The festive season, filled with mulled wine, scented candles, and decorations, is a time for cosy traditions. However, a leading animal charity has warned that these very customs can create an extremely stressful environment for the nation's pet cats.
Why Festive Scents and Changes Disorient Cats
Cats Protection highlights that a cat's sense of smell is central to its wellbeing. Felines spend months scent-marking their home with facial pheromones to create a safe, familiar territory. The sudden introduction of novel smells from pine-scented candles, festive plug-ins, or spiced mulled wine can be overwhelming and upsetting for them.
The charity's cat behaviour officer, Daniel Warren-Cummings, explains that Christmas often becomes the most stressful time of year for cats for several key reasons. Family routines are abandoned, leading to frustratingly delayed meal times. Furniture is moved to accommodate decorations, causing disorientation. Furthermore, an influx of unfamiliar visitors can make cats feel nervous and insecure.
Practical Steps for a Cat-Friendly Festive Period
Cats Protection advises owners to take simple measures to mitigate this stress. They recommend avoiding festive air fresheners, diffusers, and candles, or confining them to a single room. When making mulled wine, opening a window and shutting the kitchen door can help.
"There is no need to cancel Christmas or stop celebrating," says Mr Warren-Cummings, "but people should think a little more about how merry - or not - their cat is feeling."
His practical tips include:
- Placing cardboard boxes from online deliveries in a quiet corner, as cats love enclosed hiding spots.
- Designating a visitor-free room as a safe refuge, equipped with the cat's litter tray and water bowl.
- Sticking to the cat's normal feeding and play routine as much as possible.
The charity also cautions against paraffin-based Christmas candles, which can emit chemicals risky for pets' respiratory systems, suggesting soy or beeswax alternatives are preferable.
Recognising and Alleviating Feline Anxiety
Stress in cats can manifest in various unwanted behaviours, including excessive yowling, over-grooming, inter-cat conflict, furniture scratching, and toileting around the home. Mr Warren-Cummings notes that enquiries about challenging cat behaviour more than double each January following the festive upheaval.
"Many cats, particularly in multi-cat households, are just about coping," he states. "Then all the changes in December can really tip them over the edge."
He reassures owners that solutions are at hand. Pheromone plug-ins, used alongside the provision of safe spaces, can significantly help. While festive treats in moderation are fine, the charity strongly advises against dressing cats in outfits, which they find trapping and stressful.
"Just try to think about your cat's happiness," concludes Warren-Cummings, "like you do for every other family member at Christmas-time."
