Halloween and pets 2026: dog and cat safety tips (UK)

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats, and PDSA warns that even a small amount can be fatal. Some sweets contain xylitol, also called birch sugar, a sweetener that's dangerous to pets. Keep the sweet bowl and the wrappers well out of reach, and if your pet gets into something, look it up in our free is it poisonous checker. Our Christmas and Easter guides have more on chocolate and pets.

If your pet eats something they shouldn't, call your vet straight away and tell them what it was and roughly how much. Don't wait for symptoms.

• Keep your pet in a quiet room away from the front door while trick-or-treaters are about, with their bed, water and somewhere to hide.
• Put your dog's lead on before you open the door, so they can't slip out.
• If you're out with your dog and see trick-or-treaters, Dogs Trust suggests heading away from them, and thinking twice about taking your dog trick-or-treating.
• If knocks at the door upset your pet, leave a bowl of sweets outside with a note asking people not to knock.
• Check their collar and tag are on and their microchip details are up to date, in case they do get out.

Walk your dog before it gets dark, so you miss the costumes and any early fireworks, and keep them on a lead.

Keep cats in at night around Halloween. Cats Protection points out that dark autumn evenings bring more risk from roads, noisy parties and fireworks. PDSA suggests moving their dinner a little earlier so they come home before dark, with a bed and a litter tray ready if you shut the cat flap for the evening.

Costumes can stress pets. Cats Protection warns that cats can hurt themselves trying to get free of clothing, and Dogs Trust suggests keeping dressing up for humans. If you want your pet to join in, a themed collar or lead is a kinder way to do it.

Masks and costumes on people can frighten pets too, so give them space from visitors in fancy dress.

• Keep carving tools and lit candles away from pets. Battery tea lights are safer in pumpkins.
• Throw carved pumpkins away once they start to go off: PDSA says to get rid of them safely, so pets can't eat gone-off or mouldy pumpkin.
• Cats can get tangled in fake cobwebs, chew through fairy light wires or pull down hanging decorations.
• Keep small decorations away from pets that chew: swallowing one can cause a blockage in the gut.

In England and Wales, most fireworks are sold from 15 October, so the bangs can start around Halloween, weeks before Bonfire Night. Our fireworks guide covers how to prepare, and when to talk to your vet if your pet is very frightened.

Start looking straight away and work through our lost dog or lost cat checklist. A QR tag on their collar means whoever finds them can reach you in seconds.