How can you keep your cat safe this Halloween? Depending on how much trick-or-treating happens in your neighborhood and how much you love to decorate for the holiday, these tips can help:
Keep your indoor-outdoor cat inside, at least for the evening
If you have lots of scary strangers walking up the front walk in costumes over and over, it increases the likelihood of your outdoor cat being frightened and going missing or having an accident happen.
Make a quiet spot away from the front door’s constant ringing and opening
You may want to play some soothing music in the room to help cover the doorbell noises for the anxious cat. Some cats are calmer when they have a place to hide, so try providing a box or other hiding spot. If your cat is really anxious about the doorbell and door, consider sitting on your porch to hand out candy so that the bell isn’t causing such agitation.
Make sure your cat has ID
Since your kitty won’t carry an ID card, both a collar and microchip are suggested to make sure that if trick-or-treaters or Halloween revelers spook your cat and she ends up lost, someone can help her get home safely.
Be careful with Halloween decor
It’s not manufactured to be a safe cat toy and may have unhealthy components or pieces that are easily torn off by a playful cat, such as gauzy fake spiderwebs, which can cause blockages if ingested. Don’t forget that a candle inside a jack-o-lantern is still an open flame and can be dangerous if knocked down. Consider using a battery-powered, artificial candle instead.
Watch out for Halloween toys that weren’t meant for cats and might be a hazard
Glow sticks, enjoyed by children instead of flashlights while trick-or-treating, can be toxic.
If you’re going to dress kitty up in a costume, even just for photos, do it safely
If your cat isn’t used to wearing clothes, watch for signs of distress and don’t overdo it if your kitty gets upset. Be sure that the costume isn’t too tight for your cat to draw a deep breath and doesn’t obscure your cat’s vision.
Don’t share Halloween candy with your cat
If you have a cat like Ashton who will eat almost anything, whether it’s species-appropriate or not, make sure that candy is stored out of reach or in a sealed container.
Brian Frum says
October 31, 2018 at 7:14 amYa just can’t be too safe! Happy Halloween from all of us!
The Island Cats says
October 31, 2018 at 7:17 amGreat safety tips. We’ll be staying safe under the bed. 🙂
Random Felines says
October 31, 2018 at 8:47 amOMG – Cupcake found a pumpkin just for her!! (or Chanel) Is she going to help you pass out candy tonight?? Mom won’t be home, so we are off the hook.
KRISTEN V says
October 31, 2018 at 9:07 amMy cats used to love watching the trick-or-treaters….until one enterprising 5 year old saw them, dropped her candy bag and ran into the house screaming “Kitties!” It took 15 minutes to get her out from under the bed where she was trying to “pet the kitties”. That was pretty much it for feline supervision of the Halloween festivities.
Patzy says
November 4, 2018 at 3:22 amJust another great “crazy cat ladies” in training!! Good job, junior cat lady or cat guy! (It didn’t say)
Sweet Purrfections says
October 31, 2018 at 12:31 pmExcellent recommendations. Mom Paula stopped participating in Halloween for Trick-o-treaters when we were kittens. She’ll shut off the lights and have us in the back of the house with her.
Happy Halloween! We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable night and gets lots of treats and no tricks!
Eastside Cats says
October 31, 2018 at 12:50 pmWe don’t hand out candy (long story), but I always worry about The ‘O’ Cats. But they are very street savvy. Happy Halloween!
The Florida Furkids says
October 31, 2018 at 3:17 pmGreat tips. We don’t know how Noelle will handle Halloween but Mom usually goes outside to see the kids so we don’t get scared (plus our doorbell isn’t working!)
Happy Halloween!!
The Florida Furkids
The Swiss Cats says
October 31, 2018 at 3:37 pmGreat advice ! Happy Halloween ! Purrs
Margaret Elmendorf says
October 31, 2018 at 4:22 pmThose are some great things to do for Halloween. Thanks for the advice. Happy Halloween.
Melissa & Mudpie says
October 31, 2018 at 5:14 pmVery important tips! Mudpie has already decided to spend her Halloween safely tucked away in the bedroom 🙂
The Dash Kitten Crew says
October 31, 2018 at 7:09 pmCat safety is a top priority with us too and NO SWEETS!!!
Summer says
October 31, 2018 at 10:49 pmMy human had a hard time keeping me from trying to lick the cobwebs when we were doing the photo shoot! She needed to convince me that doing that was a very bad idea. Eventually I ignored them, but she won’t leave them around as decoration, ever.