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Should You Dress Up Your Pet for Halloween?
How to Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy All Year Long
Debunking the Black Cat Myth?

Should You Dress Up Your Pet for Halloween?
Halloween is just around the corner! It means fall is truly in the air, pumpkins are out in full force, and witches are buying up broomsticks as if they were going out of style. Should you buy a cute costume for your dog or cat?

Costumes are definitely not for all pets, according to the ASPCA article, “Pets in Halloween Costumes: Pro or Con?” which “suggests putting your pet in a costume only if you’re sure he will enjoy it.” Some pets love to wear costumes while others are not fond of it at all. Sometimes it can even cause stress.

If you know that your pet if OK with a costume, the ASPCA article offers tips:

• Ensure the costume doesn’t “constrict his movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow,” the article said.
• Check the costume so there are no pieces that are dangling or that can be easily chewed.
• Your pet should wear ID in case he gets lost or escapes. Remember, “tags or a microchip can be lifesavers,” the article said.

In Dr. Marty Becker’s blog, “The pros and cons of pet Halloween costumes,” take your pet’s personality into consideration. “If your pet is shy, old or excessively dignified, limit costume capers to a spooky bandana and put your dress-up desires into your own costume,” Becker wrote.

Ensure your pet’s hearing and sight are not compromised and that the costume doesn’t irritate the skin. If your pet tries to get out of the costume, he should probably not wear one. If you take your pet outside, be visible and use a glow-in-the-dark collar or leash.

Be sure that your pet doesn’t get into the candy. Have some of his own special treats with you or waiting at home.

How to Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy All Year Long
If you have a cat at home, it’s important to ensure she not only is happy, but that she lives a long, healthy life. While we often hear about taking dogs to the vet, it’s just as important for cats to get checkups.

According to the article, “How to Have a Healthy and Happy Cat,” at PetHealthNetwork.com, as
“the cat population slowly increases, veterinary care provided to cats progressively decreases. Typically, cats fail to receive the same veterinary attention as dogs.”

It’s easier than you think to keep your cat healthy and does not have to be too costly. The article offers tips:

• Keep your cat inside as cats left outside alone can be prone to various dangers.
• Keep cats healthy with a yearly physical exam and twice a year for senior cats.
• You’ll need a carrier to transport your cat to the vet. “Teach him or her that it is a safe place and not a torture device,” the article said.
• A microchip can save your cat’s life if she gets out of the house.

Famous for being independent and curious, cats can sleep up to 20 hours in a day, according to the article, “Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Cat,” at petMD.com. They like to play, too, so be sure your cat has toys, from colorful string to toy mice. Also provide clean water and yummy food.

Because cats are very particular, make sure their litter box is always clean. You don’t want your cat to potty anywhere else in the house. The petMD article said that a “scoopable litter is great for easy cleaning on a daily basis.” You’ll be able to watch your cat for any signs of health issues such as changes in odor so you can remedy the situation as soon as possible.

Debunking the Black Cat Myth
Scary. Creepy. Spooky. Those terms have been associated with black cats who have been getting a bad rap for a long time, especially around Halloween. Superstitions abound around black cats including the one about them being unlucky.

Unfortunately, the myth about black cats doesn’t do anyone any good, especially black cats, who are more difficult to adopt at shelters because of their unfounded bad reputation.

According to No. 7 in the article, “9 Common Cat Myths Debunked,” at Petfinder.com, “There are nearly as many superstitions about black cats bringing luck as there are about them being harbingers of bad luck.” Basically, it depends on who you talk to and their culture and in what part of the world they live.

There is a type of historical connection with witches and black cats, which then somehow brought the bad luck along with it. And “in some cultures, meeting a black cat can be a sign of good fortune,” according to Petfinder’s article, “Cats and Witches: The Magical History of Black Cats.”

Black Cats and Adoption

Because of so many superstitions involved black cats themselves have had some bad luck, according to the article, “Black Cats” at CatHealth.com. A stigma follows them so that they “are often overlooked at shelters,” the article said, which may be a “result of our deep-rooted, long-held cultural superstitions and fears about black cats.”

In the end, black cats are simply felines who need love just like any other cat. “They have their own personalities: some are loving, some are aloof, some playful, and some sedate,” according to the CatHealth.com article.

Black cats bring love, fun, laughs, good times and companionship. They need homes just like any cat, so taking home a black cat will be a great choice for human and feline.

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