Animal Bewitchment in a Nigerian City: An Anthrozoological Study of Human-Cat Relations in Lagos State

This paper examines the growing prevalence of inhumane human-cat relationships in Nigeria. Despite Lagos State being one of the most educated urban areas in West Africa, persistent cultural practices of cat cruelty exist within various communities. This study investigates the complex socio-cultural, religious, and environmental factors contributing to such attitudes. By utilizing primary sources like participant observations, fieldwork, and interviews and secondary sources like journal articles, books, conference proceedings, online news, and websites, this research aims to unravel the various dynamics shaping these inhumane interactions. Ultimately, it seeks to shed light on the anthrozoological culture surrounding human-cat relations among Nigerians living in Lagos State. The paper will adopt a qualitative methodological approach to achieve this objective, employing a phenomenological perspective to analyze and discuss its findings.