In a move to safeguard black cats from potential harm during Halloween, the Spanish town of Terrassa in Catalonia has implemented a temporary ban on their adoption from local animal shelters. The prohibition, effective from October 6 to November 10, aims to prevent the animals from being exploited in sinister rituals or used as props during the holiday season. Deputy Mayor Noel Duque highlighted that adoption requests for black cats typically surge around Halloween, a time when they are often associated with witchcraft and bad luck in Western culture. However, in other cultures, such as Japan and Egypt, black cats are revered as symbols of prosperity and fortune. Terrassa’s city council clarified that while there have been no reported cases of cruelty towards black cats in the town, incidents in other regions prompted the decision, following warnings from animal welfare organizations. The council emphasized that the measure is temporary and exceptional, designed to protect the animals from impulsive or trend-driven adoptions. Terrassa is home to over 9,800 cats, with approximately 100 housed in the town’s adoption center, including 12 black cats. Exceptions during the ban period will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and normal adoption processes will resume post-Halloween.