We all know that cats are creatures of habit. Mess up a cat’s daily routine and expect some dissension in the ranks! Throw in the holiday season, and it can become a veritable assault on the senses for your feline friend. Too much chaos and a disruption to the daily routine can stress a cat out, often leading to a change in behavior or even personality. During the holiday season, when you may have decorations out and additional guests in the home, your cat may become a bit elusive, perhaps hiding to escape from it all. He may even show signs of aggression or perhaps develop a change in his litter box habits.
However, just because your cat might get stressed this holiday season, it is no reason to cancel the festivities. You just have to plan ahead a bit and know when to shift gears to ensure your cat enjoys his familiar routine.
First of all, be sure to stick to his routine as closely as possible. Feed him and play with him at the usual times. This will help keep him on schedule and he will appreciate it! Be sure to provide your cat with a peaceful and relaxing place such as a bedroom to which he can escape and be alone to get away from all the commotion in the other parts of the house.
While it may be fun to introduce your cat to your guests, be sure to keep the introductions as casual as possible. Let your cat take the lead. Do not force him to interact.
Next, take stock of all the decorations you have out and on display. These can often prove to be irresistible to your cat, resulting in undesirable and often dangerous behaviors. Your cat might want to climb the Christmas tree, for example. Further, the ornaments, ribbon and tinsel present choking hazards to cats. Cats also seem to enjoy chewing on lights and extension cords, which are electric shock hazards.
When it comes to your holiday tree, be sure to limit any access your cat might have to it, especially if your cat loves to climb. Keep your cat out of the room in which you have the tree. If that is not possible, place a barrier in front of or around it. You can also spray the tree with a repellant such as bitter apple to keep your cat away from it.
Additionally, ensure your tree is sturdy by affixing it to the wall or the ceiling. If your cat manages to climb up it, it could fall over if it is not secure. If you have a real tree and use any sort of chemical additive in the water supply to the tree, please be advised these can be toxic to your cat. Also, place any lights, ornaments or tinsel higher up on the tree, away from swiping cat paws! And keep all gifts away from your cat – especially those that contain food items. Many food items for human consumption are harmful to cats. Under no circumstances should you feed your cat from the table and remember to ask your guests to refrain from doing the same. If you suspect your cat has ingested something harmful to him, be sure to contact your veterinarian immediately.
Source: banfield.com
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
