Halloween Safety & Your Ragdoll

1.  Keep Your Ragdoll Safely Indoors

Rock Creek Ragdolls recommends that Ragdolls live exclusively indoors, and Halloween is certainly not the night to make an exception.

Open gates, busy streets, excited children, unfamiliar noises and people walking through the neighborhood can make the outdoors especially dangerous.

Even a cat who normally shows no interest in going outside can become frightened and bolt when startled.

Keep your Ragdoll securely indoors before Halloween activities begin.

2.  Watch the Front Door

One of the biggest Halloween hazards may be your own front door.

Doorbell rings. Door opens. Door closes. Repeat!

With trick-or-treaters arriving throughout the evening, there can be dozens of opportunities for a curious cat to slip outside unnoticed.

If your Ragdoll likes to greet visitors, consider placing them in a comfortable room away from the entrance during peak trick-or-treating hours.

Give them everything they need: fresh water, a litter box, a cozy bed, toys, a scratching surface and perhaps some quiet music.

Think of it as their own little Halloween retreat.

3.  Keep the Candy Bowl Out of Reach

Halloween candy is for people—not cats.

Chocolate can be toxic to cats, and certain other candy ingredients may also be harmful. Even candy wrappers can become dangerous if swallowed, potentially causing choking or an intestinal obstruction.

Keep candy bowls, discarded wrappers and trick-or-treat bags somewhere your cat cannot access them.

And remind children not to share their Halloween treats with their furry best friend.

Your Ragdoll would much rather have an appropriate cat treat anyway!

4.  Be Careful With Candles and Jack-o’-Lanterns

A flickering candle can be irresistible to a curious cat.

Unfortunately, one swish of that beautiful Ragdoll tail near an open flame can result in singed fur or a serious burn. A cat can also knock over a candle and potentially start a fire.

Consider using battery-operated flameless candles inside your pumpkins and Halloween decorations instead.

You still get that spooky glow without the open flame.

5.  Choose Decorations With Your Cat in Mind

Cats don’t understand that Halloween decorations aren’t toys.

Dangling strings, ribbons, fake spiderwebs, feathers and small decorations can be incredibly tempting.

If swallowed, string-like materials can cause a potentially life-threatening intestinal problem.

Decorate with your cat’s curiosity in mind. If something looks like it would make an irresistible cat toy, place it somewhere your Ragdoll simply cannot reach it.

6.  Secure Electrical Cords and Lighted Decorations

Halloween lights and animated decorations often mean additional electrical cords throughout the house.

Some cats enjoy chewing cords, while others may become tangled in them while playing.

Keep electrical cords secured and, whenever possible, hidden or inaccessible.

Also watch your cat’s reaction to decorations that suddenly move, flash, scream or make unexpected noises. What makes your guests laugh may genuinely frighten your cat.

7.  Remember That Costumes Can Be Scary

Your Ragdoll knows you—but suddenly you are wearing a giant hat, mask, wig or flowing cape.

You smell familiar, but you certainly don’t look familiar!

Allow your cat to investigate costumed family members at their own pace. Never force an interaction with someone wearing a mask or costume if your cat appears uncomfortable.

Halloween should be fun for your cat, too.

8.  Think Twice Before Dressing Up Your Ragdoll

A Ragdoll in a Halloween costume can make an adorable photograph, but your cat’s comfort comes first.

Some cats tolerate a lightweight costume or festive accessory without concern. Others clearly dislike them.

If you dress your Ragdoll for a photograph, make sure the costume doesn’t restrict breathing, movement, hearing or vision. Avoid dangling pieces that could be chewed or swallowed.

Never leave a costumed cat unattended.

If your cat freezes, struggles, hides, flattens their ears or otherwise appears distressed, skip the costume.

A beautiful Ragdoll is already wearing a pretty spectacular outfit!

9.  Make Sure Your Cat’s Microchip Information Is Current

Even with every precaution, accidents happen.

Halloween is a good annual reminder to verify that your cat’s microchip registration contains your current telephone number and contact information.

At Rock Creek Ragdolls, our kittens are microchipped before joining their new families. But a microchip is most useful when the associated contact information stays current.

It’s one of those tiny tasks that could make an enormous difference if your cat were ever lost.

10.  Give Your Ragdoll a Quiet Place to Escape

Perhaps the most important thing you can give your cat on Halloween is a choice.

Some Ragdolls will happily watch the activity from a favorite cat tree. Others may decide that Halloween is completely ridiculous and disappear into the bedroom until everyone goes home.

That’s perfectly okay.

Provide a quiet, secure area where your cat can retreat from doorbells, children, visitors, costumes and unusual noises.

Let your cat decide how social they want to be.