Tonight’s the night for ghouls, goblins… and apparently a fair share of Gen Z avoiding black cats like the plague—quite literally!

Burns Pet Nutrition has revealed that over a quarter of young Brits are genuinely spooked by black cats. In fact, two-thirds of Gen Z (66%) identify as “superstitious,” with almost half acting on these fears in their everyday lives. Step aside haunted houses—black cats top the list of eerie encounters!

While black cats have an unjust spooky reputation dating back to the Middle Ages, where they were linked to witchcraft and even disease, it seems that 28% of young Brits are still not too keen to have one cross their path. Some would even go as far as to actively dodge a black cat if it dared to cross their way, and nearly a third (32%) admit they simply don’t trust these fur-bearers of the “dark side.”

This trend isn’t confined to cats; Britain’s superstitions have spanned thousands of years. For instance, walking under a ladder, a no-go for almost a third of Brits, originates from ancient Egyptian beliefs that disturbing this pathway could unleash evil spirits. Mirror-breaking angst also holds its own, with Romans worrying that angering the gods would bring down bad luck—a sentiment that 31% of us in the UK still seem to agree with!

Here’s a highlight reel of Britain’s top fears and favourite habits: one in four of us wouldn’t dare open an umbrella indoors, and over one in ten (14%) sidestep three-drain clusters. But surprisingly, despite their spooky reputation, black cats have plenty of admirers. Around 40% of Brits would happily welcome one as a rescue pet, showing that sympathy for these mysterious moggies runs deep.

“Despite the age-old belief that black cats are somehow bad luck, it’s heartening to see so many Brits would happily adopt one into their home,” says Emily Boardman, Pet Nutritionist and Veterinary Advisor at Burns Pet Nutrition. “We believe that every cat deserves a loving home and should be appreciated for the wonderful pets they are, regardless of the colour of their fur.”

So as Halloween sweeps across the nation, will you be side-stepping black cats, tossing salt over your shoulder, or maybe, just maybe, crossing paths with one of these misunderstood kitties? If you’re feline brave, here’s Britain’s biggest list of superstitions to get you through the night:

Britain’s Biggest Superstitions:

• Refusing to walk under ladders – 32%
• Breaking a mirror = 7 years bad luck – 31%
• Crossing fingers for luck – 30%
• Touching wood – 30%
• Finding a four-leaf clover for a lucky charm – 25%
• Worrying if a black cat crosses the path – 24%
• Avoiding open umbrellas indoors – 23%
• Saluting a magpie for luck – 21%
• Feeling lucky if they find a penny – 21%
• Making a wish with a wishing well penny – 20%
• Wishing on a wishbone – 17%
• Watching out on Friday the 13th – 16%
• Throwing salt over the shoulder – 15%
• Dodging three-drain covers – 14%
• Believing bird droppings bring luck – 14%
• Avoiding pavement cracks – a classic!

This Halloween, whether you’re feline fearful or ready to roll the dice on superstition, there’s one thing we can all agree on: it’s a purr-fect night to keep an eye out for our four-legged friends!