Are you worried about how your pets are going to cope with New Year’s Eve? Your pets may experience symptoms of anxiety when the celebrations start. This is not uncommon for pets that live in busy areas or if there are any parties nearby. There are ways you can help reduce their stress. Today, we have 5 tips that we hope will help your pets have the best evening possible.
- Set up a quiet area just for your pets. This is a great tip, especially if you’re planning on having people over to your home to ring in the New Year. Make the space cosy, comfortable and warm and locate it in the quietest part of your home where your pets won’t be disturbed. Make sure they have access to water and a cat litter tray toilet breaks to avoid accidents.
- Distract your pets from loud noises by playing some calming sounds in your home. Classical music is brilliant, and there are YouTube videos dedicated to playing calming music for pets. You can also let your pets watch TV as a distraction. Turn up the volume slowly to drown out any increase in noises from outside.
- Lavender is great for calming humans and it works for dogs too. Place a few drops on a piece of fabric, out of the reach of your pet or place some in an oil burner (but don’t leave candles unattended) to diffuse in the air. You can also find pheromone sprays that help dogs and cats to relax and stay calm, available in sprays and plugins. Ask your vet for recommendations.
- Take dogs out for works early in the afternoon. Take a longer walk than usual as exercise will help tire your pet out and keep them calm later on. Exercise your cats too. Let them have access to your secure garden or catio or play with them in the home. Remember to get cats in at dusk and keep them in all night.
- Have treats and toys on hand. Puzzle toys, new toys and healthy snacks can be enough to distract cats and dogs and keep their focus off all the noise and activity outside.
We hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a happy and prosperous 2017!