The Irish brought Halloween to America when they were coming here during the potato famine.  It started over 2,000 years ago as the Celtic festival of Samhain celebrating the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.  During the middle ages the poor of Britain would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for small  breads called soul cakes.  This was called souling. Although the poor don’t go souling any longer, children go trick or treating.  So what does all of this have to do with pets, you may ask.

This is a scary time, we watch horror movies which play with our minds.  We hear an odd noise and we think it’s Jason coming through the front door.  When we get nervous or scared our pets pick up on that and they get hypervigilant.  Our pets want to protect themselves and you so they will be on edge.  This can lead to behavior they may not have exhibited before such as hiding or acting out.  Some pets are not affected by this so keep an eye on your pet.

The scariness continues when strange looking creatures show up at your door hyped up on candy.  Kids get very excited walking around pretending to be someone else all while getting candy.  They knock on your door, say or yell trick a treat, you make a fuss over the kids and the kids leave.  The kids have a mix of kids’ smell, plastic, rubber, make up and candy.  They are carrying props like swords, axes, wands and bags.  If you can’t read a calendar you don’t know what is going on.  You want to protect your family from these creatures that come to take candy and are loud.

Pets if they are not going to protect the house may try to escape.  If you leave the door open to grab more candy or they sneak out when you open the door.  Pets are masters at escape.

Here are a few tips to help you not worry and keep your pet safe.  Take a room in the house and turn it into the pet room.  Put their favor bed in there, food water, kitty litter (if your pet is a cat), treats, puzzle toys, close the curtains, just make it a room they can relax in.  You can also play some music so they don’t get upset by the noise.  Classical or reggae are best for pets or a white noise machine.  It is not cruel to keep them from what’s going on at the front door.  It is actually kind and safe for them.  They can relax in the room with fun things to do and you don’t have to worry about your pets getting out of the house on Halloween.  Keep your pets safe and Happy Halloween!

Fun Fact: the original Jake o Laterines were carved out of turnips, potatoes and beets for the purpose of scaring off spirits. Irish immigrants switched to native pumpkins.