In certain rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are accounts of a peculiar local custom dating back to the early 20th century, where villagers discouraged or even prohibited feeding stray cats after sunset. While not a formal law, this practice reportedly developed out of concerns that stray cats, if encouraged to roam and feed at night, might disrupt livestock or attract unwanted predators. Elders in the village would remind residents to avoid feeding strays past dusk to maintain peace and safety. This custom reflects a unique intersection of animal care and agricultural priorities in a traditional community setting. Documentation is sparse, and the practice is mostly remembered through oral histories, making its exact legal status unclear. Nonetheless, it serves as an interesting example of how communities balanced coexistence with animals and practical considerations in daily rural life.
Source / verification note
Oral histories and local folklore collected from regional ethnographic studies indicate this practice, though no formal legislation records exist.