Halloween is fun for kids, but can be frightening and even dangerous for cats.

Tragically, cats are often the targets of cruel people during this holiday. If you allow your cat outdoors, don’t let him out on Halloween, and if possible, start keeping him indoors a couple of days beforehand. Black cats are especially vulnerable to becoming victims of cruelty, so take extra precaution during the weeks before Halloween. To prevent potential abuse, many animal shelters won’t adopt out black cats during the entire month of October.

If your cat gets nervous when the doorbell rings, set him up in a room away from the front door. Play soothing music to act as a buffer so he won’t hear the doorbell. You can also set up a Feliway Comfort Zone diffuser to help him feel more at ease. If there are other family members in the home, perhaps one person can conduct a distracting play session using an interactive toy, or even have a little catnip party!

Even if your cat doesn’t mind the doorbell, he may become frightened by the trick-or-treaters. If you suspect kitty may not want to meet Spiderman or Dracula, set up a sanctuary room for him. He may even become unsettled by seeing your own costumed child, so instruct your children not to startle him.

Keep all candy out of your cat’s reach. Chocolate in particular is potentially lethal for pets.

For more information refer to the book Think Like a Cat.

© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC