Halloween Cat Safety
Halloween can be stressful and risky for cats, with callers at the door, sweets, candles and costumes. Here are six simple tips.
The text version
- Keep them in
- Keep cats indoors on Halloween night, and especially black cats, which some people say are at more risk of mischief that night.
- Guard the door
- Callers at the door mean lots of opening and closing, so shut your cat in a quiet room to stop them dashing out.
- Sweets are toxic
- Chocolate and sugar-free sweets (xylitol) can harm cats. Keep treat bowls well out of reach.
- Careful with candles
- Pumpkin lanterns and candles are a fire and burn risk for curious cats. Use flameless lights.
- Costumes are rare fun
- Most cats dislike costumes. If your cat clearly hates it, skip it, and never leave a cat dressed up unsupervised.
- Pumpkin patch
- Plain pumpkin is not toxic, but decorations, wire and fake cobwebs can trap or harm. Keep them out of reach.
Questions people ask
Should I keep my cat in on Halloween?
Yes, it is safest to keep cats indoors from dusk, especially black cats.
Is chocolate dangerous to cats?
Yes. Chocolate contains theobromine, and some sweets contain xylitol. Keep them out of reach and call your vet if your cat eats some.
Should I dress my cat up?
Only if your cat truly enjoys it, which is rare. Never leave a dressed-up cat alone.
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