Friday, October 23, 2015

8 Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe This Halloween

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY; THIS POST FIRST APPEARED ON OCTOBER 3, 2014.

That wonderful time of year where we can hear the leaves crunch beneath our feet, ghouls and goblins lurk around every bend, delicious candy and snacks are plentiful, who wouldn't like such a fun holiday? Well, I'll tell you who....CATS that's who!! (for that matter dogs too, but that is something for Dakota  to handle, since this blog is devoted to CATS!!)

Halloween is right around the corner and can pose special dangers to our precious pets that we must be aware of. Let's "pawse" and reflect about these potential hazards:

1) Even if your cat is a social gadabout, do not let he/she out unattended on Halloween
(or near Halloween for that matter) Black cats are in greater danger than many others due to some evil minds that want to expose them to awful "tricks" on Halloween.





2) Always make sure your cat is either microchipped or wears a collar (good rule of thumb for all year), but especially if he/she becomes "spooked" at Halloween and takes off for parts unknown. By having the proper identification, should your cat "go missing", the odds of it being returned are much greater than if it had no identification at all.


3) CANDY IS A HAZARD!! That goes for candy wrappers as well. They can cause choking and chocolate can be toxic! Also candies that contain artificial sweeteners! Never, ever leave candy laying around unattended. Remember:"curiosity killed the cat"


4) Confine your cat to one room if you are hosting a party or when trick-or treaters are at your door.

5) Candles and lit pumpkins can be a hazard. Cats are naturally curious. Tails can be accidentally singed, fires can be started due to being knocked over. Opt for flameless candles instead.






6) I am not overly enthused about dressing cats up for Halloween, (or anytime, but YES, I have done it for a hot second to take photos and that is about it.) If you are determined to dress your cat up for Halloween please try the costume on ahead of time to see  how well he/she handles it. Make sure the costume enables her to see, breathe, hear and move around comfortably. Never leave the cat unattended while still in costume. If your cat struggles and balks at being dressed in a costume, for cat's sake, TAKE IT OFF!  I am more of a fan of a hat or bandana as Cody is wearing above. 


7) Most Cats do not enjoy Halloween parties, parades and God Forbid Trick-or-Treating!! These events are  scary and are torture for your cat! Enter the cat's photo in an online photo contest instead. The noises  of parties, parades and being outside, as well as the  extra stimulation, are the purrfect invitation for the kitty to "exit stage left"


8) If you are leaving for the night, the same suggestions that I have mentioned for the 4th of July or anytime you will be away are the same for Halloween.  Leave the TV or radio on throughout the evening to distract the cat from outside noises that might be frightening.


Follow these tips to help ensure that you and your cat have a Halloween that is only full of kitty approved treats and totally trick-free!!

Did I miss any?
Let me know in a comment below.....



38 comments:

  1. Buster goes to the door every time the bell rings and makes little kids happy when they see him. Some of them don't want to move on and even others were more interested in looking at him than getting some candy.

    Emma and Buster

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  2. The humans don't do much Halloween stuff here, so it will be a pretty quiet weekend. I AM going to a party, though, at a veterinary clinic tomorrow! Pets were invited and there's a costume contest! I don't mind wearing costumes (don't tell my human, but I kind of like it because it makes me feel special - and yes, I know I'm the exception to the rule), I am showing up with an outfit.

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  3. Great advice. Chris loves Halloween but Puck... not so much. Puck is a black cat and I never considered it but keeping the window closed near the street a few days before Halloween might be wise, although in my neighborhood I don't think it would be a problem.

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    1. Thanks!! That is a thought, he is probably safe but if it were me, I would probably close the window. We don't have an issue with Halloween here because we live in an apt/condo complex where trick or treating is prohibited. I DO miss the little ones in their costumes, but at least I don't have to hear Dakota barking his head off for the entire block of time that they come around.

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  4. Great tips! We get very few trick-or-treaters as we live in a condo. But when they knock, we run!

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  5. Those are great advices.
    In France people dont really celebrate Hallloween. It has been fashionable to do it sometime during the nineties. It's was real fun. I love it ....
    Bonne journée
    Nat à Chat

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  6. I was thinking about wrapping up my cat bro Bert and putting him in some kids candy bag. I guess that would be a bad idea and I might miss that cat after a while. Instead, I will lock both cats in the basement until the kids finish coming by the house I guess.

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  7. Those were great tips Cody! I used to really like halloween and would sit and watch the little goblins come to the door. Then a great big silver alien showed up. I was gone and I'm not looking any more. That thing was real I tell you.

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    1. wow Brian!! If a silver alien showed up at my door that would be IT for me too!!!!! I bet it WAS real!!! Love, Cody

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  8. Good sensible tips caren, loved those pics they made me laugh heheh!

    Have a tiptastic weekend :-)

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  9. These are some great tips that you can apply so several festivities. In Portugal we don't have a tradition of celebrating Halloween. In the last few years some schools and clubs starting throwing Halloween parties, but it's not widespread at all. So, no trick or treat here!
    The only time we dress up in costume is on Carnival.

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  10. Great advice. So far for the past years, we have been very lucky and no trick or treaters. Sure hope this year is the same. But if anyone comes in the yard and anyone is outside, they all have their special hiding places. Thanks for all those great suggestions.

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  11. We don't celebrate Halloween here, but those are some great tips ! Purrs

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  12. These are some great tips! With all the celebrations sometimes it is hard to remember that certain things can be dangerous. We love our kitty friends, so we'll be sharing!!
    -Jessica from Beagles & Bargains

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  13. What a terrific timely post. Great job Caren.

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  14. Gweat posty. Weez not celebwate and make sure da porch light be off so weez not have to worry. Stay safe.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  15. Excellent post. My cats don't wear collars so I need to get everyone microchipped, 2 down, 12 to go.

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  16. I've been known to run out the door when the trick-or-treaters come. The mom has to watch me like a hawk. ~Wally

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  17. Great tips, Caren. You can never be too careful, and this time of year provides lots more reasons to take care.

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  18. Hey Caren and Cody,

    Excellent advice for cats on Halloween! Actually, wouldn't it be nice if folks didn't set off fireworks in the streets and went to public displays far away from homes and potential nervous cats.

    Have a nice weekend.

    Penny's alleged human,

    Gary :)

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  19. These are wonderful tips to keep kitties safe.
    We wanted you to know the Poem Book (Cat Lady) arrived safe & sound and has been enjoyed already. - Thanks again for allowing us to win it. Ida & her 8 cats.

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    1. Thanks! Oh I am so happy the book arrived and thank you for letting me know! Enjoy!!!!

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  20. Enjoyed this posting about Halloween since it's our favorite holiday. We agree with you about the Halloween costumes and think u did a great job posting about this topic, advising the cats don't really like it, but, hey for a moment?....I have grown to feel that way myself which is why I enjoy the photo programs more and more so I can spare us the costumes! (of course we will succumb to a special trinket or two from time to time...)

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    1. thank you! I am with you about using editing programs....I WILL put a hat or something on Cody if I have one around, but only for a moment as you said, and I rarely will go out and buy it.

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  21. Kathe I agree and have posted about it before (if you missed them, check my archives). That being said, there are MANY countries/cultures that do not agree and since I am tired, I truly don't wish to debate about it.

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  22. Fantastic advice! If I ever dared (and I don't want to even try) to dress my cats up in a costume, the trick would surely be on me... they'd kill me! Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey kitties!

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  23. Great tips for cat safety for Halloween, and any holiday.The artificial sweetener xylitol that's in lots of gum & candy is extremely dangerous for dogs. It's becoming more commonly used in the U.S. in products like toothpastes, mouthwashes, baked goods, even peanut butter. It can cause liver failure among other things. It isn't as dangerous for cats, but it's still best to keep it away from them.

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  24. Our humans always hope for warm weather on Meyowl-o-ween so they can it on the porch to give out candy. If they can't do that, Mom always tries to get to the door before the trick-or-treaters can ring the bell. If either of those two things can happen, the night doesn't bother us too much. Thank COD our mom is more into virtual costumes than real ones. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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    1. Thank COD is right! My Mom is right there with your Mom! Love, Cody

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  25. One good thing about living FT in a summer beach community - no trick or treaters for Lucy to worry about

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  26. Great tips! We don't get any trick or treaters in our rural area, so we don't have to worry about Samantha or the dogs, which is a relief!

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