How to Help Your Cat Have a Calmer Christmas
Most of us absolutely love Christmas... there's time to spend with friends and family, a big sparkly tree in the house and maybe some fireworks! But have you thought about how your pet feels in these situations. Any changes in their environment can be very stressful for your cat, particularly ones that are sudden and noisy!
To help you and your kitty have a fabulous festive time together, take a look at how your pet feels in these situations and what you can do to help
How Christmas situations look to us VS your pet
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Family and Friends gathering for a party
When visitors arrived in your home, your cat's normally quiet and peaceful home is crowded with lots of new visitors, different smells, noise and movement. -
Exciting Christmas parcels being delivered
Whilst the endlessly deliveries are very exciting for you and your family. The doorbell ringing, knocks on the door and strangers arriving but not entering the home can all be confusing for your cat. Big parcels and boxes will have strange smells too and might even block their usual spaces in your home. -
Amazing Fireworks displays
Loud bangs and the noise of fireworks can be very frightening for your cat, especially as they'll will have no idea where they are coming from or what they are. -
A sparkling tree inside
Is a normal resting spot replaced with a big flashing tree? Your cat is thinking that trees lived outside! It's a natural instinct for cats to want to climb, so your kitty will be excited to see lots of branches to pounce upon. Read our top tips to cat-proof your Christmas tree! -
New toys
Opening up all those presents, there's bound to be lots of noise and even loud objects zooming around the house, particularly with children's toys! Your cat might find all these new things very worrying! But don't forget something special for your feline friend - check out our list of best Christmas gifts for your cat. -
Lazy days and late nights
Being at home for the holidays may also mean a change to your routine, with lazy mornings, late breakfasts and staying up later than usual. Evenings may be spent watching films together, but be aware that more noisy movies with loud bangs may stress your cat. -
Festive Night outs
We all love the extra special social occasions that happen around Christmas time, from evenings out with friends to work parties, you may find you're out more than in! But being left alone at home more than usual could affect your cats behaviour.
How can you help your cat cope?
- Provide your cat with a hiding place -cats like to be up high and out of the way, this is usually their best coping mechanism when they get stressed.
- Give them privacy - if they decide to hide in the spare bedroom, leave them there and do not try and coax them out into an environment they are not comfortable in. While they have chosen their new safe spot. Make life easier for them by providing all their main resources to use in their safe room. Litter, food and water.
- FELIWAY Help! can provide 7 days of happy messages. If you need longer term effects,FELIWAY Optimum can help your cat to provide a reassuring environment in the area they spend most time in.
