Wart: Hey Fisher, who’s She talking to?
Fisher: Friends who are coming for Christmas dinner.
Wart: Those people with their CAT aren’t coming are they?
Fisher: Probably.
Wart: Is that CAT coming?
Fisher: Probably. But if so, you need to behave.

Guests at any time of the year can cause the stress factor to rise in the resident cats and dogs. Holiday times add to the stress because your humans are likely a little stressed-out, too. The energy is high, often chaotic, and usually erratic. So what do we do?

Humans do not especially know beforehand the kind of behavior their pet may display. The range can go from peeing on the coats arranged on the bed to over-exuberance from the minute the guests arrive.

You can choose to just run away and hide or fight back if anyone is so bold as to offer you their hand. Some will just freeze up and pretend they are invisible. They believe if they are very still and avoid eye contact, they can indeed seem invisible to the intruders. Or, best case scenario, just decide to act friendly and cope with the situation.

Your people should plan ahead. It is best to put a sign on the front door that everyone can read before ringing the bell. Large bold letters will show they mean it. Stop the problem before it begins!

Here is an example from the Bill Foundation in Santa Monica, CA, non-profit foundation dedicated to rescuing dogs from the Los Angeles shelter system and placing them in permanent loving homes. And they know what they are talking about:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About MY Pets

• They live here. You don’t.
• If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That’s why they call it “fur”niture.)
• I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
• To you, it’s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted angel who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Please help us all out by adding to this list and sending via comments. We pets need to declare our home Stress Free for the holidays.

Dear Fisher,

I have had many wonderful times rummaging through wrapping paper, ribbons, and the Christmas tree in past years. I’m quite a mature cat, so my humans know I am not going to chew on things I shouldn’t and wouldn’t swallow things that could make me choke. This year I am a little worried because we are expecting a new kitten in our house on Christmas Eve and I am hearing rumblings about changes and new rules. I’m beginning to think my Christmas isn’t going to be very much fun. What do you think?

Izzy

Dear Izzy,

First of all I cannot think what could be more fun than a new kitten coming to live with you. You need to think this through. Just imagine how your maturity and the innocence of your new housemate can make you a star. You have years of stories to tell of how you frolicked through the gifts under the tree and the bauble rearranging you likely managed from atop the tree. You will be idolized. New Kitty will hang on your every meow and yearn for the day when the rules relax and he, too, can enjoy such merriment.

You have given me a very good insight into your humans, too. Think about your own young life back in the day. I am sure you can remember your people taking precautions to keep you out of harms way. Cat plus curiosity plus Christmas tree can turn disastrous if a few rules are not put into place. They placed a great deal of trust in you, and I must add here that not all “mature cats” would be worthy. A Christmas tree without tinsel is still a Christmas tree. Decorations should be kept at a minimum. It is best not to have a lot of dangling ornaments to entice the new little kitten. Of course, the most cat-proof thing to do is set the tree up in the yard, keeping it there for the duration of the holiday. While that would be a nice way to share your holiday spirit with the neighbor people, it might not be very safe for the neighbor cats.

Several ideas your humans can use to dissuade improper behavior are:

• Secure the tree with a strong stable base, or attach clear fishing line to the top of the tree and then to a ceiling hook. No need to re-invent the theory of what goes up must come down.
• Most cats do not like the smell of citrus, so place lemon or orange rinds around the bottom of the tree to stop the climbing urge. For best results, replace the rinds often.
• Sprays, such as Bitter Yuck, can keep critters from chewing on the branches. Humans will know immediately what little kitty was up to when they hear the exclamations, “bitter!” and “yuck!”
• Choose ornaments that are not easily confused with kitty toys. Kittens are not likely to bite into a china candy cane. Or, you might find out that new little kitty is not the brightest bulb on the tree and re-think keeping the tree in the yard.

Visit Cat Lovers Only for more information. Most safety rules apply the the Dog as well – just do not tell the dog you found the information on a cat site.

Be safe, be good, and have a happy holiday.

Your friend,

Fisher

published in tbt Tampa Bay
Out There weekend edition

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