Dressing up is not just for dogs anymore!
Even though stores have been displaying Halloween-themed items since August, we’ve finally reached the holiday’s home month, which is why I’m giving you a look at some of the fun new costumes that are available for all kinds of pets.
Yes, you read that correctly. This year, the whole family can get in on the act. Marshall Pet is offering cute little costumes for ferrets. Be sure to read the guidelines about dressing up ferrets before you try to wriggle your mustelidae (Mustela putorius furo to be exact) in one. The bee costume is perfect for busy ferrets and it also has a festive Pumpkin Patch costume. If your ferret casts love spells over friends and family, check out the cute witch costume.
The Tarantula made video news last year when a man dressed his small dog up as a giant spider and terrorized those out for their evening walk (don’t do that; it’s a good way to get your dog seriously injured). Instead, try out a startling lifelike fuzzy tarantula from Zack & Zoey. If also offers other creepy costumes, such as a scorpion, as well as a plethora of adorable ones (mermaid, dragon, owl, giraffe and more). You can find Zack & Zoey costumes at Amazon.com, BaxterBoo.com and other online retailers as well as several independent pet stores.
Your dog might also make a great dinosaur and if that’s the case, check out the range of costumes by Animal Planet. You can dress up your dog as a stegosaurus, raptor or triceratops. And if dinosaurs aren’t your thing, you could select from a wide variety of critters by Animal Planet, including bats, butterflies, whales, sharks, tortoises, zebras, etc. The costumes are available from Amazon.com and other online retailers.
New this year for dogs is the Troll costume, which will also be the star attraction in theatres this fall. The Troll is part of the new AKC Pet Costume line by BH Pet Gear, which features a variety of fun, adorable, comfortable and safe dress-up options, including an elephant, shark, monkey, pumpkin, wonder dog and devil. All the AKC-brand costumes are available online and in independent pet stores.
If you’re not sure your dog would enjoy wearing a costume (and many dogs are not interested in doing so), then don’t force them. There are many other options, such as specially designed paint for pets from PetPaint. It offers a variety of Stencil Packs as well as individual Halloween-themed stencils and, of course, a variety of pet-safe spray paint colors. Remember, this might not be for every dog, as some cannot tolerate the noise the spraying makes during application. There is no reason to stress out your pets.
If you need something a little less intense for pets, remember that a clever bandana or collar is just as decorative as a costume. There are hundreds of different designs to choose from and very few pets would find one difficult to wear.
Cats rarely submit to wearing a costume, but there are some who willingly (or grudgingly) accept playing dress up. There are a few costume options for those of you with obliging cats. SpiritofHalloween.com has a few cat-specific costumes (an aristocrat, Cleopatra, etc.) as well as an extensive range for dogs. And, of course, you can find practically anything on Amazon.com, including an adorable lion costume.
If you cannot get your cat into a costume without risking bodily harm, consider dressing yourself up with your cat as a prop. You could have your cat on hand for picture or two and then replace her with a stuffed animal while you’re at parties or out roaming the neighborhood. One of my favorites is Alice in Wonderland the Cheshire Cat. You could even pick up a Cheshire cat costume for your small dog or willing cat. Have a white rabbit as a pet? Even better! The Mad Hatter makes an excellent change from the traditional Alice costumes.
Whichever costume option you choose, keep your pet’s comfort foremost in mind. Some animals prefer to go au naturel during the holidays and that’s perfectly fine; you need only apply your creativity to come up with a costuming solution that works. And remember, safety always comes first; check out last year’s article about pet safety tips.
About the Author: Stacy Mantle is a fulltime freelance writer, bestselling author and founder of PetsWeekly.com. She resides in the deserts of the Southwest with a few dogs, several cats and a very understanding husband.