Here in the US, we were always advised to keep our black cat inside on and around Halloween because evil, sadistic fucks were (and are) known to target black cats to torture and kill. I have no idea how prevalent it really is, but enough that the advice was frequently given, even in local news.
"Witchcraft" may be the excuse the sadists use here too, but from my understanding, the cat murder/torturing tradition comes from authoritarian anti-witch sentiment. Cats were said to be witch's familiars, thus instruments of the devil, so good Christians opposed to witchcraft should go out and kill them. Especially the black ones... go figure.
Here in the US, we were always advised to keep our black cat inside on and around Halloween because evil, sadistic fucks were (and are) known to target black cats to torture and kill. I have no idea how prevalent it really is, but enough that the advice was frequently given, even in local news.
"Witchcraft" may be the excuse the sadists use here too, but from my understanding, the cat murder/torturing tradition comes from authoritarian anti-witch sentiment. Cats were said to be witch's familiars, thus instruments of the devil, so good Christians opposed to witchcraft should go out and kill them. Especially the black ones... go figure.
Edit: Yeah, there was an edict from Pope Gregory IX "thou shalt not suffer a cat to live" because witches.