by Team WellJoy
The leaves are falling, the weather’s turning and Pet Loyalists everywhere are thinking to themselves: where did I put my Dracula cloak? Meanwhile the black cats are suddenly feeling very conspicuous.
Humans love Halloween, but pets might not share that feeling. Unexpected sounds and visitors can all disrupt their routine – and cats and dogs feel happiest when things are normal and predictable.
Even the social butterfly pets can find it overwhelming, particularly when it comes to costumes and masks that make familiar family members suddenly seem (and even smell) less familiar.
So before you start dusting off the vampire teeth, pick up a calming supplement for your pet. WellJoy Calming+ for Cats and for Dogs is formulated to help reduce stress, support mood and settle your pet’s mind. Introduce it a few weeks before Halloween so that the vet-formulated blend of nutrients has time to get into their system and start working.
Pair Calming+ with a few practical changes on the big day – read on for those – and your pet should feel more relaxed. That means more time for you to concentrate on your big costume moment.
Why are costumes so scary for pets?
Dogs and cats understand us through body language, movement, facial expressions and tone of voice. Over the course of evolution, they’ve become expert interpreters of their Pet Loyalists.
However, when that everyday language is disrupted – by a hat, mask, or costume – it makes it harder for them to translate. Someone they know and love is suddenly moving differently, and they can’t understand why. It’s like a familiar conversation suddenly turning into gibberish. Layer on top of that doorbells, excited trick-or-treaters and other routine changes, and the stress stacks up.
Sensitive pets might prefer their Pet Loyalists not wear a costume at all, or at least be offered the chance to see you put the costume on gradually, and investigate at their own pace.
But costumes for pets are ok, right?
Understanding if your cat or dog feels comfortable in a costume means watching their body language closely. If they freeze, hide, pant or try to take the costume off, these are all signs that they’d be happier just wearing their own fur.
Even if your pet is tolerating being dressed up, Pet Loyalists should always double-check that costumes are safe. They should never interfere with your pet’s normal movement, or affect their vision, hearing or ability to go to the toilet. Some materials can be flammable, so check labels and keep pets away from open flames.
And however cute it might seem, stay away from any outfits that are heavy, tight around the neck or liable to catch on furniture. For the nosy pets or the enthusiastic chewers, it’s best to stay away from buttons, strings or other small bits that might end up being eaten.
What should I do when trick-or-treaters start showing up?
Dogs that love nothing more than barking at the door might be thinking to themselves: at last, it’s my chance. However, letting them bark repeatedly puts them into a heightened state, and might reinforce the behavior in the long term.
You can manage this by setting up a quiet room as far from the door as possible, and putting in their favorite bed or blanket, a crate if that’s their safe space, a food puzzle, and then some calming white noise or music - who doesn’t love a little soft jazz?
Cats can also find the constant stream of traffic stressful, and might escape to a quiet hiding spot. They can benefit from a special room with their litter box, bed, water, and anything else that makes them feel safe.
For the particularly worried pets, an alternative is to put the treats outside so trick-or-treaters can help themselves, and leave a sign asking people not to knock or ring.
Should I change their play or walk routine as well?
More exercise doesn’t automatically mean less anxiety. However, cats that love playtime might benefit from some stress-busting distraction before the evening gets going, and dogs might appreciate an earlier walk before the chaos and noise of trick-or-treating starts.
Whatever your pet likes best, the goal should be to give them controlled, positive activity before Halloween really gets going – and follow that up with a calm environment to retreat to once the hustle and bustle starts.
I’m worried my pet’s going to get into the chocolate
However carefully you’ve hidden the Halloween treats, there’s always a risk that a determined pet will find their way into them.
Chocolate is toxic for dogs and cats, and eating it can lead to tremors, seizures, vomiting and abnormal heart rhythms. Halloween is a time to be vigilant, and keep an eye out for pets being sick, experiencing diarrhea, panting or shaking. Any of these signs means a trip to the vet.
Keep your pets away from any other sugary Halloween treats as well, however big the pleading eyes. While it’s not technically toxic for cats and dogs, it can cause stomach upsets.
Will they still feel stressed out the day after Halloween?
Even with the help of Calming+, a quiet room and a careful Pet Loyalist, some cats and dogs might need a bit of time to get back into their normal routine – particularly if they felt unsettled by a costume, or by visiting trick-or-treaters.
The best support is ongoing calm and quiet, a return to their normal, predictable routine, and plenty of patience from their loving Pet Loyalist.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.
