Animal welfare groups warn that black cats can be killed or used as props for Halloween rituals

Animal welfare groups warn that black cats can be killed or used as props for Halloween rituals

Long stigmatised for bringing bad luck or for links with the occult, black cats have found salvation in a Spanish town that has temporarily banned their adoption to ward off potentially sinister Halloween "rituals".

Any adoption or fostering request for the felines will be denied from October 1 to November 10 to prevent "possible risk... derived from superstitions, rituals or irresponsible uses", the animal welfare service of Terrassa, a town north of Barcelona, announced on October 6.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.