Halloween is fast approaching, and IKEA is helping New Zealanders decorate their homes for spooky trick-or-treating. One Halloween hero features throughout the IKEA range and needs a little extra attention.
With kitten season set to put pressure on New Zealand’s cat rescues from November, Auckland rescue Gutter Kitties has raised the alarm about another group needing attention: the older black cats already waiting in foster care for a family of their own.
While younger kittens are often snapped up quickly, black cats can wait months for adoption, with old superstitions and a preference for younger pets potentially working against them.
Now, IKEA New Zealand has stepped in to help change their luck, covering adoption fees for black cats adopted through Gutter Kitties this Halloween.
The rescue currently cares for 140 cats and kittens, with more than 100 kittens expected before the end of summer. Half of the cats currently in care are black or black-and-white. Young kittens are usually adopted within a few weeks, but older black cats can wait months or even years for a home.
“Black cats are often the last to be adopted, which is a real shame because they’re some of the most affectionate cats we see,” said Danielle Dickie, Founder of Gutter Kitties.
“They’re the unofficial mascots of Halloween, but old superstitions still stick. Halloween feels like the right time to celebrate them and help them find a home of their own.”
To give the cats a better chance of finding their people, IKEA New Zealand will cover adoption fees for up to 20 black cats adopted through Gutter Kitties. Every prospective adopter must follow Gutter Kitties’ usual adoption process, including meeting the cat and discussing their home, lifestyle, and ability to commit to the ongoing costs of cat ownership.
Every cat goes to its new home desexed, microchipped and registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register, vaccinated, and up to date with flea and worm treatments.
“Our KUSTFYR range for Halloween puts gorgeous black cats in the spotlight, where they deserve to be,,” said IKEA New Zealand.
“It was a shock to discover that black cats can struggle to get adopted in New Zealand due to Halloween-esque superstitions about them, so we decided this was exactly the right time to flip that idea and to raise awareness of what beautiful pets these special cats can make.”
This Halloween, look past the superstitions and consider a black cat. They have just as much love to give as any other cat; they just need someone to give them a chance.
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