While you’re making drinks, serving snacks and keeping the conversation going, your pet is wondering what’s going on. Furniture isn’t in its usual place, there’s a world of new smells and every five minutes a different person arrives. From the Pet Loyalist point of view, party season is great. For your pet, it can feel overwhelming.
Scent is a major part of this. Cats’ and dogs’ noses are far superior to humans. While we have 6 million olfactory receptors, cats and dogs have 200 and 300 million, respectively. They live in a whole different universe of scent, and processing all of that requires a huge amount of energy.
Noise is another challenge. Loud music, guests laughing, the sounds of the house being rearranged, the doorbell going off… your pet is hyper aware of all of it. Dogs might become super alert, and cats often retreat or hide.
All of these experiences can leave your pet feeling overloaded. So, we’re here for some party planning support with a checklist of things to do pre-, during, and post-event to make the whole thing a little easier on the cats and dogs of the world.
The pre-party checklist
1. Introduce a supplement
Before you’ve bought food or even sent the invites, introduce a calming supplement that can support your pet’s nervous system, and make the big day a little easier to manage. Ideally you’d start it three to four days, or up to a week in advance to give the calming nutrients a chance to build up, and help your pet adapt to the change.
WellJoy has dual-benefit Calming+ Supplements for both cats and dogs – they deliver gut wellbeing support via our signature GutBoost™ formulation, to make sure the gut is balanced and ready for the calming ingredients designed to support your pet’s nervous system.
2. Establish some ground rules before guests arrive
All pets deserve to have a say in social interactions, and any good Pet Loyalist is ready to advocate for their pet, and ask guests to give them the space they need.
Some good basic rules of thumb: no leaning over pets, no hugging, no picking up and no unapproved treats. Encourage your guests to (politely!) ignore your pets at first, so they can make the decision about whether to socialize or not.
If you know you’ve got generous guests visiting, you might want to set up a designated treat jar with a set amount of treats that they can dispense.
Setting up boundaries in advance can prevent issues from arising, and help your pet feel safer, more in control and more able to relax.
3. Set up a lair
Safe spaces are key. Use baby gates to fence off areas, or set up closed, people-free rooms (don’t forget litter box access) or quiet zones. Then, be prepared to be strict with guests about not disturbing pets that are resting. Cats will appreciate some extra vertical spots to escape to, like cat trees or shelves, and excitable dogs (particularly young pups) might need to stay on the lead.
4. Keep things manageable
Knowing exactly how big a party to throw depends on your pet. Think about how confident and sociable your cat or dog is, and how that might impact your plans. Smaller gatherings are generally better for pets, but this comes down to their individual temperament.
And lastly, if you’ve just welcomed a new pet into your home, you might want to re-schedule your party plans. Vets recommend avoiding socializing for the first 2-3 weeks, and instead prioritizing bonding time, and getting them used to a safe, predictable routine.
On the big day
1. Stick to your normal routine
As much as possible, follow the usual schedule of feeding and walking – this is your pet’s emotional anchor, so try and avoid disrupting it. Dogs or cats that are bundles of energy might benefit from a long walk or good play session to get some of the extra energy out before guests arrive.
2. Snacks at the ready
You can keep your pets busy by having some snufflemats, lick mats, frozen stuffed toys or food-dispensing toys on-hand, as well as a favorite chew toy – if you’ve got a dog that’s a determined gnawer. And don’t forget to keep alcohol, chocolate, fatty foods, bones or skewers tucked safely out of the way of intrepid, counter-surfing cats or dogs.
3. Stagger guest arrivals
As well as being clear about your pet’s boundaries, you can make the influx of people less stressful by staggering arrivals and asking them to avoid knocking on the door. You might assume your cat or dog will be delighted to see their favorite friends and family members, but arriving as a large group can be overstimulating for pets.
4. Be firm with guests
You can make pet-human introductions and encounters less stressful by reminding visitors to respect your pet’s body language, and only interact if both sides are happy to.
Here’s some quick cat and dog social rules as a guide:
Cats:
- Don’t: stare or reach directly. Cats like to make the decision about when or if to interact.
- Don’t: Hover over them. Instead extend a hand, and see if they invite pets by rubbing it with their head or cheek (slow blinking and loosely upright tails are green lights for affection).
- Don’t: try and lure the cat out with treats if they’re hiding, or force an interaction.
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Don’t: pet the belly or paws. For the Cat Loyalists reading, we know, this is practically one of the seven deadly sins, but it’s important to communicate this to guests.
Dogs:
- Don’t: lean over the dog or stare at them. Avoid being head-on, and give them the opportunity to approach you, and have a good sniff so they can gather information.
- Don’t: make sudden movements. Keep your hands low, and if you’re sharing a treat, toss it on the floor so the dog doesn’t have to interact to take it.
- Don’t: move towards a dog if they’re frozen, barking or trying to escape. This is a sign to stop and create distance.
Lastly, it’s best if guests don’t bring their own pets along as this can add to the stress. If there’s no avoiding this, ensure any visiting pets meet in a neutral place outside the home to begin with, and watch for any signs of tension between them.
5. Keep an eye on your pet’s behavioral signals
Dogs and cats will display subtle signs that they’re not entirely comfortable – such as yawning, flat ears, being very still, grooming excessively, hiding or refusing food. And for our readers that are a joyful multi-pet household, it’s good to remember that in stressful situations like parties, pets can get irritable with each other too.
If you’re noticing these signs, putting your pet in another room is a relief rather than a punishment. Some time to themselves along with comfy bedding, water, a litterbox and maybe some white noise or calming music can give them some much-needed downtime.
The recovery
It’s the day after your party, there’s cups and plates everywhere and all you want to do is lie on the sofa and nap. Your pet might feel the same. Elevated stress hormones from the big day can linger for up to 72 hours, which means they need time to recalibrate.
Post-party, the kindest thing you can do is let your pet rest. That means plenty of quiet, no big walks, and every opportunity for them to sleep so their brains can process the experience. Keep up your normal routine, and don’t pressure your pets to interact with you – you’re there as a nearby, familiar and calming presence.
“Trust returns fastest when pets feel respected, not coaxed. So let them come to you when they are ready, sit nearby without engaging and offer a calm presence; don't pressure them to interact with you.”
Kathryn Miller DVM, CVFT, CPFFCP, CVNAN, PCQI
Understanding why big social events can be stressful for your pets is the first step to knowing how to adapt them accordingly. With a few extra adjustments, some advice to your guests, and an awareness of what behavior to watch out for, you can make party time joyful for humans and animals alike.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.