Halloween Safety Tips for Cats

Keep curious cats away from Jack-o-Lanterns and other decorations for Halloween safety.

This Halloween, plan your parties and gear up for trick-or-treaters with your cat in mind. It will make the holiday more fun for your cat if you think of her during the festivities, so remember these Halloween safety tips for cats:

•    Keep Cats Indoors. Trick-or-treaters will open your door throughout the night, so safely secure your cat inside your house. Urging caution, Lorraine Corriveau, wellness veterinarian at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, released this statement: "Although the threat is probably minimal, many people are concerned about black cats during this time of year. It might be wise to keep all cats indoors. If you can't keep your cat indoors, consider a boarding facility or your family veterinarian. It may help to keep your [cat] safe."

•    Distance Cats from Decorations. Keep your cat away from garlands of ghosts that can tangle up your playful cat or, worse, tempt him into eating them. Use special caution around Jack-o-Lanterns and any other decoration that might have a candle because of the potential fire hazard. Corriveau’s release says some decorations, especially stringy ones like fake cobwebs, can cause life-threatening digestive conditions if ingested.

•    Costumes Can’t Constrict. Never put a costume on your cat that could constrict her breathing or movement. Some suggest that the rule should be: Never put a costume on your cat.

•    Hide the Halloween Candy. Chocolate is especially toxic, and cats can fall ill from ingesting other Halloween candy as well. Chewy candy and gums can potentially choke cats or cause intestinal obstructions, according to Corriveau. She adds that lollipop or popsicle sticks and foil wrappers also can become lodged in cats' throats or digestive tracts. If your cat does consume candy or any toxic substance, contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center here.