Black Cats Are Cute Kitties Too: MSPCA To Hold 'Spirit Cat Halloween' Adoption Event

SALEM, MA — More than four dozen black cats are eagerly awaiting their forever homes across MSPCA-Angell's Massachusetts coalition of shelters, as potential adopters are reminded that midnight kitties are just as friendly and cuddly as any other color of feline.

The hope during the two-day 'Spirit Cat Halloween' adoptathon — where adoption fees will be waived for many of the cats in the system — is that a bunch of the black cats will be among the 100 or more the coalition hopes to adopt out to help clear room in the shelter system.

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"Black cats are often unfairly maligned — some people think they're bad luck or harder to adopt in general — but it's worse around Halloween," MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection Mike Keiley said. "There are even shelters that won’t adopt out black cats in October because of myths, like adopters using them for some kind of sacrifice or satanic ritual.”

"There's no evidence to support that there's a spike in animal crimes around Halloween. Our Law Enforcement department isn't seeing an increase in complaints during the month of October, nor have we heard from any other organizations about that happening."

The MSPCA-Angell has roughly 50 black cats in its care, some of whom will be available to adopt fee-free during the adoptathon.

"These cats are just as loving and deserving of a home as any of the other animals in our care," Keiley said. "We're so sure that our adopters have good intentions that fees will be waived for some of our black cats in arguably the most witchy city in the world — Salem."

During the event on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, fees will be waived for cats that tend to stay in shelters longer, such as older felines and those with specific medical or behavioral needs. That includes cats who are shy or spicy with humans because they were rescued from overcrowding situations in which they were not properly socialized.

Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition member Berkshire Humane Society and non-coalition partners Lowell Humane Society and Baypath Humane Society are participating, as well as all four MSPCA-Angell Adoption Centers (in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod).

"We've been taking in more surrenders this year, so our capacity is tight," said Keiley, who noted that local cat surrenders at MSPCA-Angell shelters are up more than 20 percent this year compared to 2024. "It's something shelters statewide are experiencing, so we're banding together and putting out a call to the community: Please come adopt some of these special cats."

Collectively, the groups hope to rehome 100 cats during the two-day event, including some who have an unfair reputation during this time of year.

Hours vary by location. Eligible MSPCA-Angell cats will have stars on their adoption profiles. More information about the adoptathon may be found here.