How to keep your cat safe this Halloween and enjoy the season
Halloween can be one of the most exciting and fun times of the year, so there's no reason your cat can't have a scream this year. Here's our top tips on looking after your cat and keeping them safe this spooky season.
With the falling leaves and a chill in the air, it's clear spooky season has indeed arrived. Halloween night is just around the corner, which means trick or treating, costumes, decorations, parties, and all the scary-good fun you can think of. So, how can your cat join in on the fun, and stay safe alongside your Halloween plans? We're here to share our top safety tips for looking after your cat this season, to ensure everyone has a happy Halloween.
Read on to find out how to cat-proof your plans, and make the most of your Halloween this year.
Make sure your cat has more treats than tricks
Keep your cat in on the fun, and make sure you give them plenty of treats so they can enjoy the occasion with you. Halloween night can be quite an overwhelming experience, and keeping some of your kitty's favourite snacks on hand will help you redirect their focus if it starts to get too much. With loud noises and bright colours outside, and lots of knocks at the door, it can help your cat feel relaxed to have a tasty snack and a cuddle with you. A delicious mouthful of our Chicken Casserole kibble will ensure your cat has the happiest and healthiest Halloween ever. Make sure to also keep human treats out of reach of your curious kitties, as our favourite chocolates and sweets can be deadly to cats. Pop these in sealed containers and away in cupboards to ensure your cats aren't tempted to help themselves.
When you've planned the most fabulous costume for yourself this year, it's no wonder you'd want your cat to look just as good. Here's our thoughts:
To costume or not to costume
Finding the ultimate costume is key for everyone at Halloween, but may not be for your furry best friend. There are so many comfortable and spooky costume ideas out there, but not every kitty is happy being dressed up. We know they look SO cute in that pumpkin outfit, but if your cat is likely to be stressed out on Halloween, give the costume a miss and let them relax as much as they need. Use what you know about your cat to help them keep calm and enjoy the season as much as you do. If they love dressing up, give the costume a go, but be prepared to help them out of it if they seem stressed or uncomfortable at all.
Now that you've sorted costumes, don't forget to think about your decorations!
Keep your decorations purr-fect
Turning your home into a haunted house can be one of the most fun parts of the season, but Halloween vet visits won't be the fun kind of scary. Keep your home cat-friendly and safe for your felines by using decorations they won't injure themselves on. Try not to use long or stringy decorations like tinsel or spiderwebs, as these can be easily swallowed and can pose a choking hazard to curious cats. Make sure any breakable decorations are placed out of reach, or are stuck down with museum putty to stop pestering paws from pushing them over. Remember that even the laziest cats can climb and jump higher than you'd expect, so keep an eye on your kitties, and donate any decorations that could pose a threat to a pet-free home.
We all understand what it's like when you need space to yourself, so here's what we recommend for your cat.
Create a Halloween hideaway
Cats love their own space at the best of times, so having a place to be alone can be even more key on these busy occasions. Create your cat their very own Halloween hideaway, so they have somewhere cosy and familiar to escape to throughout the night. This can be as fancy as their own plush cat tree, or as simple as a cardboard box, as long as your kitty takes a liking to it. Cats often like to be up high to feel safe and relaxed, so consider elevated spaces they can make their own, like the tops of drawers or even cat shelves. If you're having a Halloween party this year, let them have a whole room to hide away in if possible, so they can escape from the hub-bub and unwind away from guests. Just make sure they still have access to their essentials in their quiet space, such as their litter box, food, and water.
Sometimes you can find the most fun right at home, especially when you're next to your best kittycat friends.
Opt for a quiet night in
If your cat has access to the outdoors, consider keeping them in this Halloween. The night can be unpredictable and overwhelming, with lots of people, loud noises, and bright colours that may distress your feline friend. Keeping them inside can help them stay more comfortable and calm, and stop you from worrying about them enjoying the night. Besides, a night in means more cat cuddles for you whilst you curl up with a Halloween classic. Check out our best cat-themed Halloween flicks for all kinds of families here, so you can end your Halloween night with a bang. If they'll be more trouble indoors than outdoors, make sure their microchip is up to date so that if they do get lost in the Halloween chaos, they'll always be able to make their way back to you.
For a happy Halloween, your cat deserves only the best meals, to celebrate the season and reward them after a successful spooky season. Our Tilly & Ted meals are designed with your pets health in mind, and are super tasty whilst being kind on tummies. We also offer many grain free meals for more sensitive kitties, so every pet can enjoy their mealtime to the fullest. We recommend our Tuna with Salmon Mousse for a chicken-less meal, or our Chicken with Carrot Pâté for a grain free delight.
If you want to find the purr-fect meal to reward your kitty, check out our full range of cat food to find whisker-licking goodness, for cats of every shape and size. From grain-free recipes, to hearty classics, we guarantee your feline will be feeling paw-some and eating like royalty.
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