Nearly everyone loves Halloween. Children and adults look forward to this fun-filled occasion known for tricks, treats and surprises. For a household cat, Halloween can be stressful, frightening, and dangerous. Your pet depends on you to protect him, so here are some Halloween cat safety tips.
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Keep Them Indoors
Because black cats are associated with Halloween, cats of all colors unfortunately can become unwilling participants in the mayhem, mischief and pranks that abound on October 31st. If you have an outdoor pet, keep him indoors on this holiday.
Have Current ID
Does your cat have proper identification? If not, make sure he does. If he escapes or becomes lost, you can increase the chances of finding him if you have proper ID on his collar.
Create a Safe Room
Cats are quick, and when frightened can dart out the door quickly. Before trick-or-treating hours begin, put your cat in a separate room with the door closed to prevent escapes. Equip the room with a litter box, food, water and a bed so he’ll be comfortable.
If your cat loves catnip, give him a new catnip toy to keep him occupied until trick or treaters are gone for the night.
With many trick or treaters out and about, there is a lot of noise, so play some relaxing music (classical works well) to mask the ruckus outside.
If your cat is nervous or anxious already, invest in a calming product (Feliway, for example) on the market designed for cats
Watch Treat Bowls
Keep Halloween candies and treats as far away from your cat as possible. Not only can the candy be toxic, but the wrappers are equally harmful and can also be a choking hazard to a curious cat.
Keep Candles Away
Decorations and carved pumpkins are fun ways to celebrate Halloween, but cats are curious and may be tempted to get into things they shouldn’t. Keep candles and other dangerous decorations out of your cat’s reach.
Conclusion
These Halloween safety tips for cats aren’t new to the veteran cat owners. With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it’s good to reacquaint yourself with these tips. Prepare yourself in advance and keep a steady eye on your cat(s) so everyone can enjoy a fun, safe and exciting Halloween. No tricks…just plenty of treats…. for you…. not your cat…. stick to cat-friendly treats even on the holidays!!
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
