The most fun month of the year has begun! The holidays are coming again. Sinterklaas, Christmas, New Year's Eve… Maximum coziness! For us, perhaps the most enjoyable time of the year, but for our pets, December should pass quickly. The holidays mean stress days for them.
Stability
A cat attaches great importance to its environment. The fewer changes, the better. If you dare to move your chair while cleaning, your cat will usually immediately express its displeasure. During the holidays, almost everything in the house changes. Furniture is moved, a Christmas tree is brought in, the litter box is relocated because guests are coming... Exactly what your cat cannot tolerate.
Such changes in its environment lead to stress. This can later cause bladder and scratching problems. Eventually, you will face persistent behavioral issues. Maybe next time, consider your cat a little more...
We have listed for you how to recognize stress or anxiety in your cat.
- Keep tail low
- Eating excessively or suddenly stopping eating
- Whiskers pointed backward
- Fleeing/hiding
- Thick tail
- Fur on back stands up
- Panting
- Pretending to sleep
- Squeezing eyes shut
- Licking with tongue
- Ears flat
- Piteous meowing
- Incontinence: urinating next to the litter box
Those are quite a few things to keep an eye on. Keep in mind that not every cat will show these symptoms. One cat may show only one, while another may show five.
To avoid long-term health problems, it is best to consider the following tips to get through the holidays well.
Tips for getting through the holidays well
- Ensure there are enough litter boxes in the house.
One cat in the house? Then go for two litter boxes. Two cats in the house? Then you need three. Always count the number of cats you have + 1. Also make sure the litter box is not (completely) closed. A cat likes to keep an eye on its surroundings to possibly see danger approaching. - Prepare several hiding places for your cat in advance.
That hiding place must be warm, safe, and accessible. Take your cat’s preferences into account. Some cats like to sit high, others prefer to hide low near the ground. A cardboard box with possibly a blanket inside can also work wonders. - Invest in a cat tree.
Cats like to hide, especially in a comfortable hiding house or up high in a hammock. At the bottom of this article, you can already see some of our favorites! - Place a food and water bowl in different places in the house.
This way your cat can choose where it feels comfortable. Keep the water bowl separate from the food bowl. - Do not close doors!
Cats need plenty of space to move, especially when they feel anxious. - Let your cat skip dessert.
You might think you’re making your cat happy with leftover chicken or steak, but often they start gulping down food due to stress. Afterwards, the cat ends up with diarrhea and you guessed it... You have to clean it up. Not recommended. - Invest in a scent diffuser.
Yes, they exist for cats too! There are various scents that have a calming effect, such as valerian, catnip, or silver vine. A Feliway diffuser is therefore highly recommended! - Do not lock your cat up.
Has your cat done something it normally shouldn’t? Don’t lock it up. Punishing your cat while it is anxious backfires. - Reward good behavior.
Even more than usual. - Keep your cat indoors, especially during the holidays.
Letting your cat outside during fireworks is an absolute no-go. - Have your cat microchipped!
If a cat is scared, it will try to flee. It often happens that a cat slips away. If that happens, it can quickly be safely returned to you. - Close your curtains.
Especially during New Year’s, it is recommended to close your curtains. This way your cat won’t be startled by sudden fireworks. - Play some classical music.
Maybe not your favorite genre (or maybe it is?), but cats can really appreciate this. Classical music has a calming effect. - Introduce your cat to fireworks sounds in time.
There are many clips with fireworks sounds on YouTube that you can play a few days before New Year’s Eve. Do this gradually, increasing the volume a little each day.
Looking for a hiding place?
The ideal hiding place
If all else fails...
We are convinced that with these tips you will get through the holidays well!
Have you tried everything, but your cat remains anxious? Then do not hesitate to contact a veterinarian or a behavior therapist.
In any case, we wish you very happy holidays!
Read the next article
Looking for a Bengal
01.12.2021
Every week we search for interesting stories about cats and their owners. This week we visited Karmen and Tadej, who live in a small country located in the center of Europe, Slovenia. They were determined to find a Bengal cat.
