How to keep your cats happy and safe during the holidays
By Midge Raymond
Those who are owned by cats should keep two things in mind over the holidays. First, be aware of potential hazards and stresses for cats during the holidays. Second, keep all the boxes you receive (and the tissue paper, while you’re at it).
Amid these adorable reader photos of cats in boxes (and more!), I’ll point out that during the holiday season, what’s festive to us humans is not always the same for our cats.
For one, changes in schedules are stressful for cats — they love routine — and houseguests can be stressful, too (especially if they’re allergic, energetic or if they’re not cat people). If you’re having company during the holidays, be sure your cats have their own space in the home where they can escape visitors if they wish, and let your visitors — especially children — know what your cat’s personality is like so they can be respectful.
Some cats love to play and visit; others need their space. If your cats are among those who need their “me time,” you might even set them up in a quiet area of the house, where they have access to food, water and litter and don’t have to stress out about getting what they need in a busy, noisy, guest-filled home.
And stay with your regular routines as much as you can, particularly when it comes to feeding times and cleaning the litter box (be warned that cats will tell you in no uncertain terms if you’re not keeping it clean enough — for example, by using a houseguest’s bed or an open suitcase instead). And, if you’re the one spending a lot of time out of the house during the holidays, do take the time each day to love on them, which will help them feel safe. If you’re traveling out of town, here are tips for how to leave them in good hands.
Keep in mind that certain holiday plants — including holly, mistletoe and poinsettias — are toxic to cats; keep these out of reach or out of the home altogether. (And click here for a longer list of toxic plants, as well as plants that are safe for cats to be around.) And no matter how much your cats want to sample your home-cooked goodies, don’t allow them to eat human food; get them feline-appropriate treats instead.
Boxing Day (December 26) may not be an American holiday for humans, but it certainly is for cats. (In fact, for cats, every day is Boxing Day.) To help your cats to enjoy holiday festivities, keep the boxes! Not only do boxes help cats feel safe and secure, they are wonderful playthings.
So, hold onto not only the large cardboard boxes gifts are shipped in but the smaller boxes gifts are wrapped in (if they fits, they’ll sits) — and you might also keep paper gift bags, which cats love to crawl into. Gift wrap and tissue paper is always fun for cats, especially when you hide their toys underneath. Do not, however, let them play with ribbons or strings — cats enjoy eating these things, which can cause serious intestinal injury (and very expensive emergency vet visits).
In the spirit of Boxing Day, here are some cats-in-boxes photos, which we received after our “If I fits, I sits” column — many thanks to the humans and felines who reached out to share them.
Ashland resident Midge Raymond is co-founder of Ashland Creek Press and author of the novels “Floreana” and “My Last Continent” and co-author of “Devils Island.” Email suggestions and questions for Catty Corner to her at [email protected].
