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National Cat Day -
October 29th
by Candace Runaas
It's no coincidence that National Cat Day is celebrated only days before
Halloween. Every year, people, especially children, look forward to an
evening of costumed activities, which include trick-or-treating and
playful practical jokes that will frighten and amuse neighbors and
friends. Unfortunately, there are some individuals that will use Halloween
as an excuse to harm others, and the most common victims are cats.
Every year in America and some European countries, our precious pets are
put in danger, especially black cats, due to superstitions and legends
that claim that black cats are bad luck. This misinformation stems from
the belief that witches could transform themselves into cats to carry out
evil deeds incognito during the night.
Today, sadistic individuals use these past occult references as an excuse
to perform ritualistic torture and killing of our beloved domesticated
feline friends.
Contrast this inexcusable behavior with the early Egyptians who worshiped
cats, especially the black varieties, and would execute anyone who fatally
harmed their feline deities. Far be it from me to suggest that we should
take this approach now, however the fact remains that there are people out
there who are interested in harming animals for reasons that we find
reprehensible.
According to Jeannice Cain, board member of the Homeless Pet Placement
League, their organization will not allow cat adoptions of the most
at-risk cat breeds and types, in order to protect them.
It is important to do what you can to protect your pets this season, also.
Keep your cats indoors as much as possible during the immediate weeks
prior to Halloween.
While giving candy to trick-or-treaters, sequester your cat in a room with
the door closed or place kitty in a pet crate to prevent Fluffy from
running out the front door. If you don’t want to confine your pet, you
may want to invest in a baby gate to allow your pet freedom while
protecting them.
Be sure that all candies are kept out of your pet’s reach (especially
chocolate, which is often toxic to both cats and dogs).
For outdoor cats, if you must have them outdoors and they normally exit
and enter through the front door, the increased visitor activity can make
your cat uncomfortable and he or she may not want to approach the door.
Leave a side door open for him or her, so that they can safely return home
without fear.
National Cat Day is a day to celebrate our feline friends. Let’s take
pleasure in their day and encourage others to enjoy the uniqueness of cats
and help to keep them safe and healthy.
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