Just a friendly reminder...

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Anyone who owns black cats please remember to keep them in over Halloween. A lot of people on Halloween night and Mischief Night (the night before) think its fun to harm or even kill black cats for superstitious reasons.

So just a friendly reminder to keep all of your kitties safe!

Yep you get mischief night in some parts of Newcastle.

Actually more like mischief week as tends to go on till firework night.

People hate, and harm, black cats in many places, and not just at Hallowe'en.
My own black cat went missing in June. I adopted him from the stray centre 3 years ago because he was black. Because I knew hardly anyone else would. While we were looking for him (never found him) we had 3 calls to say someone had seen a dead black cat. I sent dp to look each time (ours had a very distinctive "broken" tail) and it wasn't him. But none of them had been run over either. People poison them here because they're scared of them. In our block of flats I heard 2 women talking about ours, how he gave them the creeps and they wished we'd never moved in.

FFS people are ridiculous if they are spooked by a black cat.

Black cat's are totally awesome. Dave (my namesake) was an amazing cat..so handsome.

Mischief night is definitely a thing here in Yorkshire - dh is fifty and remembers it as a kid.

It got really bad round here a few years ago but the police are always out in force.

It's the fourth of November. I remember as a kid my mum sending me down to the shop to get some eggs for baking and the shopkeeper wouldn't serve me as they had a blanket policy on not selling eggs to children - which is fair enough.

People are so fucking odd aren’t they! What on earth is there to be scared about an animal of one colour compared to the same animal of another colour??

I only heard about black cats finding it hard to find homes after I’d already adopted mine, but that would have made me go for a black one even more. As it happens I love all things Halloween etc so my black cat was perfect for us. But that’s just seen as a bit of fun, not that I actually think he has anything to do with creepy goings on because he’s all black

I love black cats and don't understand why some people view them with suspicion. How ridiculous they are

Here’s my black cat he will be inside

aww user, so adorable! Love (his/her?) collar..so cute!

His... he’s a lovely boy called Georgie although my partner feels he’s more suited to Giovanni. He likes the collar too he’s obsesssed with the colour green and will only play with his green toys

Babababababybel23,

Just awful. Poor little thing. Can well imagine how distressing that would have been for you to see her in that state.

I was disgusted enough when vet told me pellet guns (legal in own garden), and even powerful 'toy' versions, seem to be increasingly involved in severe cat injuries/deaths around these parts. But your cat's firework trauma...am speechless.

OP,

I'm another one who thinks you/other posters are very sensible (and clearly compassionate) to be flagging up extra vigilance over cat safety during Halloween/Bonfire Night period.
From whatever angle that's approached.

I don't think "Mischief Night" is a thing in the UK is it? Never heard of it.

Definitely is in Yorkshire. People called it "Mickey Night" when I was young.

Was just going to say pumpkin sqaush it’s a thing in Yorkshire has been since I was a kid

I'm in my 50s & from Lincs & remember mischief night.

What I don't ever remember doing is going trick or treating.

Forget keeping them in on Halloween! Keep them in every night!! They’re not safe any time of year with this killer around. I don’t understand how people can be so sick in the head to do something like that to an innocent animal

Mischief night is a thing.
I've had eggs thrown at my windows in the past.
It was always a thing, well before Halloween became the vast commercial enterprise it has become.
Btw my dcs primary school refuse to acknowledge Halloween due to its connection with evil spirits,
Black cats are less wanted than any other colour, that is fact. There is even a national black cat day .
My beautiful black cat was found dead in s neighbours garden. I suspect she was poisoned.
Lots of sick bastards do bad things to animals.
Thanks for the reminder op.

I’ve never heard of mischief night (I’m from Liverpool), but the examples listed here go way beyond ‘mischief’, surely? Poor cats. So many evil fuckers about. .

Thankfully my two cats (one black, one ‘tuxedo’) are too old and lazy to venture out much now.

Emily black cat day was yesterday I only found out late last night or I could have bought him a treat or something haha

Jon snow everyday is black cat day in my house, he insists on it

I think that black cats are beautiful. I would have one tomorrow if DD wasn't allergic to cats.

Mischief night was always the 4th November when I was a kid. I lived fairly rural and pranks were things like golden syrup on outdoor toilet seats, door handles in terraced houses being tied together, church gates hoisted up trees, flour and water bombs being chucked at Windows! Mostly harmless pranks. Everyone kept pets inside on bonfire night do they didn't get scared by fireworks. Halloween was not an event at all, it was not celebrated in any way.

Thank you for the warning, OP. I moved to Derby from Wiltshire six months ago, from a small village to a city suburb. I'll lock my cat door (it's cat microchip controlled) early and keep them in on both nights.

Things are different from Wiltshire in many respects, but I do like living here.

Mischief night hails from the night before bonfire night when Guy Fawkes actually broke in to the houses of parliament and began his plans for the fire allegedly. So I was always told, but no, I don’t have documented evidence. Nothing to do with Halloween though. I’m from Yorkshire too (West) and it was always a thing. Not so much killing cats, but egging houses and cars and general vandalism. Although 30 years on its probably progressed. Now you mention it, I’ve never heard of it where I live now.

Guy(Giedo) Fawkes was hung drawn and quartered in York, so maybe that's why it's a big thing on Yorkshire.
Halloween night was a night in Scotland for people to go guising.
This had nothing to do with knocking on doors asking for treats. It was a time where people got together and told tales or horror stories if you like.
The custom was taken to America when people emigrated and somehow turned into a big commercial celebration.
Halloween was never celebrated when I was a child.
Bonfire night was and the night before was mischief night.

Thanks for the warning OP. I have a lovely black and white moggie and don't want anything to happen to her.