Pet safety on Halloween

Why are black cats associated with Halloween? There are many theories, but the most prevalent is that black cats were first associated with evil when Christianity rose in popularity in medieval Europe and the Church denounced pagan religions (including witchcraft). One common belief was that black cats were witches’ familiars, and witches or devils could take the form of a cat. It did not help the cats’ plight that they have an uncanny ability to see and hunt well in the dark. This seemed to reinforce the idea that the cats have supernatural powers. The resulting slaughter of cats actually helped to further the then prevalent black plague, allowing the rat population to multiply without any hope in sight.

Now for this Halloween: The safety and continuing good health of our pets is one of the most important parts of any holiday celebration. The front door that keeps opening and closing with strange looking small people yelling strange things could be very scary, especially to a timid pet. Many pets could easily dart out of open doors. For this reason, make sure your pets have their identification tags on.  Please, if possible, keep cats indoors, let’s not provoke a cruel person to mistreat our cats. Keep in mind that candles and jack-o-lanterns could be a very exciting new toy, so keep these out of reach of curious noses and tails, we don’t need a visit from the fire department to dampen our festivities. Also, string lights can be very attractive, but they can also entangle or even electrocute an animal which chews on the cord.

Now the good part: the candy. Chocolate can be toxic to our pets. Don’t chance even a small amount. The symptoms of chocolate poisoning are as follows: possible vomiting and diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, heart rate increases and is irregular. If you suspect your animal has eaten chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately for his/her advice. Also, candies containing xylitol (a sugar substitute) are poisonous. Treats made specifically for your pet are much more appropriate.

Costumes on our furry friends are cute, but only dress up pets who are comfortable with dressing up. This should be fun for your pet, too. Too much stress is no fun for anyone. Costumes should not restrict movement of any body part (including the tail). Also, do not impede your pet’s hearing, ability to breathe, bark or meow. 

Follow these suggestions and all can have a safe, happy holiday. Have fun and Happy Halloween!

(Any questions or suggestions for future articles, please contact Angela at polsoncrittercorner@yahoo.com)