The holidays are fast approaching, and as the rest of the world is excitedly preparing for the happiest time of the year, the season typically isn’t as festive as it feels for pets. Cats and dogs often feel the most stressed during the holiday flurry as it involves loud celebrations, causing our furry friends to scurry away with all the unfamiliar guests during Christmas dinners and the overwhelming noise of fireworks as you greet the new year.

Before you let loose and greet the end of the year with a festive bang, it’s important to help your pets feel at ease with all the parties to come so they can be relaxed throughout the holidays. After all, your friendly feline and canine buddies deserve to enjoy the merry season, too, so the tips below explore different ways to keep your cats and dogs safe during the holidays!

Tip #1: Create a Comfortable “Safe Zone” For Your Pets

While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating the holidays and welcoming all your family members over for the festivities, it’s crucial to create a “safe zone” for your pets so they can quickly retreat to their own special place away from all the noise if they want to.

For your dog, try setting up a “doggie den” with a comfortable bed, their favourite toys, and bedding where they can feel safe and secure. It’s also significant to position the den in a quiet area of the house so they can go there to rest or sleep away from all the holiday hustle and bustle as they see fit.

For cats, try making a cozy “cat cave” where they can rest and feel comfortable, so all the essentials include a cat tree, shelves, and a soft napping nook.

Tip #2: Keep Your Holiday-Themed Decorations Out of Reach

One of the best parts of the holidays is to deck up the house with friendly Christmas decorations, but it’s important to keep all the holiday-themed accessories out of reach to prevent your little friends from chewing on them.

For cats and dogs, keep all the holiday-themed ornaments such as Christmas trees, holiday-themed stockings, and other decorations out of reach so they can’t chew on them or play with them. This includes decorative Christmas lights that could get tangled up with pets’ tails or paws.

Tip #3: Protect Your Feast from Your Pets’ Ravenous Appetite

It’s tough to find a pet that can resist food, especially when it involves all the delicious meals from the holiday spread. However, it’s important to prepare your pet’s meals in a different area so they can’t mingle with the family and the guests’ food.

Cats, for instance, are especially known for their habit of stealing food, so it’s important to make a separate part for their food bowls and keep them in an area where there’s not much food that it can turn into a mess. Also, you can try picking up a special holiday-themed pet bowl for your furry friend so they can enjoy eating their meals out of a festive-themed bowl, too!

Tip #4: Don’t Let Your Pets Play Around with Wrapping Paper and Ribbons

Just like how you can’t resist the temptation to tear your presents open, your pets also have an intense craving to play around with the pretty ribbons and wrapping paper. However, you should make sure that your cat or dog won’t be too curious about the holiday wrapping and presents, as there could be small items that could cause an intestinal blockage if they play around with it.

Tip #5: Ensure Your Pets Feel Safe Once the Fireworks Start

One of the most memorable parts of the holidays is to greet the new year with a lot of colourful fireworks, but your pets might feel uneasy when they hear all the loud sounds and flashing lights. To make sure your pets feel comfortable and safe throughout the holiday season, you can try to make sure that they have a cozy place to rest and sleep away from the noise.

Also, make sure that they can see you or your family at all times to prevent them from getting anxious. While you shouldn’t hold back from welcoming the new year with a bang, don’t forget to keep your pets inside the house at all times to prevent them from running away if they get startled!

The Bottom Line: Make Sure Your Pets Enjoy the Holidays Too

To wrap it up, it’s crucial to remember that your pets can actually feel the holiday cheer too, so it’s important to ensure them a happy end to the year. You can try out some of the tips above to ensure your loved ones—both human and animal alike—feel comfortable throughout the holidays. The festive season is an exciting time of the year, and it’s important to help your pets feel just as excited about it too!

How Can We Help You?

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