Have a Happy Thanksgiving to our Cats!

What a year it has been! I know that a lot of you are by choice or by circumstance, planning on spending the Thanksgiving holiday at home with your fur family for company. To all those, I dedicate this blog where we will discuss how to have the safest and happiest Thanksgivings in this year of the pandemic.

First, when you permit Kitty to take off her mask to eat (just kidding), make sure you make her a plate of cat-friendly human food. If she eats the wrong food, you may just end of at the vet’s, not a place you want to spend the holiday. Cats stomachs are sensitive and gastrointestinal upsets are common if a food consumed is not appropriate for felines. So what is good for a cat plate?

You can prepare her a plate to include the following: unseasoned turkey meat without skin or bones or fat. Sides can include plain green beans or plain cooked carrots. Dessert can be plain pumpkin or chopped apples without the skin. It is important to stick to these rather boring ingredients, making sure cats do not sneak in the cooking or table scraps. As already mentioned, human food can prove downright dangerous. Too much fatty food which they will always crave, can result in vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis.

Next, let’s look at your holiday decor. Pumpkins, corn stalks, potted chrysanthemums and Indian corn may be considered interesting and intriguing by your fur family. But know this: Mums are toxic, and the other decor could be choking hazards. With this in mind, it is best to err on the side of “less is more” when it comes to autumn touches.

Next, we have scented candles and fireplaces. The dangers these present are obvious. Both candles and fireplaces attract Kitty with their dancing flames and flickering lights. However, we all know that hot wax is not good to get on anyone, and a spilled candle is a big fire hazard. Further, the feline set should never be left alone by the fireplace unattended. Flames can singe or burn their sensitive paw pads--at the very least.

After our safety concerns comes Stress Management 101 for Cats. As you know, cats thrive on routine and prefer to do the same thing at the same time in the same way every single day. But when it comes to Thanksgiving, their little world can be a bit unhinged, especially if there are new visitors or other disruptions to their usual routines.

If you have guests coming to visit, you should instruct them not to approach the feline population as cats will come around of their own accord in their own time, and certainly when they begin to feel more comfortable. After all, they feel as if their territory is being threatened. And, that is not always far from the truth!

It is especially helpful during the holidays to schedule special “me time” with Kitty. Making sure it is just you and she for a while will go miles to minimize her fears and raise her comfort level. A bit of slip-away and snuggle time will be what the doctor ordered.

Finally, if you have a designated cat club house, now is the time to make the best use of it. Maybe it’s a spare bedroom to which they can retreat and play with their favorite toys? Maybe it’s their Armarkat cat tree, where they can get away from it all and lounge above the fray? Either way, it is important for Kitty to feel that she is master of her domain and has the space to prove it!

How about treating Kitty to their own specially prepared Thanksgiving treat? The following is a sure-to-be popular snack you can prepare ahead, knowing that your fur family will be getting a nutritious, delicious taste sensation during the holiday:

Salmon & Sweet Potato Cat Treat

• §1 (14 oz.) can wild-caught salmon
• §1 1/2 cups sweet potato, baked and mashed
• §1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• §1/4 cup fresh parsley
• §silicone fish mold (Re-use the mold to make great fun shaped treats!)

Directions

Combine salmon and sweet potato in a large bowl and use two forks to break up larger salmon pieces while mixing it in with the sweet potato. In a food processor, pulse together oats and parsley until finely ground, then pour into salmon sweet potato mixture. Fold all together until incorporated, then spoon mixture into mold. Freeze for least 2-3 hours.

For more information, go to:

https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/a-safe-thanksgiving-with-cats?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Catster%20Ful%20List180%20day%20engaged%20and%20signups&utm_campaign=CED20201118

and

https://www.thedrakecenter.com/services/pets/blog/5-diy-treats-your-pets-will-enjoy-thanksgiving

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