Halloween can be a fun and festive time for families, but it can also be stressful and even frightening for our feline friends. With an increase in noise, unfamiliar visitors at the door, and unusual decorations or costumes around the home, cats can quickly become unsettled. As responsible pet owners, it’s important to ensure our cats feel safe and secure during this busy time of year. Here are some helpful tips to keep your cat calm during Halloween.
1. Create a Safe Space
Cats are creatures of habit and often feel most comfortable in quiet, familiar environments. Set up a dedicated safe room or area in your home where your cat can retreat to during the hustle and bustle of Halloween. This space should be away from the front door and contain all their essentials: a cosy bed, water, litter tray, toys, and perhaps a few treats. Make sure the door is closed and ask guests or family members not to disturb your cat while they’re in their sanctuary.
2. Keep the Noise Down
Halloween often brings with it loud music, fireworks, or the constant ringing of the doorbell from trick-or-treaters. These unfamiliar sounds can be distressing to cats. If possible, lower the volume of music and keep windows closed to muffle external noise. You could also play calming background music or use a white noise machine to help drown out sudden sounds.
3. Limit Access to the Front Door
Constant door-knocking and the opening and closing of the front door can cause anxiety for cats, and also increases the risk of your cat slipping outside unnoticed. Keep your cat in a secure room during peak trick-or-treating hours, and consider putting a sign on the door asking guests not to ring the bell, or to use a basket for sweets instead.
4. Be Cautious with Costumes and Decorations
Costumes and Halloween decorations can be strange and alarming to cats. Avoid forcing your cat to wear any costumes, as this can cause stress or restrict their movement. If you do dress your cat up briefly for a photo, make sure the outfit is comfortable, doesn’t cover their face, and is only worn for a short period of time.
Decorations with flashing lights, spooky sounds, or dangling objects can also be unsettling. Keep such items away from areas your cat frequents and avoid anything with small parts that could be chewed or swallowed.
Many Halloween treats are harmful to cats, especially chocolate, raisins, and artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Keep all sweets out of reach, and make sure guests know not to feed your cat anything that isn’t specifically made for them.
7. Stick to Their Routine
Cats love routine, and sudden changes in their environment can be unsettling. Try to feed them at their usual times, keep litter trays in the same place, and stick to your normal daily interactions as much as possible.
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for your cat. With a little preparation and consideration, you can help ensure your feline companion stays calm and comfortable throughout the festivities. By creating a safe space, minimising stressors, and keeping their needs in mind, you’ll both get through Halloween without a fright.
How to Keep Your Cat Calm During Halloween
Halloween can be a fun and festive time for families, but it can also be stressful and even frightening for our feline friends. With an increase in noise, unfamiliar visitors at the door, and unusual decorations or costumes around the home, cats can quickly become unsettled. As responsible pet owners, it’s important to ensure our cats feel safe and secure during this busy time of year. Here are some helpful tips to keep your cat calm during Halloween.
1. Create a Safe Space
Cats are creatures of habit and often feel most comfortable in quiet, familiar environments. Set up a dedicated safe room or area in your home where your cat can retreat to during the hustle and bustle of Halloween. This space should be away from the front door and contain all their essentials: a cosy bed, water, litter tray, toys, and perhaps a few treats. Make sure the door is closed and ask guests or family members not to disturb your cat while they’re in their sanctuary.
2. Keep the Noise Down
Halloween often brings with it loud music, fireworks, or the constant ringing of the doorbell from trick-or-treaters. These unfamiliar sounds can be distressing to cats. If possible, lower the volume of music and keep windows closed to muffle external noise. You could also play calming background music or use a white noise machine to help drown out sudden sounds.
3. Limit Access to the Front Door
Constant door-knocking and the opening and closing of the front door can cause anxiety for cats, and also increases the risk of your cat slipping outside unnoticed. Keep your cat in a secure room during peak trick-or-treating hours, and consider putting a sign on the door asking guests not to ring the bell, or to use a basket for sweets instead.
4. Be Cautious with Costumes and Decorations
Costumes and Halloween decorations can be strange and alarming to cats. Avoid forcing your cat to wear any costumes, as this can cause stress or restrict their movement. If you do dress your cat up briefly for a photo, make sure the outfit is comfortable, doesn’t cover their face, and is only worn for a short period of time.
Decorations with flashing lights, spooky sounds, or dangling objects can also be unsettling. Keep such items away from areas your cat frequents and avoid anything with small parts that could be chewed or swallowed.
5. Use Calming Products
There are a number of products designed to help soothe anxious cats. Such as the Broadreach Nature Calming suport range. For a more in depth look on our calming range take a look our in house Vet Dr Barbara Fougere’s article from this month.
6. Watch Out for Treats and Sweets
Many Halloween treats are harmful to cats, especially chocolate, raisins, and artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Keep all sweets out of reach, and make sure guests know not to feed your cat anything that isn’t specifically made for them.
7. Stick to Their Routine
Cats love routine, and sudden changes in their environment can be unsettling. Try to feed them at their usual times, keep litter trays in the same place, and stick to your normal daily interactions as much as possible.
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for your cat. With a little preparation and consideration, you can help ensure your feline companion stays calm and comfortable throughout the festivities. By creating a safe space, minimising stressors, and keeping their needs in mind, you’ll both get through Halloween without a fright.
#calmcat #cathealth #kittenhealth #NaturalPetSupplements #BroadreachNature