Page 48 - 201210 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - October 2012

Halloween Safety Tips 6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the associated with evil due to our ancestor's fear of No Scaredy Cats This costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not the night. constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or For a long time in Europe pagan Halloween impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. religions such as witchcraft were the dominate belief. These religions were tightly associated Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or with the animals of nature, including the cat. shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him During the rise of the Christian religion in go au naturale or donning a festive bandana. Europe, the church decided that witchcraft was evil and since they attributed cats to witches, 7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and cats were deemed evil by proxy. make sure it does not have small, dangling or Aside from the Christian accusations easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. there are also old myths that may attribute bad Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on luck to cats. Supposedly, King Charles I of external objects or your pet, leading to injury. England owned a black cat and the day it died he was arrested. An old sailor's legend said that 8. All but the most social dogs and cats should meeting cats in the shipyard meant an be kept in a separate room away from the front unpleasant voyage of storms or other bad luck. door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too In Babylonian folklore a curled up cat on the many strangers can be scary and stressful for hearth is seen as similar to evil serpent. pets. Often times a cat will exhibit strange actions like seeing something that is unseen or 9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, batting at nothing in the air. This coupled with take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart their amazing ability to see well in near outside. darkness has created the myth that cats can see spirits or ghosts, another potentially evil 10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or pastime. During witch trials, cats were often Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet cat has proper identification. If for any reason tortured and killed by Christian puritans along your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and Parents tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, with the supposed witches. Some thought that increaing the chances that he or she will be witches had the ability to change shape into a returned to you cat, others thought that both cats and witches are Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the evil so they must be in cahoots. Many people spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA BLACK CATS AND also think that witches sacrifice cats during their recommends taking some common sense rituals which is foolish because witchcraft is a precautions this Halloween to keep you and HALLOWEEN very nature-friendly religion. However, due to your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to communal reinforcement, to this day many November 1. animal shelters will not allow the adoption of cats around Halloween for fear of their abuse. 1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is However, not every culture thought that for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. black cats were bad luck. The ancient Egyptians Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or treated cats with utmost respect. They were baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for considered kingly animals and to kill one was a dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial capital offence. The ancient Egyptians even sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If went as far as to mummify their cats when they you do suspect your pet has ingested something died to preserve them for the afterlife. They had toxic, please call your veterinarian or the a deity with the head of a cat named Bast to ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center / which they dedicated their mummified cats. The CSPCA. ancient Egyptians weren't the only culture who thought cats were special. 2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins In Japan the Maneki Neko (Beckoning and decorative corn are considered to be Cat) is considered a symbol of good luck. In relatively nontoxic, but they can produce Russia, their Russian Blue breed of cats are stomach upset in pets who nibble on them. supposed to be good luck as well. In Latvian tradition, black cats embody the spirit of 3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other Rungis, a god of harvests, which is good luck decorations should be kept out of reach of your for farmers to have around. In the UK black cats pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or are associated with good luck, and have been for burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening ages. [] electrical shock. Although cats of all types have been associated with the occult by different cultures, black cats 4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do in particular are noted most in folklore. Several exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. legends exists about black cats being evil, Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and causing bad luck, being the familiars of witches, cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the and many other dark things. risk of getting burned or singed by candle Why is it that cats, and black cats in flames. particular, are given these attributes? There are several possible things that may be the cause. 5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Cats are primarily nocturnal; from the Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume cute little house cats to the very dangerous UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a pumas and lions. Also, they are great stalkers few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer allowing them to sneak around at night making their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a humans very paranoid. Being associated with costume may cause undue stress. the darkness of night didn't help their image because the color black has always been