Dressing cats, dogs, and other pets up is a bad idea at any time of year, but it becomes a more pertinent discussion around Halloween. That is why Cats Protection and Dogs Trust are warning owners about the risks.
Dressing up pets can range from being a mild annoyance for them to causing serious physical and emotional harm.
Whilst some dogs are encouraged to wear certain items of clothing in cold weather, the use of clothing can be problematic for many dogs. With cats, there is almost no right reason to dress them up. Even using medical jackets can be problematic for cats if not used with appropriate guidance from the veterinarian.
Dressing cats or dogs up in costumes that can affect their natural movement or ability to express natural behaviours will directly impact their welfare. For cats in particular, grooming is an important natural behaviour that they want to engage in regularly. If a costume prevents them doing this, even for a short period of time, it can cause significant stress.
A lot of clothing, particularly costumes, inhibits an animal’s senses. They don’t understand the concept of wearing a costume and why their ears are covered, their vision is limited, or why they are finding it harder to move their head.
And if just a fraction of the estimated 3.1 million UK households that own both a cat and a dog put their pets in costumes then that’s a huge number of animals potentially experiencing unnecessary stress, fear or discomfort.
There is an argument to be made that dressing up pets is indicative of a wider welfare crisis facing cats and dogs in the UK. The desire for social media likes and popularity outweighs the concern for pet welfare and therefore we see a whole range of harmful practices circulating online. Not just costumes but hair dyes, nail varnishes and colourants placed on dogs which can lead to chemical burns or skin irritation.
Before an owner does something with their animal they should pause to consider if this action benefits them or their pet and if it’s the former then please do step back and choose a different option.
Cats and dogs are handsome enough and owners will still get plenty of likes on social media by posting a picture of their natural, beautiful pet.
