Christmas alters our routines and also that of our furry friends. On these dates, dogs and cats are (or may be) exposed to new situations, such as meeting unknown guests at home, noisy gatherings, new smells, changes in the space due to Christmas decorations, or more hours alone. Even some of them, adopted during the pandemic, have not had the experience of living a house party with all the fuss that implies. Our fellow dogs and cats well deserve a Christmas relaxation plan.
These are the main recommendations to minimize and make all these changes positive and spend a Merry Christmas together.
It is likely that, at some point, our dog or cat prefers to be absent and get away from so much noise by going to a safe space. To make things easier for him, you can prepare a resting place that is as comfortable as possible (or a dream), where he also has his toys, feeder and drinker nearby. Ideally, prepare this safe space in the place in the house where he feels most comfortable and is away from loud and unknown sounds. Cats, with the most imaginative hiding places, can find their safe place inside a closet, in a cardboard box, under our bed or sofa or in their own bed.
His refuge must be sacred, also for visitors, so it must be in a place that is easily accessible to him, but where no one can disturb him. That is why it is important to warn the little ones that when our friend disappears from our sight or is in his shelter, they should be left alone. For example, going to visit a cat when he’s in hiding could reduce his sense of security and make him seek another secret place where no one can find him. If when organizing the house we look for a new safe space, we must get him used to it well in advance. Without forcing it, we can attract it with a prize, toy or a pampering session.
At Christmas we decorate the house, we use scented candles and we modify the spaces for future celebrations. When doing so, you have to think that the changes will also upset our friend, accustomed to moving around the house safely and hiding and resting in his favorite places.
The key is to make those changes not affect you too much. As? Respecting their habits and incorporating them gradually, the days before any celebration, so that they get used to it. We must never forget that they must have free access to their safe space because otherwise they can become frustrated and nervous.
Also, the changes are not just visual. Christmas also implies that at home there is more noise than usual or unknown sounds are heard or that the smell of the house changes. Our dogs and cats, who are especially sensitive to smells, will notice it. For this reason, especially in the case of cats, it is advisable to avoid products or substances that can modify the olfactory profile of their environment. For example, it is not necessary to leave the coats of the guests, with different perfumes, or candles with fragrances near where you have your things or take refuge to be calm.
If the holidays are going to alter the routines of your dog or cat, it is best to try to make them have as little impact as possible on their day to day and prepare these new situations in advance. If you are not going to be there to feed him, you can resort to an automatic feeder or have someone you trust – yours and his – to feed him at convenient times or keep him company. The same will happen with walks: dogs should go outside at least three times a day, not only so they can relieve themselves, but also because both physical exercise and social interaction will benefit them emotionally. Sharing that homework as a family is another good option during the holidays.
If, on the contrary, we have to go to another house to celebrate and leave our friend alone for a few hours, it is convenient to get him used to these absences, if he is not accustomed to his daily routine. It is better to check his reaction during short periods of isolation than to leave him alone for many hours without prior “preparation”. It can also happen that, by spending a lot of time with him, he can lose the habit of staying only a few hours at home once we recover the usual schedules. For this reason, it will be advisable to get him used to spending some time without our presence during these holidays.
Nobody knows your dog or your cat better than you. You will know well if he tolerates strangers or if he prefers not to interact with people he is not used to. Therefore, you have to prepare the guests so that they do not harass you and also do not try to win you over by giving you a few portions of food from their plates. Sometimes it is better for the guests to ignore our dog or cat, to act as if he were not at home, since if he feels threatened, he may defend himself with growls, snorts, claws or biting attempts. If he discovers this way of protecting himself, he will use it other times that he feels threatened. In the event that a dog or cat may have a more serious problem with strangers at home, it is better that he is not exposed to visitors.
Pity faces, irresistible looks and paw or snout touches are some of the resources that our dogs and cats use to demand food when we are at the table. Sometimes it’s hard to avoid temptation, but by providing them with complete and balanced foods and meeting their needs,. that extra snacking can not only encourage unwanted behavior, but it can give them an unnecessary excess of calories, and even lead to food indiscretion or poisoning.
Not all the food we eat is suitable for them. In fact, some are potentially toxic, such as chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins, onions, garlic, candies made with xylitol (or birch sugar), coffee, peanuts, and raw foods like the egg or the potato. Giving them grapes for the chimes is also not a good idea. And it is that the thing is serious, since these foods, consumed in sufficient quantities, can cause digestive, neurological, hematological, renal health problems and even cardiorespiratory complications that can compromise the life of the dog or cat.
In addition to the list of prohibited foods, there are other rules that we must comply with: avoid giving them foods rich in fat and sweets: an excess of calories can be the first step towards being overweight and towards pathologies such as pancreatitis and diabetes. And what about leftover food? One of the biggest dangers is bones. The small chicken ones splinter when chewed, which can cause injuries or obstructions in the digestive system. Fruit pits can also cause dangerous blockages.
We are a social and emotional reference for them, so we must transmit calm and act normally. Our canine and feline companions are capable of recognizing our emotions and, in both species -although to a different degree-, there is the so-called “social reference”. Surely on more than one occasion you have seen how they pay attention to your reaction before approaching or not approaching an unknown object. It has even been shown that dogs can synchronize with us on a physiological and hormonal level, both when we interact positively with them and when we experience stressful situations. This “emotional contagion” means, therefore, that if we live Christmas with anxiety, our dogs and cats can experience the same sensations.
So now you know, these holidays, put these tips into practice and help your dog and cat feel comfortable and safe so that they can also enjoy Christmas. As always, our priority must be your well-being. Merry christmas!
*Additional fonts used to make this text:
1- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/all/navidad-con-perros-y-gatos-alimentos-prohibidos-y-a-evitar
2- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/all/disfrutar-navidad-con-perro-o-gato-preparar-casa
3- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/all/como-preparar-perro-o-gato-para-navidad
