Festive Cheer Without the Fear: How to Reduce Holiday Stress for Your Cat

The holiday season should be filled with joy, fun, and comfort. It should be packed with happy memories, even for your cats! But the changes to environment and routine can make them a stressful time for cats. Having guests in the home, travelling, or cat-sitting can be downright frightening. Thankfully, there are many ways you can reduce those scary feelings and support a happy cat.

Changes to Their Environment

Cats love stability. Something as simple as moving a table to set up a Christmas tree can cause concern for them. Even things like putting up your favorite snowman decoration can be irritating. Decorations in the window. Flashing lights. Smells of sugar cookie candles. It's a lot for your furry friend to handle.

First, leave as many of your cat’s favourite relaxation and fun zones untouched as you can. If possible, keep one room in your home as your cat’s sanctuary -- no décor allowed! You can also help your cat by decorating gradually. Instead of one weekend of decorating, bring a few things out throughout the week. Lastly, skip the scented stuff, especially in the places your kitty spends most of their time.

Guests in Their Home

Cats who aren’t experienced in meeting new people can view even the quietest guests as intruders. When people outside a cat’s family group come into their territory, it can cause a lot of stress and insecurity. Boisterous adults and loud children are especially painful when a cat is used to a quiet home.

The best thing you can do is provide them with a cat-only sanctuary room or resort. This way, they have a place to go when they need to feel safe and be somewhere quiet and comforting. Strict boundaries for your guests can also help. Rules like "no petting" or "no touching when they are in a cat-only zone" can help. Only allowing interaction when your cat asks for some attention is another good one. Depending on your cat’s comfort level, you can even ask visitors to play or train with them. Then your kitty will see how awesome new people are.

Changes in Their Routine

Cats love routine even more than people do. Routine provides your cats with predictability and stability. This gives them confidence and security. Changing routine causes your cat to lose important parts of their day. When they lose something they look forward to, it can keep them from feeling their best.

Sticking to your routine as much as possible is the best way you can support your cat during the holidays. Even if you have to cut them short, maintain your play, training, and other enrichment sessions. Five minutes of enrichment is better than nothing at all. But if the holiday season is just too busy, a cat-sitter might help. A cat-sitter can provide meals, enrichment, and snuggles during this busy season.

Travel and Boarding

Cats feel their best when they’re in their own homes. Cats unfamiliar with travel can find it extremely frightening. Being in new environments can be disorienting and stressful. And, leaving home also changes their very important routine.

If your cat doesn’t travel well, consider hiring a cat-sitter. A cat-sitter can provide drop-in visits or stay in your home while you’re away. If you’d prefer to board your cat, make sure they stay with a trustworthy person or business with a calm and quiet space. Always ensure the person you leave your kitty with is experienced and trustworthy. If you do decide to travel with your cat, make sure they're comfortable. Provide them with a sanctuary to decompress and relax in at your destination.

Every cat is unique. While some may handle holiday changes well, others can struggle. As a cat parent, it's important to respect their individuality. By supporting your cat and adjusting to their needs, you can make sure everyone has a fun festive season.

Photo Credit: First - Andrew Mead / Unsplash    Second - Myriam Olmz / Unsplash