Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

6 Holiday Tips to Keep Kitty Calm

by | Dec 13, 2021 | Cat Behavior & Care | 24 comments

Do your cats enjoy the holidays, or does it add stress to their world? With the holidays fast approaching, it’s a good time to offer some tips for keeping your cats (and guests!) happy. Read on for 6 holiday tips to keep cats calm (say that fast five times, LOL!)

You’ll also like how to pet-proof your holiday in this post.

SerenYawn

6 Holiday Tips to Keep Cats Calm

Schedules goes out the window during the holidays. School breaks mean kids come home, holiday shopping and parties take hours away, and family visits mean absences or STRANGER DANGER in the house.

Less worry about your cats being stressed, and your guests being offended by cat-centric issues (WHEW, what’s that bad cat litter SMELL???!) means less stress for you and more time to enjoy the holidays. Here are ways to make a cat safe Christmas tree, and use these tips to help keep your cats cool, calm, and collected.

Change Schedules Slowly

Cats love the status quo. They dislike abrupt change. Anything that throws their routine out the window may prompt them to “spread some spray” around to self-calm. Yes, I mean they may urinate outside the box, because the smell of their own signature odor comforts and helps to keep cats calm. So if you KNOW the schedule will change, introduce changes slowly to keep cats calm.

Give the Sniff Test

A clean kitty potty helps ensure your cats will maintain litter box allegiance. Remember that a cat’s sense of smell is many times more sensitive than our human noses. So by all means, keep the box clean but also avoid spritzing strong holiday scents that may offend your cat. Baking aromas and roast turkey smells as well as a pine-tinted tinge on the air are fine.

Maintain Routine

As much as possible, maintain the status quo. Feed at the same time even if you must move the food bar away from the guest bedroom, for example. As long as MOST of the routine stays the same, most cats will be flexible.

baby gates

Baby gates offer security for those on both sides of the barrier.

Use Baby Gates

I love using baby gates to control temporary access to portions of the house. Baby gates can keep the cats (or young kids) away from each others’ territory. You don’t want the toddler in the cat’s litter box! And neither does the cat. When a youngster will visit over the holidays, invest in some baby gates and set them up early so your cats become used to the notion. Kitty can still see through them, too–and may be able to vault over some. That works well to keep obnoxious visiting dogs away, while allowing the cat continued run of the house. Or, if you don’t want cats to get through, you can stack two shorter baby gates to keep climbing cats at bay.

Train Your Guests

Many of our friends and family also love cats, and the people who don’t…well, maybe they aren’t great friends, LOL! Just be sure to set down some rules of the house. Too many treats can upset kitty tummies. And even the most affectionate cat may get fed up with being passed around like a stuffed toy.

Give Cats Privacy

We want our cats to be part of the celebration. Some kitties, though, become fearful or over-excited by strangers in the house. In these cases, it is not cruel to shut the cat in a room by herself. She’ll consider it a vacation from stress, and you won’t have to worry about her hissing at a guest or leaving a hairball in someone’s shoe.

YouTube Button

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

24 Comments

  1. Princely Paws (@princely_paws12)

    Fantastic tips, most cats dont appreciate company and like to be left alone. It is so important to give them the required space

    Reply
  2. Sweet Purrfections

    I always look forward to a couple of weeks relaxing with my girls during the holidays. It’s a must that litter box odor is controlled.

    Reply
  3. Cathy Armato

    The holidays are definitely the time to start planning how to reduce stress & keep the stinkiness to a minimum. Great suggestions.
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

    Reply
  4. Beth (@dailydogtag)

    I wish more people had voted for something that didn’t stink! This sounds like a kitty litter worth checking out!

    Reply
  5. Sarcastic Dog

    I am currently without a cat in the house but I wish I’d had these tips when I did. Fortunately, the cats I’ve had (except for my two feral fosters years ago) loved dogs so I never had to separate them and they loved people so company was never stressful for them. I always had one extra litter box than I had cats in the house and that seemed to help a lot!

    Reply
  6. Amber Ketchum

    I just bought a box of this litter and Trout didn’t hate it and we didn’t notice any stink. I’m not sure what color the box was, but since he’s out already I’ll see which versions are available in my area! I don’t even know how to talk about the election. We did well here in Maryland anyway with our congress people, so that’s good. I’ll go shopping tomorrow!

    Reply
  7. Talent Hounds

    Great tips and sounds like great litter. We got a baby gate to keep Kilo and Nala separate and keep Kilo out of Nala’s litter box and food.

    Reply
  8. Sherri

    I am looking for a good litter and have tried several I don’t like. I don’t like clumping ones that create concrete blocks. I’ll try this one to and see how it goes. (Also, I’ve got baby gate ‘scars’ all over my walls and I’ve never had a baby in the house).

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Me too, Sherri, I’ve been looking for about six months now. I hope to do a round up on the blog soon, comparing the various litters and how I liked each.

      Reply
  9. Tenacious Little Terrier

    So no pumpkin spice litter? Baby gates are great until your dog figures out how to knock them over..

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Yes, some dogs will do their best to bull through. Magic was taught as a pup that he could not go through…and it’s stayed with him although he’s now 90+ lbs. *shrug* Depends on the incentive, of course!

      Reply
  10. Rebecca at MattieDog

    7-day odor control! That sounds pretty darned effective – most definitely will share this info with our kitty loving friends!

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Yes, that’s a big plus with this litter.

      Reply
  11. Kelly

    Important tips to keeping your cats calm and relaxed during the upcoming holidays. Cats are so very sensitive to changes in their environment and they thrive with routine and of course, a clean litter box 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Thanks Kelly. It’s funny but my two cats have swapped ownership of the boxes…now the big cat uses the little one, and vice versa.

      Reply
  12. hbethp

    Lots of helpful tips. My cats were always quite fearful, tough starts in life. The best thing for them when company would come was to be together in one room with the door closed. Less stress for them, and I could enjoy my guests without worrying about how the cats were coping.

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Exactly! That’s often the best option for everyone.

      Reply
  13. Joely Smith

    LOVE your opening humor in this post. What I can say is that we use Arm & Hammer Clump and Seal and LOVE it! Our home does not smell bad, even for those non cat loving visitors!

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Thanks Joely! I couldn’t resist…chose the date for the post and then at the last minute realized what day it was, so…

      Reply
  14. Nichole

    Sounds like a great kitty litter! We’d use it if we had cats.

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Thanks for visiting the blog, Nichole.

      Reply
  15. raisingyourpetsnaturally

    Great tips. Kitties can be so sensitive, it’s so important to take things slow with them. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Appreciate your note, thanks!

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Holiday Pet Visits? 10 Tips For Happy Vacations with PetsAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] gatherings are a big part of the holidays, and pets double the fun—and the stress. Here are tips for…
  2. How to Pet Proof Holidays: 11 Life Saving TipsAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] other steps do you take to help keep your fur-kids safe and kitties stress-free and calm during the holidays?…
  3. Cat Safe Christmas Tree: Pet Safety & the HolidaysAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] If you plan to have a new pet under the tree, read this post on how to give pets…
  4. Why Tabby Cats Wear an "M" - A Christmas Cat StoryAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] be safe if you’re traveling. And help keep your cat calm during the holidays with these tips. May your…

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

10 Stages of Puppy Development: Birth to Two Years

Puppy development is fascinating, and one of the most popular dog topics. Every time we get a new puppy, I learn new things about new puppy development. Did you know that the adult incisors (next to the canines) erupt at age 16 weeks? That’s a way to help age your new baby dog.

Along the way, puppies tend to get into all kinds of things–we laugh, but then we might cry if they hurt themselves. On May 31st we celebrate Shadow-Pup’s gotcha day–he arrived in 2020 when we needed him most.

Did you ever wonder about the stages of puppy development? Some of this has to do with the dog breed, but all newborn puppies (whatever the breed) look surprisingly similar. They also develop along the same period of time. Look no further, I’ve got you covered! Oh, and enjoy the SQUEEE! cute puppy pictures, too!

Memorial Day & Honoring Military Dogs for National K9 Veteran’s Day

Memorial Day honors the American men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the military. It originally honored those who died in the Civil War, and now honors those who died in any war. It is also known as Decoration Day. This holiday differs from Veterans’ Day which honors all those who served in the military.

There is no Memorial Day for the brave military K9s who served and lost their lives, often heroically saving their human partners. I can’t imagine the bond that must exist between the soldier and his or her war dog—they share things and stand against danger to protect the rest of us against horrors we don’t want to think about. And because of them, we don’t have to worry about such things. Thank you.

I’m eternally grateful to those who sacrifice for our freedom. Losing a beloved animal companion anytime cuts deep. It must be horrific to lose a comrade-in-arms, including those with four feet and fur.

And since I focus on pet issues, I want to shine a light on the dogs of the military. There is a National K9s Veteran’s Day on March 13, too. But here’s an excerpt from my book DOG LIFE  to shine a light on military dogs through the ages.

Keeping Hot Dogs & Cats Cool: Hot Weather Pet Safety

Hot weather pet safety around here is a matter of life and death for cats and dogs. I live in N. Texas where it’s not unusual for weather to have everyone hot under the collar. Just imagine how pets feel with a fur coat. Older dogs have more sense and aren’t as prone to overdo. But our rescue pup Shadow acts clueless, and we have to physically confine him or he’d never stop playing even in 100-degree weather.

Cats and dogs risk sunburn, pad burns, and life-threatening heatstroke without proper precautions. Never leave your pet unattended in a hot car. These tips can help you prevent problems, or even save your pet’s life.

P’ETiQuette Column Farewell–and Hello to New Readers!

For 30 years, the Herald Democrat editors and readers have been part of my extended family. I only rarely missed a deadline, those times of illness or holidays. So, it surprised me to learn that the column hadn’t published in several weeks despite my having sent one each week for Tuesday publication.

Blame technology, and nothing else. But I owe y’all, my extended family, an explanation of why the column disappeared…

Pet Rescue Breathing & CPR Saves Cat & Dog Lives

May 19 is “Rescue Dog Day” and how better to celebrate than to learn about Pet Rescue Breathing and pet CPR? You can save your dog or cat’s life by knowing how to do pet CPR and how to perform rescue breathing. Pets suffer brain injury and death if oxygen is cut off for only a few minutes. When minutes count, rescue breathing can save your pet’s life.

Cat in Heat Behavior, What to Know About Feline Estrus

What to Know About Feline Estrus

Recently, a friend contacted me about her cat in heat. She wanted to know about a cat in heat behavior, how long are cats in heat, if cats in heat feel pain, and what to do to relieve the cat’s discomfort until spay surgery. Cats in heat signs include several distinctive behaviors common to feline estrus (the technical term). In fact, her newly adopted girl, although she looked too young, had already had kittens (they didn’t survive), and now loudly proclaimed Kitty’s determination to repeat the process.

I planned to refer my friend to one of my blogs—and instead realized I hadn’t specifically addressed cats in heat behavior, feline reproduction, and what to know about cat estrus. Yes, I write about this in my Complete Kitten Care and Cat Facts books in more detail, and now you get the kitty Cliff’s notes here.

CAT & DOG SHEDDING? 6 TIPS FOR WHEN THE FUR FLIES

Pets shed in both the spring and fall. Shadow-Pup leaves mini-drifts of fuzz I sweep up daily, all summer long. Karma-Kat’s URK-factor (hairballs) increases with pet shedding season. Yuck! The fur flies about the same time as allergy season begins. If you suffer from allergic reactions to your cat or dog, check out these pet allergy tips.

Dog Shedding Time!

Cat and dog shedding may be a big hairy deal—but it is normal. Magical-Dawg used to leave drifts of black fur everywhere. Although Shadow-Pup’s medium-coarse fur, and Karma-Kat’s short light fur isn’t nearly as noticeable, they also shed.

Year-round floating fur increases the challenge of keeping dry cleaned apparel in a Fido-free zone. You can’t stop pet shedding. Unless you’re a passionate pet lover who considers pet hair to be a condiment, understanding how to tame the hairy mess will keep your pet’s coat and skin healthy and simplify housecleaning…

How to Prepare for a Disaster: Pet Preparedness & Tips

With the latest awful weather and more on the way, it’s time to revisit your pet disaster plan. You do have one, right? Everyone should understand the importance of disaster preparation.

I posted this in June for National Pet Preparedness Month. September is Disaster Preparation Month. And today is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Hurricane Ian drives home the importance of having a disaster plan not only for yourself when Mother Nature throws a tantrum but also to keep your pets safe. Whether you must deal with tornadoes, floods, landslides, typhoons, wildfires, or other emergencies, there’s a rule that we must always PLAN FOR THE WORST.

And then pray it doesn’t happen. Learn more in the post…

Fearful Fido? Know the Signs of Dog Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS)

May 7-13 is Dog anxiety Awareness Week, and June is Pet Anxiety Awareness Month. Do you have a fearful Fido? Do you need help with the fireworks and loud thunderstorms happening this time of year that makes dogs scared? It seems silly, but some dogs feel stress when their human wears a hat! I wanted to share some resources for recognizing and understanding signs of canine fear, anxiety, and stress.

While it’s normal for dogs to be cautious and not run head on into traffic, too much stress and anxiety isn’t healthy. Fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) also affect the immune system, impacting both physical and emotional health.

Up to 20 percent of dogs will be born prone to introversion and fear. Proper socialization improves puppy confidence, but abuse or poor socialization can result in anxiety-ridden adults. Pain or illness also can cause anxiety so these dogs associate certain kinds of handling with discomfort. Ongoing anxiety, stress or fear may lead to fear aggression.

Extreme fear interferes with learning, making it even more difficult to help dogs overcome the angst. Fearful dogs quickly recognize that escape behaviors or fear aggression makes the scary situation go away, so they learn to repeat these behaviors…

Author Audio Books: How to Self Publish Audio Books

Do you love audio books — and thrillers? Yep, I also self publish audio books, including my nonfiction and my thrillers. And since my latest thriller DARE OR DIE released yesterday on all Ebook platforms, plus paperback and hardcover, I’m now planning the audiobook version.

And, that’s MY voice reading the story. How (and why) am I the one reading the book? And for authors out there, how can you do it? What mic do you need, what software…and if you want to hire someone, where do you find the perfect person to “voice” your book?

Read on! Here are the highlights. And if you want or need more step-by-step details, you can check out my on-demand webinar on the subject.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships