Keep Your Kitties Safe This Halloween!
Halloween can be spooky for our feline friends, with strange noises, strangers at the door, and lots of opening and closing doors. Here are a few ways to keep your kitties safe and less stressed out!
Keep them indoors all day. Even cats who usually enjoy outdoor adventures are safer inside on Halloween.
Keep chocolates and candies out of reach. Chocolate, some candies, and their packaging can be harmful to cats, so keep them where kitty can't get them.
Don't leave candles unattended. While candles can add a spooky ambiance to your decor, they are also a fire hazard - both to your kitty (tail burns are not uncommon), or from being knocked over by your cat.
Set up a safe room. Give your cats a quiet room with a litter box, fresh water, their favourite bed, toys, and some tasty treats. Keep the room dim and play calming cat music to help muffle the noise outside.
***If your kitties don't always get along, set them up in separate rooms***
Set them up for success early. Put your kitties in their safe room(s) about an hour before you expect trick-or-treaters to arrive. This gives them time to settle in before the doorbell starts ringing! Make sure everyone in the household knows the cats are safely tucked away, and keep the door to their safe room closed until the festivities have ended.
Let them hide. Never force your cat to socialize with visitors. This just causes unnecessary stress.
Reconsider dressing them up. If you really want to dress them up, choose costumes that don't limit their mobility, or cover their head/ears, and only keep them on for a short period (e.g. just long enough to get a cute picture). A Halloween themed collar or bandana is a great choice to cause the least amount of stress, and can potentially be left on longer if you cat is used to wearing these already. If your cat is resisting, don't force them to dress up. Respect your cat!
For extra-stressy kitties, plan ahead! Talk to your veterinarian about whether anti-anxiety medication, such as gabapentin or pregabalin, might help your cat cope with the festivities. Your vet can determine which medication is appropriate and provide instructions for safe use.
A little preparation can go a long way toward keeping your feline family safe and comfortable while the little ghosts and goblins roam the neighbourhood!
🎃 Have a safe and happy Halloween from A New Cattitude! 🎃