Keeping Your Cat Safe During Thanksgiving

Q: How can I make sure my cats enjoy a safe Thanksgiving while I am entertaining?

A: We all enjoy Thanksgiving and there are certain things you can do to make sure your kitties don’t get into trouble during the festivities. I remember a friend had a pretty scary experience with her cat, Sue (yes, she was a cat named Sue) that we can all learn from.

She had a large number of guests and cleaned up as best as possible after they had gone but didn’t put the trash away. She woke up in the middle of the night to a loud thumping sound. Thankfully she did wake up! Her cat Sue had gotten into the garbage and found an empty can of gravy and put her head inside to lick the remnants. Unfortunately, she got her head stuck in the can and could not get out. She ran around the house in a panic, thumping into walls to try to get free, only making the can tighter around her neck. Fortunately, my friend heard the racket, raced out of her bedroom, and freed poor Sue. She was one scared kitty but just fine. We don’t want to think about what might have happened, but I know that Sue never went near the garbage again.

Needless to say, please seal all garbage in trash bags and either take it outside or store away from curious kitties. During the preparation and dinner, keep your cats out of the dining area where they might get into mischief. You don’t want them jumping up on hot stoves or getting underfoot with small children who mean well, but could give them food they shouldn’t eat. Large crowds and lots of noise and excitement can scare cats and you don’t want them accidentally running out an open door. I think it's best to keep them safe and secure in a separate room behind closed doors with all their essentials - food, water, litter and toys until everyone goes home and the cleanup is complete. Afterward, make sure you reward them with lots of turkey-flavored cat treats. As always, I welcome your comments and stories and wish you and your kitties a very Happy Thanksgiving!