Happy Halloween! As you decorate your home with cobwebs, pumpkins, and all things spooky, don’t forget to keep your feline family members safe. The holiday’s sights, sounds, and treats can be dangerous for cats. Here’s how to make sure your cat stays safe this Halloween.
Decorations
Cats love shiny, crinkly, and dangly things, which make Halloween decorations irresistible to them. Hanging streamers, fake spider webs, or tinsel can be dangerous if they chew or swallow them. They can even lead to choking, digestive issues or possible obstructions. Keep these decorations out of their reach and discourage your cat from playing near or with them.
Decorative twinkling lights can look like a fun toy to your cat, but they’re not safe to play with. Chewing on light cords or bulbs can lead to burns or electrical shocks if a bulb breaks or if they bite through the wire. Keep cords hidden or secured and hang the lights out of reach. It’s important to never allow your cat to play with them, especially with their mouths.
The same goes for costume accessories. Masks, capes, feathers, ribbons, and beads can all be tempting to play with but harmful if ingested. Make sure to store costumes and props safely out of reach once the fun is over.
Candles and Jack O’Lanterns
A flickering flame can catch any cat’s attention, but it’s best admired from a distance. Curious paws or twitching tails can easily knock over a holiday candle, causing burns or even fires. Keep jack o’lanterns outside and away from curious cats. Consider using battery-operated candles indoors for a safer glow that’s just as festive.
Stress
We say this so often because it’s important: cats thrive on routine. When things change and there are new sights, smells, and sounds around, your cat may get overwhelmed. To keep the holiday fun for the entire family, make sure your cat feels safe and allow them at least one room that has not changed. If you can keep the celebrations to one area of the home, especially if your cat is a bit of a scaredy cat, that would be ideal.
Provide some cozy, quiet hideouts for your cat so they always have a safe space when things become all too much.
If you’re hosting guests, remind them that your cat lives there too. Ask visitors to keep doors and windows closed to prevent a cat from accidentally getting out, and let them know how your cat prefers to interact, if at all. You might even leave out a few toys or treats to help your cat warm up to friendly guests if they feel like joining the party.
Black Cats
Black cats are often linked to Halloween’s folklore and superstition—and sadly, that can make them targets for pranks or harm. Keep your black cat safely indoors during the holiday to protect them from any mischief.
Trick or Treating
The safest place for your cat on Halloween is inside. Frequent knocks or doorbell rings can be stressful, and your cat might try to dash out when you’re handing out candy.
Keep your cat in a quiet room away from the front door to prevent them from escaping when trick-or-treaters arrive. Play calming music or white noise to mask the commotion. Leave out some cat nip or a treat so they can have fun too.
If you know your cat likes to run off, you may want to take more precautions. Make sure your cat wears a collar with an ID tag and that they are microchipped with your current contact information. You can also use a pet gate to block them from sneaking out the front door.
Cat Costumes
Not every cat enjoys dressing up and that’s okay! Some cats enjoy wearing outfits and some don’t. If your cat dislikes costumes, don’t force it. Try simple accessories like a festive bandana or a bow tie instead.
Try out a few options to see if your cat likes dressing up. If your cat doesn’t like dressing up, try setting them besides some fun props for a photo shoot. You can definitely participate in the holiday and keep your cat happy at the same time.
If your cat enjoys wearing a costume, make sure it fits comfortably. They should be able to move, breathe, and see freely, with no tight spots around the neck or limbs.
Supervise your cat the entire time they’re dressed up. Costumes can snag or restrict movement easily. They may feel trapped and unsuccessfully try to take it off. Accidents happen in a moment and nobody likes getting hurt.
Spooky Meals and Treats
Halloween parties often mean lots of food and sweets lying around. When people are over and things are hectic, it would be easy for a cat to sneak a bite or two of something that may make them sick. Resist sharing any food with your cat. Many human foods (especially candy, chocolate, and anything containing xylitol or caffeine) can be toxic to them. Keep treats, wrappers, and leftovers out of reach, and ask guests not to feed your cat any table scraps.
Cats have very sensitive tummies. Most human foods are not healthy for cats to eat and cats cannot taste sweet flavors.
If you’re going to offer your cat a treat, make sure it’s one that is made for cats!
Taking a few precautions will go a long way in keeping your cat safe and sound this Halloween. With a little preparation and awareness, you can enjoy all the thrills of Spooky Season without any scary surprises for your precious pet.
Love, Nala
