The spooky season has arrived, the colder, darker nights and celebrations can prove a noisy and disconcerting affair for your cats and dogs. There are not only likely to be frequent rings of the doorbell, but also strangers in scary costumes, so we have come up with a guide on how to keep your pets safe this festive season.
Black Cat Myths
When you think of Halloween, we bet what usually springs to mind is pumpkins, ghosts, witches, and black cats. There is a long-held superstition about black cats that still (rather unfairly) continues to this day.
The idea that black cats are bad luck originated in medieval times where they believed witches disguised themselves as them and later in Druid times black cats were feared as evil spirits that accompanied witches' and were often sacrificed on the 31st of October.
Statistically and rather depressingly around the Halloween period is when there are the highest incidents of black cat abductions and attacks.
Prepping for Halloween
- As the nights are drawing in, it’s a good idea to walk your dog before it gets dark to minimise the chances of encountering trick-or-treaters in the neighbourhood, and by expending lots of energy so they will hopefully be calmer at home.
- It is not a good idea to take your dog trick or treating due to the unpredictability and the risk of them bolting if they are frightened by someone or something.
- Consider putting a sign outside of your home stating due to nervous animals do not ring the doorbell and leave your treats in a container at the end of your driveway or by the front door to reduce the anxiety for your beloved pets.
- If you are planning on opening the door to strangers, make sure you have secured your pets from escaping.
- Keep your feline friends and pooches in at Halloween to keep them as safe as possible and from escaping.
- Within the home it is also important to safeguard them from decorations, so make sure they are out of your pets' reach.
- Did you know that animals are attracted to flames and carved pumpkin lanterns can be a danger zone for curious cats and inquisitive dogs so make sure they are well out of harm's way.
- Those Halloween treats especially chocolate are extremely toxic to cats and dogs. Chemicals such as xylitol found in sweets and theobromine even in the tiniest quantities can kill so it is vital human treats are kept away from your pets' paws.
- Provide some of your own pet-friendly Halloween treats by treating them to Jasper’s luxury collection of treats for dogs https://simplyjaspersltd.co.uk/collections/dog-shop
- Although tempting, most pets do not enjoy wearing costumes so if you do choose to try putting them on your pooches and kitties remove them at the first sign of distress. Make sure costumes are breathable and unrestrictive and do not have loose accessories or attachments that could be caught on or swallowed.