Experiences that teach us
When it comes to festive challenges, beyond ugly Christmas jumper contests, I’m going to tell you two stories of furry friends who got off on the wrong paw for the holidays.
Carlos the gentleman (I’m quoting his human), a cat who is usually comfortable in his own fur and loves spending lots of time outdoors making sure he is the undisputed king of the neighbourhood, was injured by firecrackers one New Year’s Eve. This sent him to the vet as an emergency, for a far from pleasant visit. Everyone is fine today, but this traumatic experience left its mark and led his family to rethink the way they celebrate. Carlos now enjoys the festivities calmly: he stays safely indoors and, to help him (Dobby the free elf that he is) put up with it, his family cooks him a special meal, gives him a little present (the latest: a valerian “cigar”, his new passion in life) and sets up safe, quiet spaces, as far as possible, where he can take refuge when the dreaded firecrackers go off.
Similarly, Lucky, a 4-year-old German shepherd, showed significant anxiety during the holidays. The influx of visitors (not all of them nice, according to Lucky himself, yes, yes, he told me) and the changes in routine made him nervous, which came out as excessive barking and intense watchfulness. His human family worked on setting up a suitable environment that now lets him enjoy the celebrations more peacefully.
For both of these furry friends, a personalised approach was needed. By understanding their specific needs, Carlos’s and Lucky’s families were able to turn this stressful period into calmer moments. Let’s take inspiration from them…
Socialisation and familiarisation
Start preparing your companions in advance. Make sure you socialise your dog well all year round, for example. Getting to know as many different situations and individuals as possible will benefit them and everyone else, and they will adapt more easily. So don’t wait for Christmas: regularly introduce them to Grandpa, Granny, Granny’s bichon, your auntie, your uncle, their 12 children, the neighbour’s cat, the neighbour… in short, plan ahead when you can and give your companions the richest life possible, while respecting their own sensitivity threshold, of course.
Routine and activities
Keep daily routines going as much as possible. Plan activities to let them burn off energy before everyone arrives, and plan quiet times for when the house is busy.
These preparations will let everyone, humans and furry ones alike, enjoy the festivities calmly.
Creating a safe festive environment
A suitable environment starts with safe decorations. There are “pet-friendly” decorations such as shatterproof baubles and LED fairy lights with no visible wires. The tree must be firmly secured… and some people have found THE solution to avoid finding their companion inside it…
Speaking of cats, a safe refuge under the tree, free of dangerous decorations, lets them enjoy the atmosphere while feeling secure. Set up calm, safe spaces, whether for your cats or your dogs, so they can escape the bustle if it gets too much for them.
Also, for those of you who love scented candles or incense, remember that our companions are particularly sensitive to smells. Scented candles and diffusers can cause discomfort, and sometimes even be dangerous for their airways. Airing rooms well and avoiding air fresheners helps their well-being.
Managing sensitivity to noise, such as fireworks
As with smells, our furry companions are far more sensitive to noise than we are. They hear much better than we do and so will find some noises harder to bear. The best thing, if you can, is to make sure that during fireworks or firecrackers, for example, your companion is in a room where the noise is muffled. Logically, these are noises that only happen a few times a year, so there is not necessarily any need to prepare them for it: you may as well leave them in peace the rest of the time. If you would still like to try to desensitise them, particularly to other, more common noises, you can try noise desensitisation. This takes a gradual, gentle approach. Starting several weeks ahead, play recordings of fireworks, for example, at a very low volume while your companion is busy with something they enjoy. The aim is to create positive associations with these potentially frightening sounds. Over the sessions, the volume can be raised slightly, always respecting your animal’s comfort threshold (on the whole, we avoid setting off fireworks in the living room, ahem). For party nights, prepare a cosy space with blankets, close the curtains and play soft music to muffle the noise outside.
Arranging the space for our felines
Cats need particular attention when it comes to arranging the space. The tree, an irresistible potential playground, must be firmly anchored. Create high-up observation points so your feline can keep an eye on the festivities in complete safety.
A refuge under the tree, free of decorations, can become a reassuring base. Dangling decorations, which cats find particularly interesting, should be avoided or firmly secured or… safe for them to play with if you decide to grant them that pleasure :)
A suitable, healthy feast
The holidays mean good food, including for our companions. Home cooking lets you control the ingredients while creating moments of closeness. Our companions love Christmas biscuits too :) Sweet potato biscuits are an excellent option: cook and mash the sweet potato, shape it into small portions and bake them gently in the oven. Cooked vegetables such as carrots or squash can also be turned into treats. Or simply some shop-bought treats to make the moment special. The important thing is to count these treats as part of the daily ration to keep a healthy, balanced diet. Yum.
Make sure you find out which foods to avoid at all costs, including these few: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, avocado, alcohol, macadamia nuts…
Celebrating together
The holidays are a time for sharing! To enrich their environment over the festive season, you could, for example, make a special advent calendar for them. You can use cardboard boxes in which, each day, your companion will discover a new surprise: a toy, a treat or a special activity (spoiler alert: with cats, the box itself will be more of a hit than the surprise, so no need to break the bank). Include your companions in your festivities, give them presents too, cook them a nice little meal, spend quality time with them…
The emotional bond during the holidays
Our companions can also be sensitive to our emotional states. During this festive but sometimes stressful period, they can pick up on and absorb our tension. So take care of yourself!
📚 Feel free to read my article on this topic.
What’s more, keeping routines stable despite the holiday buzz gives them a sense of security, and can let you unwind too.
Signs of stress to watch for in your animals:
- Dogs: excessive panting, trembling, withdrawal, excessive barking…
- Cats: excessive grooming, inappropriate urination, loss of appetite, unusual aggression…
Take time to share moments with your animal: a brushing session, a massage and some scratches, a walk in the fresh air, a play session, or simply some quiet time together can work wonders for your mutual well-being.
Ethical alternatives to living gifts
Giving a pet as a Christmas present, however tempting it may sometimes be, deserves careful thought. These are living beings with their own needs, not cuddly toys… We have a responsibility towards them that will last long after the holidays, because, to our great joy, our companions can share our lives for many years. Sponsoring an animal at a shelter or sanctuary is an ethical and rewarding alternative, with, why not, a cuddly toy in the animal’s likeness for little (and big) children. This option gives real support to the animal cause while creating an emotional bond for us. For those who want to enrich the life of an animal they already have, behaviour consultations or games and comfort accessories can make lovely presents.
And if you still decide to adopt a little furry being for the holidays, do it thoughtfully and responsibly, and get a professional to support you in choosing your future companion and getting their education (and yours :)) off to a good start!
The holidays can be a wonderful time of sharing with our four-legged friends if we take care to adapt our environment and celebrations to their needs. What matters is staying attentive to their well-being while enjoying these special moments together.
Questions about preparing for the holidays with your companion? Feel free to contact me for personalised advice!
The fanimal team wishes you and your companions happy holidays! 🎄
It all starts with getting to know each other.
