How to keep kitties inside for Halloween

purrpaws

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I want to hand out candy for Halloween this year. But I'm not sure how to keep Prego and Polly inside. It's going to be too cold here for me to sit on the porch and leave the kitties inside. I could put them in a room, but Polly hates a closed door, and she will cry the whole time. I'm not sure Prego would like it either.

Any suggestions?
 

buzbyjlc10

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Can you take them to a friend or relative's house who wont be handing out candy maybe? Or maybe a night of bording is in order.... just tryin to think of options for you... my first thought was to seclude them in a room, but then saw they don't like that much (maybe it would work if you used some kitty calming agents in the room where they'll be).... good luck!
 

nosilla

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You could try having a friend over to entertain them in a room. If they would like that. My family has had to give up passing out candy because of my toy dog I have, we just never even tried to deal with her. We tried locking her in a room but she got to loud for that....
 

coaster

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I would just put them in a room. It's not going to be for that long. And if it was my cats, they'd just hide under the bed anyway the whole time. Because that's what they do when the doorbell rings.
 

forthefurballs

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I shut mine up in my bedroom for the afternoon. Any one of them alone would complain and scratch at the door like crazy, but when they are all together they behave for some some reason -- strange little beasts.
 

jekyllhj7

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Our screen door has a window that you can put up and down, so we just leave it open and just briefly open the main door to give out candy. We keep the screen door locked so no curious trick-or-treaters can open it. The 'big' door is only open briefly so the cats don't even really notice it.
At no point is there an opening at floor level to the outside. It makes it safer for the dog as well.
 

goldenkitty45

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The safest place would be to lock them up in a room for a few hours. Put some toys in there and maybe even some catnip on the floor to keep them happy and quiet.

It's not gonna kill them to be confined for a few hours while you answer the door and hand out candy. Better safe (even if they do cry) then sorry and losing one of them.
 

cloud_shade

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Can you stack some boxes or baby gates around the door area so they can't get to it? Then you could hang out by the door and keep them in the rest of the house.
 

zabby27

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I agree with Tim... it won't be for that long, just 2-3 hours. That's what I'll do with mine; we'll lock her up in the basement. She'll cry and scratch but that's better than being harrassed or ran after by little witches and gobblins! And when the trick or treating is over, just let them out and have some cuddly time with them.
 

touro1979

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Originally Posted by PurrPaws

I want to hand out candy for Halloween this year. But I'm not sure how to keep Prego and Polly inside. It's going to be too cold here for me to sit on the porch and leave the kitties inside. I could put them in a room, but Polly hates a closed door, and she will cry the whole time. I'm not sure Prego would like it either.

Any suggestions?
I wouldnt hand out candy. Your first responsibility is to your animals and not other peoples children. I wouldn't risk my animals escaping or getting sick from drafts to hand out candy to kids I dont even know. (you can tell I like animals much more then children) If you feel you must hand out candy then put a bucket of candy outside with a note saying take only one.
 

zabby27

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Touro, I think that's a bit extremist... Polly and Prego would be kept warm in a bedroom for a few hours only while Purrpaws hands out candy. I just remember being a child and having our neighborhood adults giving out candy. It's our turn now to give out the goodies and I find it would be a shame to let children down because we don't want our cats meowing for a few hours.

My Babs hates being cooped in but that's what will happen. I lock her in too when I have relatives and friends with allergies coming over. She's never hated us for it. Once we open the door, she's just our regular girl....
 

crittermom

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I agree that ALL kids love candy.Of course your job is to protect your fur babies.But, to not hand out candy because of it,

What about asking a neighbor teenager to hand out candy for you?Or what about asking someone to sit/play with the kitties while you hand out candy?If neither is an option, I would just confine them in a room with new toys,catnip.It will not hurt them to be confined for a few hours.
(I have 4 kids and a kitty and my first choice is to have Blaze go into a room with toys)
 

hissy

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Good grief Touro! Not hand out candy? And risk your windows be soaped or worse?

PurrPaws take your cats and put them in a room that is dark and quiet. Take a CD player and play classical music really low for them. Spray the room with Feliway Spray or get a comfort zone room diffuser and plug it in. Leave nice soft bedding in there, food, litter pans and water and some toys. They will be fine in the room while you are busy elsewhere-
 

twofatcats

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I guess in a way I'm lucky. I live in a town where it is illegal to trick or treat. So I haven't had kids at the door since we moved here 18 years ago. It took me about three years after I moved here to catch on. Good thing I chose to buy things that I would like if there was any left over!

I agree with the others. I'd put them in another room with a comfort zone diffuser and a bunch of interesting toys. They'll live through it.
 
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purrpaws

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Trick or treat is only 2 hours here, so I guess I will try locking them up. Maybe if there's a lull between kids, I can give them a little love. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll just go to sleep.
 
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