We are so weird- what other species besides humans gather together, whether we like each other or not, just because we collectively agree to a rule requiring humans who share DNA to spend time together every December? Well, I don’t know what your plans are, but I’ll be spending the holidays with my fur-loves- I have one dog who is outnumbered by 3 cats in this house (poor dog!), and I also have a lot of kitty and doggie friends at the shelter! We will be following our normal routine- I’m too set in my ways (and also too unsociable) to change. Our poor fur-babies have a lot of challenges to deal with living in our world, so let’s talk about how to help them deal with us this holiday season!
The Challenge of Social Humans!
I don’t really feel like I know how to human, do you? Does anyone? If humans don’t know how to human, then why do we think our pets should? We pretend to like weird family members because we are supposed to. We have to be nice to our in-laws’ kids because of social rules that say we can’t react no matter how frustrated we get. Our dogs don’t know these rules, but we usually expect them to obey.
When humans get together, we can be loud and scary- especially to fearful pets! One way to help our pets deal with our holiday guests is to provide them with a safe place to escape! Having a room set apart from guests and, instead of shiny red and green things, filled with familiar things like beds, blankets, toys, and treats. Their personal, everyday things can really be comforting to our social-phobic fur-babies- especially if they aren’t freshly cleaned; animals like to smell their own scents! Remember, our home is their home and they may not understand all the decorations and strangers in their safe space. Also, if you are having a big family get together, it’s best to wait until after the festivities to bring home a new, furry family member!
The Challenge of Decorations!
Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias- these are common holiday plants! If you are a somewhat sociable person who has guests over, it’s possible that you have these plants in your home. One thing to be aware of is that these can be harmful to pets, so it’s a good idea to keep them somewhere that your fur-baby can’t reach! As general advice, I’d like to suggest that you research any new plant before bringing it into a home with pets!
The Challenge of Enticing Objects!
Wrapping paper and bows are fun! Dogs love to rip the paper, and cats like to play with the ribbons! Just remember to make sure that no one swallows anything they shouldn’t! The last thing you want to do on a holiday is find an emergency vet! Have fun, but supervise them like they are your children, because they are–they are our fur-babies!
I hope you and your fur-babies have a wonderful holiday! If you have any additional tips for keeping our pets happy during the holiday, leave them in the comments!
