Three Steps to Reduce Holiday Stress for Your Kitty

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The annual holidays can be a very stressful time for your cat. This is the time of the year when that strange tree goes up, bright trinkets are hung (but all your cat hears is 揘o, no, bad kitty!?when she tries to explore them), delicious food is prepared (cats need not apply to eat it!), and lots of strange people come tramping into the house.

Some cats are in their glory, being in the middle of the tree decoration tradition, while others react to differences in the household by cowering in fear. Plus, if the holidays
stress you out (raise your hand if they don抰; the rest of us would like to know your secret), it抣l be communicated to kitty, and she may react in kind. And sometimes that fear
and stress manifests itself in your cat urinating outside her litter box.

Here are three steps you can do to reduce holiday stress for your cat.

First, keep the household changes to a minimum. Think about where you might put the Christmas tree. If you put the tree in a place that normally belongs to kitty, she could be mighty upset with you. Her reaction could range from hiding for days to urinating underneath the tree, if not trying to
pull it down. Look for a location that pleases both the human and animal population in your house. If that抯 not
possible, and knowing how cats can be, you抣l have to settle for pleasing one or the other. My bet is it抯 whoever pays the bills.

My cat Scout thinks the Christmas tree is a new litter box location. She抣l urinate on the tree cover. That抯 a treat to clean! I have to keep a plastic liner under the tree to
facilitate the clean up. I make double certain to keep all the litter boxes clean, but she feels a need to express
herself creatively at this time of the year. It抯 her way to contributing to the tree decorating tradition. She does it once, and she's done.

Next, if you own a scaredy kitty, confine her to a safe room when hosting holiday events in your home. If possible, confine your kitty in a place that guests won抰 stumble in. Put her food, water, and a clean litter box in the room. Stop in from time to time to reassure her that it抯 alright.

If there aren抰 adequate hiding spots in her room, think about putting a box or large paper bag in with her, and
encourage her to burrow in it.

Finally, purchase some natural flower essence compounds to put in her food or water all during the holiday season.
There are several good remedies that are recommended for situational stress. Add a few drops in kitty抯 food or water twice a day, and you抣l see results within 24 hours.

Flowering essences are also safe for human consumption, so if you抮e contemplating a fall into insanity, take a few drops yourself!

You can also purchase synthetic hormone substances that come pre-packaged in a bottle that plugs into any electrical
outlet in your home. This remedy lasts approximately a month.

Good luck, and happy holidays to you and your family ?humans and animals!