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Surviving the Holidays with Pets: Tips for Travel, Treats, and More

Surviving the Holidays with Pets: Tips for Travel, Treats, and More

Posted by Feeders Pet Supply on Nov 30th 2021

The holidays are always planned to be merry and bright. From holiday gatherings to traveling to visit loved ones, you may have a lot of things on your list of things to do. But, all of the holiday chaos and activity can come along with a few caveats when you have your pets to consider. From putting up decorations to dealing with travel and in-house visitors with pets, we've pulled together a few tips to help you and your pet survive the holidays.

Tips for Traveling with Pets

If you will be traveling and must take your pets along, do what you can to give them a comfortable trip. Pick up a good pet carrier, such as the Furhaven Pet Travel Tote for small dogs or the Bergan Cat Carrier. If your dog or cat gets especially antsy when traveling, consider picking up a calming aromatherapy collar clip. Always plan ahead for the trip with your pets to ensure they will have all you need while you are on the go. Also, if traveling is extremely stressful, consider the alternative of boarding your pet or working with a pet-sitter for the holidays.

Handling Pets When You Have Visitors

If you are planning a holiday gathering at your own home that you share with your pets, this can be a little stressful for them. Keep in mind, some pets don't do well with strangers or people they don't see every day. So, if you have several people over for the night, things can get pretty stressful. Here are a few pointers to remember:

  • Create a pet-safe spot for your in-house pets so they have a quiet place
  • Give your pet something to keep them occupied—give dogs a boredom buster or your cat an automated laser toy
  • Set aside time for quality time before and after gatherings

What About Holiday Foods?

Food is a huge part of the holidays, and from tempting sweets to mouth-watering savory foods, your four-legged pals are bound to be just as excited. While some holiday foods are OK to give to cats and dogs, some are completely unsafe. The ASPCA offers a few good guidelines to follow when it comes to sharing holiday foods with your pets:

  • Keep plates well-attended and make sure you have a lid on the trash bin
  • Don't leave alcoholic beverages unattended or within a pet's reach
  • Make sure your pets don't get any sweet treats—even artificial sweeteners are not good
  • Don't allow your pet to eat anything fatty, especially spicy, or with bones

It can be best to stick to your pet's usual diet, even through the holidays. But what you can do is pick up some special treats they can munch on so they don't feel left out. For example, Claudia's Canine Bakery Holiday Spritz Cookies will make an antsy canine happy if it can't have the yummy foods from the table.

Holidays with Pets Can Be Uneventful

From the cat trying to climb the tree and eat the tinsel to the dog stealing turkey legs off dinner guests' plates, the holidays can get pretty crazy when you have pets in the house. However, a little prior planning and some good supplies can help make the season truly merry and bright for all involved—even those with fur and four legs. Be sure to stop by Feeder Supply to grab what you and your pet will need for the best holiday season.