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| Pay special attention to cats on New Year's Eve to help keep them safe during the festivities. |
As 2007 comes to a close, celebrations to ring in 2008 can often frighten cats — particularly the loud noises and boisterous entertainment that come with traditional New Year’s Eve parties.
Veterinarians at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania encourage pet owners to pay particular attention to their cats and to watch for signs of anxiety. They also offer the following suggestions for New Year’s Eve:
1. If fireworks or other loud noises can be heard from home, keep cats indoors, preferably in a quiet area where they feel safe.
2. Play with cats rather than encouraging their fears. When pets show early signs of anxiety, such as pacing or trembling, try to distract them with play and treats. In the long term, this may teach cats to associate the stressful event with positive rewards. However, simply petting or soothing cats isn’t likely to make a difference and could reinforce nervous behavior.
3. Do not feed cats onions, macadamia nuts, alcohol or chocolate. These items are toxic to pets.
Keep these tips in mind to help pets ring in a happy, healthy — and less stressful — New Year’s Eve.