How to celebrate holidays if the cat is afraid of noise

Cats and holidays sometimes go together in much the same way as oil and water. In addition to cat safety issues, there is also the possibility that cats will either be ignored by busy family members or overexcited from the holiday festivities. In either case, they may experience restlessness and anxiety, which usually leads to unwanted behavior. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this article, you’ll learn how to keep cats calm during the holidays and have fun for both you and your four-legged companion.

Prepare a safe place

Your pet needs a place where she can hide and rest when the hustle and bustle becomes too much. This is especially true if you’re planning a party or hosting guests she doesn’t know for the night, as cats are often afraid of noise. Even if you don’t intend to have guests in your house during the holidays, the animals may be worried about rearranging the house. For example, a Christmas tree suddenly appearing in a living room may be more of a curiosity than anything else, but if you have to rearrange the furniture to accommodate it, your cat may be stressed by the change.

Give your cat a place to sleep. Set aside a room or a quiet part of the house where she can hide during the holidays, ideally close to where her tray is. Make it comfortable and inviting for her by setting up a bed and placing her favorite toys. Don’t forget to move your food and water bowls there, but keep them away from the tray. It’s a good idea to keep her eating and active as much as possible, suggests the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Set House Rules

If you have guests, make sure they understand that your cat’s safe space is inviolable. Of course, guests can chat with a pet if she is in the mood, but do not force her to leave her shelter for this. If there are children among the guests who are unfamiliar with your cat, be sure to explain to them some basic rules for handling pets. If you notice your cat becoming agitated around people, take it to a safe place. A more sociable cat may want to explore the surroundings during your holiday events, so unattended plates of food can be easy prey for her. Make sure that guests do not feed her food from the table and do not leave their plates unattended – in order to avoid unwanted “holiday” weight gain.

Let your cat join in the fun

Here are some ideas on how you can introduce your pet to holiday traditions:

• Buy her a new toy. Not only will this holiday-themed toy with catnip help keep your pet distracted and out of trouble while you decorate the tree or wrap gifts, you’ll also have fun watching her chase her.
• Go shopping with her. Skip the Black Friday madness and instead prepare yourself a mug of hot chocolate, throw up your feet in warm slippers, and invite your kitty to warm your knees while you shop online.
• Take her to meet Santa Claus. Many pet stores and shelters, and even some malls, offer to take pictures of pets with Santa Claus. If your cat loves to get out of the house and meet new people, this event can be an unforgettable holiday memory for you.
• Say “syyyyyr”! Let the pet also be present on the family New Year’s card. If she’s not in the mood to pose, simply seat everyone so that she’s in the frame. You can try to make her more accommodating by gift wrapping the empty box and leaving it where she can easily climb into it. If she’s okay with costumes, you can try dressing her up and take some cat selfies to share on social media.
• Have her take part in the family gift exchange. In the end, she may like the wrapping paper or the box more than the gift you have prepared for her, but it will be fun to watch her play anyway.

No matter how you decide to celebrate the holidays with your cat, the main thing is that she does not feel forgotten or abandoned. Just be sure to give her a place in case things get too crazy around her. With the help of these recommendations, you can try to make the perfect combination of cats and holidays.