Halloween means pumpkins on doorsteps, bowls full of sweets and plenty of knocks at the door. For cats, however, unfamiliar visitors, decorations and a constantly opening front door can make 31 October feel rather unsettling.
The good news is that a little preparation can make Halloween much calmer and safer for your cat.
As cat sitters caring for cats in their own homes across Cambridge and the surrounding villages, we’re big believers in letting cats enjoy things on their own terms. Here are our nine tips for a happy Halloween.
1. Give your cat a quiet place to retreat
Some cats will be fascinated by trick-or-treaters. Others will disappear at the first knock. Both reactions are perfectly understandable.
Before visitors begin arriving, make sure your cat has access to a quiet room or familiar hiding place away from the front door. Include their usual comforts:
- A favourite bed or blanket
- Fresh water
- Their litter tray
- Somewhere to hide
- A familiar toy
Most importantly, don’t force them to join in. If your cat decides Halloween is best spent asleep under the duvet, let them.
Cats Protection’s Halloween advice also recommends giving cats somewhere quiet to retreat from visitors and increased activity.
2. Keep chocolate and sweets out of reach
Halloween treats are for humans, not cats.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can be harmful to cats. Sweets may contain other unsuitable ingredients, while discarded wrappers can cause problems if swallowed.
Keep bowls of sweets somewhere your cat cannot reach and promptly pick up anything dropped by visiting children.
If you think your cat has eaten chocolate, keep the packaging and contact your vet immediately rather than waiting for symptoms. You can also read PDSA’s guidance on chocolate poisoning in cats.
3. Be careful when opening the front door
Halloween can mean the front door opens far more frequently than usual, creating an easy escape route for an indoor or adventurous cat.
If you’re expecting lots of trick-or-treaters, consider settling your cat somewhere secure before visitors arrive. Check that windows and alternative exits are secure too.
If your cat normally goes outside, keeping them indoors during the busiest part of the evening may reduce the risk of them becoming frightened or disorientated. Try to bring them home before things become busy.
4. Swap real candles for battery-operated ones
A candle might make a pumpkin look brilliant, but curious paws, whiskers and tails don’t mix well with naked flames.
Where possible, use battery-operated LED candles. If you use real candles, always supervise them and position them somewhere your cat cannot reach or knock them over.
5. Choose decorations with curious cats in mind
Our idea of a decoration can quickly become a cat’s idea of a toy.
Be particularly careful with:
- String, ribbon and fake cobwebs, which may be tempting to chew or swallow
- Small decorations that could fit inside a cat’s mouth
- Electrical cables, particularly if your cat likes to chew
- Breakable decorations that could easily be knocked from a shelf
If something dangles, rustles, rolls or moves, there’s a reasonable chance your cat will investigate it.
6. Keep costumes optional
A tiny witch’s hat might look adorable in a photograph, but not every cat wants to participate in fancy dress.
Never use anything that restricts your cat’s movement, breathing, hearing or vision. If they try to remove the costume, flatten their ears, hide or look uncomfortable, take it off.
For most cats, the best Halloween costume is simply being a cat.
7. Keep carved pumpkins out of reach
Plain pumpkin isn’t generally considered poisonous to cats, but your Halloween display should not become a feline snack.
Decorative pumpkins may contain candles, hot wax or other materials you don’t want your cat investigating. Once carved, they also begin to deteriorate and may develop mould.
Keep pumpkins somewhere sensible and dispose of them once they start to spoil.
8. Don’t forget about noise
Halloween isn’t usually as noisy as Bonfire Night, but repeated knocking, doorbells, excited children and unfamiliar voices can still be stressful.
Closing the curtains and keeping the television or radio playing at its usual volume can help maintain a familiar environment.
If your cat is sensitive to noise or visitors, prepare their quiet space before the evening begins rather than waiting until they’re frightened.
9. Stick to their normal routine
Among all the excitement, one of the simplest things you can do is keep everything else boringly normal:
- Meals at their usual time
- Fresh water where they expect it
- Their litter tray in its normal location
- Their usual evening fuss, playtime or snooze
Familiarity can be reassuring for cats. It’s also one of the reasons our cat sitters provide home visits, allowing cats to remain in familiar surroundings when their humans are away.
Halloween and cats: your questions answered
Is chocolate poisonous to cats?
Yes. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can be toxic to cats. If you believe your cat has eaten chocolate, keep the packaging and contact your vet immediately.
Should cats be kept inside on Halloween?
Keeping an outdoor cat inside during the busiest part of the evening may help protect them from increased traffic, noise and unfamiliar activity. Aim to bring them home before things become busy.
Can cats eat pumpkin?
Plain pumpkin isn’t generally considered toxic to cats, but carved Halloween pumpkins aren’t suitable for them to eat. Keep displays out of reach, particularly once they begin to deteriorate.
Are Halloween costumes safe for cats?
Only if your cat is comfortable and the costume doesn’t restrict their movement, breathing, hearing or vision. Never force a cat to wear a costume for a photograph.
How can I calm my cat during trick-or-treating?
Create a quiet space away from the front door with familiar bedding, water, their litter tray and somewhere to hide. Keep their routine as normal as possible and let them choose where they feel most comfortable.
Happy Halloween from Cambridge Cat Sitting Company
However you’re celebrating, remember that your cat doesn’t need to love Halloween as much as you do.
Sometimes the perfect feline celebration is dinner on time, a warm bed and absolutely nobody ringing the doorbell.
If you’re heading away over half term, Halloween or later in the autumn, our professional cat-sitting services cover Cambridge and many surrounding villages. Every visit is tailored around your cat’s routine, personality and needs.