Happy Halloween Week! I’ve been busy collecting all sorts of Halloween-themed goodies for you. Cats are such an iconic part of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to do it up Moderncat style. So stay tuned for a week full of fashion & fun for you and your moderncats. But first, I would like to offer a few thoughts.
Halloween Safety Tips
I hate the fact that this is true, but unfortunately, there are extra dangers outside for cats — especially black cats — around Halloween. If at all possible, please try to keep kitty safely inside during this time. There are also some potential Halloween-related dangers for cats inside. These tips are from About.com:
- Keep Halloween decorations and candy wrappers safely out of reach – these items are often enticing for cats to chew on and can be a choking hazard.
- Watch for loose electrical cords – chewing on electrical cords from decorations can cause electrocution and burns.
- Don’t let kitty play with loose batteries – she might like to bat them around, but batteries contain toxic ingredients and should be kept out of reach.
- No munching on the jack-o-lantern – fresh or canned pumpkin is safe for cats to eat, but carved pumpkins will start to decompose over time and grow bacteria that can cause stomach problems in cats.
- No chocolate for kitty, it’s toxic! – please make sure kitty can’t get into the candy, especially the chocolate, which contains Theobromine and can cause toxicity if eaten in sufficient quantities.
- Find a safe spot for kitty during trick-or-treating – if kitty gets frightened by the doorbell or if there is a chance she could sneak out when you open the door for trick-or-treaters, then it might be a good idea to keep her in a room away from the activity.
- Skip the candles - cats and candles don’t mix. Stick with electric lights, as long as the cords are out of reach (see above).
A word about kitty costumes
I know there are some readers who are strongly opposed to the idea of dressing up cats. I agree, cats are beautiful just as they are! Costumes are definitely NOT for every cat, however, there are some cats who don’t mind a little dress-up, and probably even enjoy the extra attention (like Yoshi, for example). Here are my thoughts on kitty costumes:
- Never force a cat to wear a costume if they don’t want to. You’ll probably both get hurt.
- Always check to make sure the costume doesn’t have any loose parts that could be a choking hazard or cause any other harm to the cat.
- Never leave a cat alone when she is wearing a costume.
- If kitty will let you, do a little dress-up, take a few photos, and then call it quits. Make sure to give her lots of treats and pets so she knows you love her.
Please keep these things in mind as you celebrate this holiday with your feline friends. I hope you enjoy the Moderncat Halloween finds!
October 24th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Great Halloween (and any time!) safety tips, Kate. Our moderncats’ safety and wellbeing is always our top priority, after all! And yes, by all means, KEEP CATS INSIDE. At Halloween and all the time. It’s just the caring thing to do!
Love the bat treat, btw. We have a cat-bat toy that doesn’t get a lot of attention any more — except from me, as I can’t help smiling whenever I see those little snaggle teeth.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Today is my birthday, so I’m definitely a Halloweenie. I agree with Kate’s views on dressing up cats. In cold weather I put a warm vest on my cat when he wants me to take him outside on his leash. He isn’t very fond of the vest, but he forgets about it once he’s outside. The vest does look cute on him, but I only make him wear it so he doesn’t get cold when outside.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
so glad you posted this! shared on my FB!