t see them in the article. [/QUOTE] You can’t take the white rabbits because they’re all late. Late, for a very important date. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/18 "2006-10-29T17:24:22Z")
While it’s certainly an Urban Legend that black cat sacrifice is part of Satantic Cult activity, I do support this restriction around Halloween. Why? Because there are idiots out there who may decide to copycat the Urban Legend, thus leading to the same outcome as if the legend were true. (Consider the recent thread where I myself admitted to copycating the UL and using operant conditioning to train my college psych professor. People get ideas from stories.) OTOH, I wonder that people don’t give a leap about the chickens, pigeons, doves and goats that ARE regularly sacrificed in some of the African based religions like Ifa and Voudoun. My local Babalawo gets his animals from the live market on Western Ave. ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/19 "2006-10-29T17:30:23Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] You started this entire thread just so you could do that, didn’t you? 😉 [/QUOTE] Of course, I read the entire thread just to add this. If **Cartooniverse** adopts all the black kitties and gives them a safe home, that would be like running a group home…for kittens. American Black Cat Diversity and Empathy Foundation Group Home ( ABCDEFGH ) Just saying… Brendon ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333/20 "2006-10-29T17:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] OTOH, I wonder that people don’t give a leap about the chickens, pigeons, doves and goats that ARE regularly sacrificed in some of the African based religions like Ifa and Voudoun. My local Babalawo gets his animals from the live market on Western Ave. [/QUOTE] And _THEN_ there are the freaks who everyday sacrifice cattle, pigs, lambs, horses, goats, chickens and many other animals for that weird religion variably known as “Evil-Carnivorism” or “Eating” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-adopt-a-black-cat-lunacy-i-say/378333.md?page=2)