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The spooky season is upon us, and you may be thinking about ways to get your home ready for Halloween festivities. If you have pets at home, you’ll want to take their needs into account as well when planning any haunted house decorations or activities. The good news is you can absolutely create a haunted house environment that is safe and enjoyable for both pets and people. Here are some tips:
Pet-Proof Your Decor
When choosing Halloween decor for a home with pets, safety should be the top concern. Avoid any items that have small or sharp pieces that could be swallowed or hurt paws. Things like fake cobwebs, window clings, rope lights, and soft decor are ideal. Skip the candles, heavy decorations that could fall, or toxic plants like pumpkins or decorative corn. The same goes for candy bowls keep them well out of reach!
Introduce Decor Slowly
The sights and sounds of Halloween may be unfamiliar or frightening to some pets at first. Introduce any decorations gradually so they have time to adjust. Pay attention to your pet’s body language and behavioral signs of fear, anxiety, or stress. If they seem overly distressed, tone down the decor or restrict access to very heavily decorated rooms. Provide plenty of praise and treats for calm, relaxed behaviors around the decorations.
Create Safe Play Zones
Set up “haunted areas” of your home by focusing the decorations in specific rooms, entryways or outdoor zones. Leave other spaces neutral for pets that need a break. Provide access to food, water, cozy beds, litter boxes, outdoor potty areas and toys in the decor-free zones so pets have safe spaces they can retreat to if needed. Baby gates can allow separation without fully restricting access.
Use Pet-Friendly Sounds and Lighting
Spooky background sounds, mood music, strobe lights and special effects may be fun for humans but could stress some pets. Avoid excessively loud audio, jarring sounds or repetitive flashing lights. If you do want an ambient soundtrack, use calm volumes and natural sounds like soft howling wind, birds cawing or leaves rustling.
Similarly, lighting like strings of orange bulbs or purple and green lights is likely fine, but strobes and intense effects could be upsetting. If your pet seems bothered by lighting or sounds, tone them down or keep them restricted to one or two rooms only. Provide plenty of normally lit areas for pets as well.
Have Fun with Safe DIY Elements
There are lots of ways to create homemade décor your pets can safely interact with under supervision. Wrap empty cardboard boxes or large plant pots in black and orange streamers to make faux cauldrons. Use strips of caution tape, tulle, elastic cord or ribbons to make messy “cobwebs” you can hang or drape over door frames and furniture.
Set out puzzles or small boxes with treats inside for your pet to figure out. Just be sure to monitor them anytime treats or new elements like boxes are introduced to ensure safety. Things like tissue paper, streamers or removable adhesives should be evaluated for chewing and swallowing risks too before allowing pets unsupervised access.
Incorporate Pet Costumes and Photos
Let your pets get in on the Halloween spirit with their own costumes if they enjoy dressing up! Choose comfortable, well-ventilated costumes that allow free movement and don’t obstruct vision, hearing or ability to breathe, bark, meow or eat. Take cute photos of your costumed pets to display alongside your other decorations. Just don’t force any pets that seem distressed by costumes to wear them.
Have Fun Creating New Traditions
Halloween is all about spooky fun, whether you have pets or not. Including animal family members in seasonal activities helps everyone feel involved. Observe basic safety measures, introduce new elements gradually, provide cozy retreat spaces and remain watchful of pets’ wellbeing. With some adjustments for pet-friendliness, you can absolutely create an exciting haunted house environment both people and pets will enjoy!
