Cats and other pets are notorious for finding trouble during the Halloween season, but little do some owners know that the consequences can be deadly. However, pet expert and publisher of VETZ magazine, Steven May has advice for making sure pet cats stay out of harm’s way.
Here are May’s top five Halloween cat safety tips:
Hang Halloween decorations high and keep candy away from pets: Candy wrappers often entice cats and other pets. Pets can ingest wrappers and tinsel and develop an intestinal blockage.
Watch out for easy-access electric cords: Halloween decorations can come with plenty of lights, so be careful and keep all electric cords free from access. Besides electrocution, your cat can incur mouth, tongue and gum burns.
Keep batteries away from pets: Batteries are wonderful toys to pets — swatting them around can make quite the enticing game. However, the ingredients in batteries are toxic to pets and children.
Pumpkins are not treats: Because of the taste, some cats and other pets love to play, chew and eat pumpkins. After sitting on a porch for days, the pumpkin can grow plenty of bacteria that can cause intestinal inflammation, stomach upset and diarrhea in your cat.
Store the chocolate away: Chocolate contains theobromine — a compound in the same family as caffeine — that is toxic in sufficient quantities. Always seek your veterinarian’s advice when your pets ingest any quantity of chocolate.