Halloween is almost here! Though the night is scary, spectacular fun for us, it can be just plain scary for the cats, kittens, and other animals in our lives. Alley Cat Allies’ Halloween Safety Tips will help you ensure your feline family members and neighbors have a safe and happy night just like you!
Here is how we can really protect cats on Halloween:
1. No candy for cats, please!
Many Halloween candies, especially chocolates, can be toxic to cats and dogs. To be safe, keep the candy bowl well out of reach of animals. If you think your pet has eaten something dangerous, contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
2. Set up a calm and quiet area for cats
Cats don’t tend to be fans of the strange and unfamiliar, so Halloween and the spooky costumes, sights, and sounds can be startling and overwhelming for them. If you believe your cat is getting nervous or you’re hosting your own Halloween party, set up a room in your house where he or she can feel safe. Place food, water, litter, and their favorite bed or toys in the space and close it off. Be sure to check on your cats throughout the night!
3. Microchip all cats and keep your information up to date
Trick-or-treating on Halloween means a lot of doors opening and closing! In the midst of the chaos, it’s possible a cat could dart out without anyone noticing. Just in case, make sure your cats and kittens are microchipped and that your microchip information is up to date. It will help you reunite with them should they become lost. Learn how microchipping saves lives.
4. Be mindful of your decorations
Make sure any fire hazards, like candles and wires, are out of reach of your cats. We all love a jack-o’-lantern, but we recommend using battery-powered candles instead. Better safe than sorry! Also, know that common decorations like corn, pumpkins, fake moss and fake spider web can cause stomach trouble or blockage if your cats ingest them. Keep a close eye on the situation and if you know your cat is a nibbler, consider moving those decorations to an area your cat can’t reach.
5. Leave the Halloween costumes to the humans
Cats generally find costumes and other clothing restrictive and stressful. If your cat or other pet is up for being included in the creepy fun, make sure their costumes don’t restrict their senses, breathing, or movement. And if kitty says “No way,” please listen and respect her boundaries.
6. Track your community cats
Community cats will stay out of the way of the ghouls and goblins roaming the streets, but we recommend taking some extra care to keep an eye out for them in the days after Halloween. Plus, tracking all community cats in a colony is best practice every day of the year!
So, What About Black Cats?
As a society, we are increasingly and rightfully shaking from the icy grip of that age-old superstition that black cats are “bad luck.” After all, black fur is a dominant gene, so black is a very common coat color in cats. Millions of people are sharing their homes with, caring for, and celebrating black cats right now.
However, some mindsets about black cats are still stuck in the dark ages, and many black cats who are adoptable are overlooked because of their coats. We urge advocates to educate their friends, family, neighbors, and communities, and even speak out online to share the facts: Black cats are not and have never been unlucky or “evil,” and they deserve to be protected and valued. The only bad luck following black cats is people’s superstitions.
It isn’t just black cats who are harmed by dangerous myths. Disinformation abounds about cats of all coat colors and their place in our communities, especially community cats who are unowned and live outdoors. As a result, cats are at risk from the real-life horror of archaic, lethal policies that are being implemented by governments and public institutions worldwide.
To save black cats, and all cats, look beyond Halloween and at the big picture. Does your city or county’s animal shelter have humane, nonlethal policies in place? You have a right to know what happens in your local shelter, and you can request that information. We will walk you through how. With that knowledge in hand, you have the power to advocate for critical, lifesaving change.
Does your community have lethal laws against cats? Alley Cat Allies’ online resources can help you identify those laws and advocate to reverse them.
If you suspect animal cruelty in your community, learn how you can successfully report the incident and advocate for animal cruelty to be investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Raise your voice on behalf of cats, who cannot speak for themselves.
And to help shake the myths plaguing cats every day, you can take action and Share the Truth. We have an on-hand, pocket guide version of this critical resource to help you spread the word.
Around Halloween and every day, Alley Cat Allies is fighting against disinformation about black cats and all cats, and urging people everywhere to join us. Our comprehensive resources at alleycat.org are always here to help.