Most cats are eager to get their paws on treats year-round, but Halloween offers some seasonal delights … and a few tricks for the feline set. Read on for the cat’s-eye view of Halloween.
Treat: Climbing inside a pillowcase
Cats who live with trick-or-treaters may find themselves face to face with pillowcases used to collect the holiday haul. Not only are these finds great for napping purposes, but they also double as hidden lairs when kitty climbs inside. Plus, what cat doesn’t love anything bedding-related?
Trick: Facing giant spiders and webs
Kitties are known to stalk and snack on spiders, but the arachnids they’re accustomed to are small and easily swattable. During the spooky season, however, some humans like to decorate their home and yard with giant webs featuring massive spiders. Cats agree that this is terrible trickery and a blow to their spider-catching egos.
Trick: Wearing silly costumes
Sure, some felines don’t mind sporting a little hat or even a full-blown Halloween costume, but most prefer to leave the dressing up to people and dogs. Sometimes humans tell cats that they only have to wear that taco or cowboy costume for a few photos, but they lie. Eventually, many cats resort to the classic feline costume protest: the “freeze and drop to the ground” move. #gameover
Trick: Meeting off-limits candy bowls
OK, so there’s this giant bowl, just asking for a cat to climb inside of it and nap; however, they’re not allowed in the bowl because it’s full of candy for trick-or-treaters. Unfair! Kitties wouldn’t even mind the layer of candy — they’ll nap on anything. Plus, crinkly wrappers …
Treat: Chasing spooky shadows
Watching and chasing shadows is always a fun way for cats to pass the time, but Halloween sometimes comes with extra shadows from the glow of seasonal candles (for safety, use battery-operated ones). These shadows dance along the wall, inviting cats to join in the game. And after the candles are turned off and the shadows disappear, kitties continue to stare at the wall, waiting for them to return. Sometimes for an hour or more. But hey, what have cats got but time?
Treat: Swatting decorations
The Halloween season brings out the spooky inner decorator in many of us. We love the creepy little tchotchkes and festive porch and mantel pumpkins. When the decor comes out and is placed exactly where we’d like it, cats think one thing: “Good. More stuff to knock over.” Pro tip #1: Don’t put anything breakable at paw level. Pro tip #2: Cats can jump, so disregard Pro tip #1.
Treat: Playing with crinkly candy wrappers
Candy can be a major part of celebrating Halloween, and many children and adults are partial to partaking in the sweets. Cats couldn’t care less about the candy and prefer the “cat toy” in which it’s wrapped. And if they can’t get that crinkly wrap right away, they’re not above digging through a trash bin on a treasure hunt for it. Candy can be dangerous if ingested by cats, so keep those treats to yourself!
Happy Halloween! Keep your cats safe inside and don’t forget that the whole “black cats are bad luck” is a bunch of superstitious nonsense — at Halloween or any time!
