Wear a Costume or Go Au Natural?

Halloween cat and dog costumes–we can hear our wild cats snickering (or screaming in horror) at the thought!  Do your pets enjoy “dressing up?” With Halloween just around the corner, thoughts of goblins, ghosts and get-ups begin to tease at the back of pet lover’s minds.  Should my pet wear a costume this year? 

With Halloween just 20 days away, pet parents should take some common sense precautions on this spookiest day of the year so that you both you and your pet will be safe and “ghoul” free! 

1.  Sorry Fido, no treats—not even for tricks!  That candy bowl filled to the brim with chocolates and other sugary snacks can be very dangerous to cats and dogs.  Dark and baking chocolates are very dangerous because they contain a component our animals' systems cannot tolerate and it could be deadly.  If other types of candies are made with artificial sweetener xylitol, your pet may become very, very ill.  Dogs may also ingest food wrappers, causing a risk of choking, upset stomach or gastrointestinal blockage. Ouch!  If you believe your dog or cat dived into the candy bowl (or ingested salty snacks or alcoholic beverages)  while your back was turned, you may want to contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for assistance--they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2.  Never allow your pet to eat your decorative Jack-o-Lantern or fall table display!   While pumpkins and the colorful decorative corns are pretty much non-toxic, they can produce some stomach discomfort for those the naughty nibblers.  When it comes to Jack-o-Lantern on display, be careful putting a lit candle inside your Jack because a curious pup or kit may accidentally knock over your Halloween display, setting your pumpkin on fire.  You may also want to make sure they don’t get to close to the display just in case they  singe their fur or whiskers.  When decorating for Halloween, just remember to “pet proof” your decorations—have fun—just think about your pets first! 

3.  So you decided your cat is going to dress up as a ghost this year?  You can’t but help check out all the cute pet costumes on display in your local stores.  Yes, they are adorable, but are they really a good idea for your pet?  Please don’t force your cat or dog into a costume they don’t like.  Some pets prefer to dress “as is” as  opposed to wearing a costume with lots of tentacles and other external extremities that flap around when the pet tries to move.  If the costume scares your pet—it’s time to return the item to the store. 

4.  If your pet likes to wear his or her costume, be sure it’s not annoying to you or your guests (lots of bells and other annoying sounds) or unsafe (pet trips over his own four feet due to strange footwear).  If you animal has trouble breathing, hearing, seeing, walking, barking (meowing if a cat), then you need to return the costume.  If your pet seems unduly distressed wearing the outfit, then perhaps it’s best he or she goes au natural!  You can always put a colorful bandana or bow on your critter.

5.  Costumes should fit well—not hang off the body.  A poorly fitted costume could cause your dog or cat to get twisted up in its costume, or worse, twisted on furniture or displays, thus leading to injury.  Because of these potential dangers, never leave your pet unattended in the costume! 

6. Ding Dong – Trick or Treat!  If your dog or cat is afraid of strangers, you may want to move your animal out of the room closest to the front door.  Too many strangers yelling "Trick or Treat" may scare your precious pet.  For your overly social dogs, you may want to make sure your animal does not try to either dart out the door or run-jump onto a young trick-or-treater.  Nothing scares kids more than a fast moving costumed furry creature jumping on them when they scream “Trick or Treat” at the door. 

Picture from amyshojai.com

7.  Finally, in the event your costumed pet feels the need to show off in the neighborhood (without your expressed permission), always make sure your animal wears proper ID.  If for any reason your pet becomes separated from you, a collar with tags and/or a microchip tag can be a life saver for your animal, increasing the odds that your beloved pet will be returned to you!  Sadly, this is the time of year when some people may be cruel to animals, especially cats, so you may want to keep your animal(s) indoors if possible. 

Does your pet dress up for the howl-idays? (Get it—howl-idays!)  Do you do full costumes, fancy bows and collars, or does your cat or dog say GET THE !@#$%^! AWAY FROM ME WITH THAT CRAZY THING! 

Hmmm…. Do tell!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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