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.....
Gweat posty!!! Weez hate halloween, even tho weez not weally celebwate it here so weez good.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Lexi
Great tips! We don't do Halloween here, except maybe for the kitty costume part and only for a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Summer! You have one smart human! (But we already knew that) :)
DeleteWe agree great tips for this time of year. Have a fabulous Friday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Sounds like great tips for Halloween !
ReplyDeleteWe don´t celebrate Halloween that much in Sweden so I don´t have to worry for any of the stuff :)
XOXO
Great tips, Cody!
ReplyDeleteThose were good Cody, but it is sure hard to believe it is that time of year already!
ReplyDeleteGreat post... very good points to remember.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
hugs, Bugsy and Knuckles
Great tips! I LOVE Halloween :) I also love dressing up kitties...but only for a few seconds to snap a quick picture and that's it.
ReplyDeleteGood tips on keeping us safe
ReplyDeleteSnorts,
Lily & Edward
lol.. I just love that first image..
ReplyDeleteI'm actually partial to the second one (wink)
DeleteWe have to lock cat bro Bert up or he will run out and play hard to catch. On the other paw, that would solve our problem of his naughtiness if he did run away...but then on another paw, we would miss the guy.
ReplyDeleteI think Bert needs to come and live at my house :) Love, Cody
DeleteThose are fabulous tips!
ReplyDeletethanks so much my furiend!
DeleteWe don't have Halloween here ; your tips sound great for this celebration ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteThanks so much my furiend!
DeleteGreat tips, sweetie! We LOVE Halloween! But you're absolutely right – it's important to stay safe! So thanks for sharing those tips! Love ya! :) xx Roxy & Tigerlino <3
ReplyDeletePEEE SSSS: Sorry we haven't visited your lovely blog lately! But the human is super busy. And since we don't know how to type... ;)
Thank you!! Mom loves Halloween too! You made me feel better because I haven't seen a blog post from you in a while now. Hoping that means you didn't blog and that is the reason I didn't get it. xoxoxo We miss reading your blog!
DeleteThis is important information...thanks for sharing! We usually are upstairs away from the door when the noisy trick or treaters come. 'Cept Wally...he likes to help hand out the candy and the mom has to watch him carefully.
ReplyDeleteMOL! MOL! MOL!!!
DeleteAll good stuff excepting that we do not catabrate this anymore...we have worn 'costumes' fur a short piccie session, but then it all come right off! (as it does for any pics with props)
ReplyDeleteWe hardly even have trick or treaters around our area, rural as it is. If the peeps go into town they see them walking about.
Meowmy is off on that day this year...so it is more than likely that we will be here alone, as they will go to church instead, it also being 'Reformation Day'. (Dog-guy will have to protect us, MOL!)
Wonderful tips! And I love your photos as well!!!
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Great post! My mum doesn't like dressing up cats (or any animal) either. She will only do it digitally on photos.
ReplyDeletePurrs xx
Athena
Great advice! Love the photo of Cody!
ReplyDeleteThose are GREAT tips, Caren & Cody!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO right about ALL of them!
Waffles is a very social cat, but when there's too many unfamiliar people and noises, he gets quite scared and definitely needs a safe zone to hang out in.
Another thing that's really important about the costumes, is that *if* you're going to try dressing your cat in something, it's best to forego any of the hats or head treatments. Waffles does just fine in something that's styled kind of like a harness, because he's used to wearing a harness. But he's made it clear to me that his head is off-limits. ha!
xo,
GG