Dear Critter Corner: Halloween is right around the corner, and I will be hosting guests over at my house for my annual party! I have recently adopted a bonded pair of kittens from my local shelter and each of them has their own quirky attributes. One of them loves to climb and has an excess amount of energy, while the other one is shy and takes some time to warm up to new people. Would you be able to give a couple of tips and tricks on how to best prepare for having people over at my house?
Halloween is always a fun time of the year, and it is important to keep in mind that it can be a bit overwhelming for some cats. To help ease our cats into the spooky season, we can start brainstorming ways to celebrate but also keep in mind making it cat friendly!
Keeping the décor cat friendly is very important, since our traditional decorations can have possible adverse effects when ingested or chewed up by our furry friends. It is also good to keep in mind that some decorations might not be hazardous in the traditional way but can still cause stress or overstimulation from loud noises, flashing lights, or even moving figurines. If you do happen to have these decorations in your house during the party, consider moving your cats into another room in the house where they are able to hang out during the duration of the event.
Outgoing cats might be more comfortable with having multiple people coming up to engage with them, while shy cats might take more time to warm up in a party environment. I would suggest making sure that there are plenty of vertical perches and hiding spaces around the house so that they are able to observe everything going on from where they feel safe. Set up a home base area where the cats can decompress from all the festivities. This room should include plenty of hiding spaces/perches, food, water, toys, and a litter box. It is important to remember that cats experience the festivities differently than us and to be patient with them!
Amanda Loo is a Behavior Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, call 650-340-7022 x419 or email aloo@phs-spca.org.