Halloween Pet Safety: 6 Tips to Keep Your Dog or Cat Calm

The easiest way to keep your pet calm on Halloween is to give them a quiet room away from the front door and keep the rest of their day as normal as you can. Add something to chew, keep the candy up high, and skip the costume if they don't love it.

Halloween is a lot for pets. The doorbell rings all night, strangers in masks keep showing up, and there's candy everywhere. A little planning makes the night easier for everyone, and a chew made for them, like our single-ingredient treats and chews, can help. Here's how to put it all together.

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Should your pet wear a Halloween costume?

Only if they're happy in it. Some dogs don't mind a bandana or a light cape. Plenty of pets do mind, and they'll tell you.

Watch for the signs: freezing in place, a tucked tail, flattened ears, lots of lip licking, or trying to back out of the outfit. Cats are even clearer about it. They're particular. We respect that.

If you do dress them up, keep it simple:

• Nothing over the face, eyes, or ears.
• Nothing tight around the neck or chest.
• No small parts they could chew off and swallow.
• Try it on for a minute or two a few days before, with treats.
• Never leave a pet alone in a costume.

A festive collar or bandana gets you the photo without the stress.

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How to keep pets calm when trick-or-treaters come to the door

Set up a quiet room before the first knock. Pick a space away from the front door, like a bedroom or a back office. Add their bed, a blanket that smells like home, water, and a toy.

For cats, a covered bed, a box on its side, or a spot up high gives them somewhere to watch from safely. For dogs, a crate they already like with a blanket over the top works well.

Keeping them in that room also keeps them away from an open door. Every knock is a chance for a scared pet to slip out. Keep cats inside all evening, and make sure your pet's ID tag and microchip details are up to date, just in case. If you'd like to be ready for any surprise, our pet emergency kit guide has a simple checklist.

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Give them something to chew or work on

A pet with a job is a pet with less time to worry about the doorbell. Many dogs settle better with something to chew or lick, and many cats enjoy working a treat out of a puzzle toy.

A few ideas:

• For dogs: a long-lasting chew like our Salmon Fish Skin Chews or Dover Sole Fish Skin Chews, or a puzzle toy stuffed with their regular food.
• For cats: a treat ball or snuffle mat with a few pieces of a single-ingredient treat, like Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart Treats. Browse more in treats for cats.
• For both: hand it over a few minutes before trick-or-treating starts, so they're already busy when the doorbell rings.

Try a frozen bone broth lick mat or stuffed toy.

Bone broth turns a toy into a slow, tasty project. Licking takes time, and frozen broth takes even longer.

• Lick mat: spread a thin layer of broth on a lick mat, or mix it into a little of their regular food, then freeze it for a few hours.
• KONG or other stuffable toy: plug the small hole with a bit of food, fill the toy with broth and food, and freeze it standing up in a mug.
• Broth cubes: freeze broth in an ice cube tray and drop a cube in a shallow dish. Cats often like this one.

Make these the day before so they're frozen solid by evening. For dogs, try our bone broths. Our frozen bone broths, made for dogs and cats, are sold in independent pet stores. Use a broth made for pets, not one from your pantry. Broth made for people often has onion, garlic, and extra salt. Learn more in Is Bone Broth Good for Dogs? and Is Bone Broth Good for Cats?

Treats are still treats, so keep them to a small part of the day's food. Want to know why we keep ours to one ingredient? Read Single-Ingredient Dog Treats: Why Less Is More.

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Which Halloween candy is dangerous for dogs and cats?

Keep all of it out of reach. A few kinds are especially risky:

• Chocolate. It's toxic to dogs and cats, and dark and baking chocolate are the worst.
• Sugar-free candy and gum. Many contain xylitol, a sweetener that's toxic to dogs.
• Raisins. They're toxic to dogs and turn up in some treat bags.
• Wrappers and lollipop sticks. These can get stuck if swallowed.

Put the candy bowl on a high shelf, not the floor by the door. Ask kids to keep their bags in a closed room or up on a table. Do a quick sweep for dropped pieces and wrappers before bed.

If you think your pet ate candy or a wrapper, don't wait to see what happens. Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away.

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Does calming music help pets on Halloween?

It can help cover up the noise. A steady sound in the background makes the doorbell, knocking, and squeals on the sidewalk less sudden.

Try soft classical music, an audiobook, or a white noise machine in your pet's quiet room. Start it before the evening gets busy, and keep the volume low. You want a gentle hum, not a party.

Some people put a sign on the door asking trick-or-treaters not to knock or ring. Others leave the candy outside and turn off the porch light early. Do what works for your house.

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Keep your pet's normal routine on Halloween

Pets like knowing what comes next. Halloween throws a lot at them, so keep the parts you can control the same.

• Feed at the usual time. If dinner usually lands right when trick-or-treating starts, serve it a little early so they can eat in peace.
• Walk dogs before dark. A good walk earlier in the day means a more relaxed evening. Skip the costumed crowds.
• Play with cats before the doorbell starts. A good play session helps them settle.
• Stay calm yourself. Pets pick up on your mood. A relaxed voice and a normal bedtime go a long way.

If your pet seems very anxious on Halloween, or on other loud nights, talk to your veterinarian about what else might help.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is chocolate toxic to dogs and cats?

Yes. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, and darker chocolate is more dangerous. If your pet eats any, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away.

What should I do if my dog eats Halloween candy?

Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away, even if your dog seems fine. Tell them what kind of candy it was and about how much, and save the wrapper if you can.

Should I keep my cat inside on Halloween?

Yes. Keep cats indoors all evening, and set them up in a quiet room away from the front door. With the door opening over and over, it's easy for a scared cat to slip out.

How can I keep my dog calm when the doorbell keeps ringing?

Set up a quiet room away from the door with their bed, water, and a long-lasting chew or a frozen broth-filled toy. Play soft music or white noise to cover up the doorbell, and walk them before dark so they're ready to rest.

Are Halloween costumes safe for pets?

Some are, if your pet is relaxed in them. Choose something that doesn't cover the face or ears, isn't tight, and has no small parts to chew off. Take it off at the first sign of stress, and never leave a pet alone in a costume.