COEUR d'ALENE - They're not going to waste one of their lives at your Halloween party.

The Kootenai Humane Society will make sure of it, blocking all black cat adoptions beginning today through Oct. 31.

They're not party ornaments, after all.

Unfortunately, some might think so. Before the temporary pause was put in place six years ago, black cats would get adopted before the night of trick-or-treating and celebrating. After all the ballyhoo, the cats would then get dropped off at the shelter or otherwise abandoned.

"Our biggest thing is to protect these animals," said Rondi Renaldo, KHS director.

Some cats were reported harmed, tortured or killed around the holiday too, she said. So if you own a black cat already, keeping it indoors around Halloween wouldn't be a bad idea.

Few animals carry such folklore as the black cat.

If it crosses your path, some say it's bad luck. Worse yet, it's able to change into human shape to act as a spy for witches or demons.

Some cultures, though, say it's a symbol of good luck, and its arrival at your home a sign of prosperity. The Scots believe that a woman who owns one will have her choice of suitors to marry.

If you still want one after Halloween, the ban will be lifted. If you can't wait until then, you can reserve your cat now, and pick it up come Nov. 1.

Superstition aside, black cats are always the last to get adopted at KHS, Renaldo said. Because of their dark shades, their pictures often don't come out well in advertisements, so potential adopters tend not to pay attention to them.