Holidays

First of all, how well do you know your pet? Do they behave differently when guests are around? Are they afraid or sociable? Gentle or aggressive? If your dog or cat responds to guests naturally, but their behaviour makes your guests uncomfortable, it might be better to have your pet in a closed room elsewhere in the house during the party. It’s important your pet not feel that this is a punishment. Make sure to have water, food and toys that will keep your pet occupied and happy. Toys Food puzzlesare a good idea. Also, provide a comfortable place for them to lie down… as well as another to climb on if your pet is a cat. In other words, it should be a small room that your pet feels good in.

Another question you should ask yourself: how well do you know your guests? Are they friends who frequently come over? Will there be young children? Seniors? All at once? Are any of them allergic to cats or dogs? Will they understand your pet’s “language”? If you give your guests a few instructions, will they follow them? Don’t forget, the festive Holiday atmosphere sometimes makes people behave in an exaggerated way.

Finally, you’ll need to think about the phenomenal amount of food and unusual items that will abound, such as gifts and gift wrap, that will be within your pet’s reach. These food items and objects could be harmful for your animal. Keep an eye out for such items to prevent food intoxication or an item from being swallowed. Not everything that goes in, will come out naturally…

Having your dog or cat around may create an additional complication when entertaining. Thinking preventively, during the party and to avoid trouble, maybe you should have your pet stay at a kennel (in case keeping them in a closed room is not an option). Also, think about it and act in advance, because many people reserve their spot for the Holidays weeks in advance.

Observe your pet when you have guests over. This will give you an idea of the type of behaviour you can expect during a party. Another test can be to keep your pet in a room for a few hours (always the same one) that you have set up for them, even while you are still in the house. Do you hear meowing or barking?

Different products, some being natural, could help your dog or cat have a more enjoyable time during the Holidays. Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian to talk about it. Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian to talk about it.

One thing’s for sure: on “D-Day”, your pet won’t understand the reason for all this upheaval. From their point of view, the house simply hasn’t been the same for some time, and today, all kinds of strangers have shown up. It’s a bit stressful to be sure! It’s a bit stressful to be sure!