It’s time to ring in the New Year and the big question is – how will those holiday plans affect your cat? If you’re hosting a party, you need to keep in mind that a lot of the things that make New Year’s Eve fun for us make it a not so great experience for cats. Here are some safety tips to make the experience safer and less stressful for your cat. 

Walk through your home and look for decorations, food and other things that may be harmful to cats. Decorations like balloons, streamers and tinsel are choking hazards for cats. Make sure they are out of reach so your kitty won’t be tempted to get into the wrong thing.

Those yummy beverages that make or break your party aren’t a good thing for your cat since alcohol can be toxic for pets. Make sure to keep glasses out of reach and clean up spills before they can lap up the left overs.

The same holds true for many of the foods you may serve – from appetizers to desserts to whatever is in between. Chocolate, caffeine, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, undercooked meat and eggs, onions, garlic, chives and milk all should be avoided by cats.

Noisemakers, some fireworks and loud music are all part of the celebration. Because your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than people’s, work at keeping the noise level down – or set up a quiet room for them.

If your cat wants to wander around during the party, watch for signs that the noise, lights or extra activity may be causing your cat to be stressed. Move your cat to a quieter area if that happens.

One of the best ways to keep your cat less stressed and out of danger for New Year’s Eve is to set up a quiet room for your cat. A bed, food, toys, crate and some quiet noise – like a TV on low – may help keep your cat from getting too stressed.

Make sure your cat is microchipped just in case he or she slips out. If your cat wears an ID tag, make sure the information is up-to-date just in case your cat gets out.