New Year’s Eve is the time for a fresh start, a time for resolutions, and a time to gather with family and friends to ring in the new year. However, it’s essential not to forget that your cat might not be used to all of the people being in your home or the noise that the fireworks make when they go off at the stroke of midnight.
There are also a few dangers you need to be aware of with everything from the food to the alcohol and decorations at your New Year’s Eve party. In this article, we’ll give you a few safety tips to keep your cat happy and secure this upcoming New Year’s Eve.
The Top 7 New Year’s Eve Safety Tips for Cats
1. Find a Quiet Space
While fireworks are more common during Fourth of July celebrations, they are also used at New Year’s celebrations. It’s best to keep your cat indoors on this day and have a safe, quiet space for your pet to retreat to.
If you are going out on New Year’s Eve and leaving your furry feline alone, ensure the entrances to their safe space are open for them. The last thing you want is your poor cat frantically trying to get into its safe space when the door is closed or locked.
2. Stay Away from the Crowds
If you’ve decided to celebrate New Year’s by having a party at your home, don’t forget that your feline pal might be a bit put off and scared with so many people in the house. Make arrangements for one room where no people will be allowed so that you can put your cat in there before the party begins. Consider leaving a TV or radio playing, so the cat doesn’t become stressed with all of the noise from the party.
Make sure that the area is escape-proof and that you have a bed, food, water, treats, and anything else your cat might need available. This isn’t just important due to your cat being scared of the crowds; it can also prevent your cat from becoming accidentally injured in all the excitement of the party.
3. Secure Their Collar and ID
When you have a party, people are constantly running in and out, and the doors are frequently opened and shut. Cats are great escape artists and may accidentally slip out and get lost.
As a precaution, ensure that your cat’s collar and ID are securely attached and that the ID has the correct information on it, just in case the worst should happen. If you haven’t already, it is also a good idea to get your cat microchipped and make sure the contact details are up to date.
4. Don’t Leave Your Cat Unattended
Many partygoers travel out of town for New Year’s Eve, and sometimes you can’t take your furry friend with you. After leaving your cat indoors, you should lock the pet door to the outside because even if your cat doesn’t tend to wander, the noise from neighboring houses or fireworks could cause them to bolt. It’s an even better idea to have someone stay with your cat while you’re gone to help keep them calm and safe.
5. Keep an Eye on the Alcohol/Food/Decorations
Noise and people aren’t the only things you need to watch around your cat during your New Year’s celebrations. Alcohol, food, and some decorations can be toxic to your feline companion. From the tinsel on the Christmas tree to chicken and turkey bones, you must be careful what food you give your cat and keep your cat away from the poppers, streamers, and tinsel.
Alcohol is also toxic to cats, so make sure your cat isn’t drinking out of any of the cups or licking up spills that are bound to happen as people prepare for the New Year.
6. Enforce Some Countdown Rules
It’s best to let your guests know that there are some countdown rules to follow as midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve. First, if you haven’t already, you’ll want to put your pet in a secure location before the countdown begins.
Let your guests know where your cat’s safe place is, and make sure they don’t accidentally let them out. Also make sure they know that human food is off limits for your cat and to pick up potentially dangerous items like confetti from poppers so your cat doesn’t have access to them.
7. Prepare for the Fireworks
Having a quiet room for your cats with the curtains drawn and comforting background noise to dull out the noises will help your pet cope with fireworks. However, you might need to take extra precautions, such as being with your cat right before they begin or even talking to your vet about what you can do to keep your cat calm during the fireworks at midnight, which can be extremely loud. Stay with your cat as much as you can to keep them calm and prevent them from becoming stressed throughout the night.
How to Keep Your Cat Calm During Fireworks
You can do a few things to keep your cat calm during the fireworks show:
- Buy your cat a new interactive toy to keep them busy
- Buy tasty cat treats
- Close the curtains and windows
- Provide hiding spots like boxes or tunnels
- Leave some comforting items with them, like their favorite blanket or toy
- Play background music
- Block escape routes
- Stay calm
- Use a calming pheromone diffuser like Feliway
- Speak to your vet about calming supplements or medications
Conclusion
Celebrating New Year’s Eve with parties and fireworks helps you ring in a brand-new year. However, your cat won’t know it’s New Year’s Eve, and they’re likely to be upset by the hordes of people and noise. Following the tips above will go a long way toward keeping your feline safe this upcoming New Year’s Eve.
The rest is up to you, so keep your pets in mind when you’re making the preparations for New Year’s Eve for the best results, and you’ll both be happy and healthy when New Year’s Day rolls around.
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Featured Image Credit: TSViPhoto, Shutterstock
Contents
- The Top 7 New Year’s Eve Safety Tips for Cats
- 1. Find a Quiet Space
- 2. Stay Away from the Crowds
- 3. Secure Their Collar and ID
- 4. Don’t Leave Your Cat Unattended
- 5. Keep an Eye on the Alcohol/Food/Decorations
- 6. Enforce Some Countdown Rules
- 7. Prepare for the Fireworks
- How to Keep Your Cat Calm During Fireworks
- Conclusion
