How To Keep Kitten Safe While At Work

Concerned about keeping your true cat safe during building works? Notice out how in our guide

If you're having building works done in your domicile, completing a total house renovation or just doing a few odd jobs, you might be concerned how this will affect your cat. While the dust, debris and countless upheaval tin feel more enough for usa humans, our feline family members can become very stressed during building works – and thanks to your cat's excellent power to hide their pain and stress, you might non e'er find. Take a look at our video below for top tips on how to help your cats cope during edifice works.

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Looking to go along your cat at-home, safety and happy while the builders are visiting? Download our visual guide and pivot it up in your home to remind you of our top tips.

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Why is my cat likely to exist stressed during building works?

In that location are a number of reasons why having renovations on your home can be tricky for cats to deal with.

• Cats are highly territorial. You might detect they tend to have more than than one favourite spot in the firm, for example. Having works done on your home leaves your cat with less infinite to enjoy, which can exit them feeling broken-hearted.
• Cats also thrive on routine – from their allocated fourth dimension for breakfast to their favoured sleeping infinite. Anything out of the ordinary, such every bit welcoming builders into your home, can disrupt their core territory and routine.
• Dissonance is likewise a factor. Cats spend 16 hours of their day snoozing, so it'south no surprise that cats and construction noise aren't really compatible. Sudden loud noises, such as those from power drills and saws, tin hands scare cats. Even if they announced to recover speedily, the fearful response that cats (and humans) are hardwired to have, releases the hormone adrenaline, and this volition stay in their bloodstream for some time. Y'all might find them appearing increasingly fearful, or detect a change to their normal behaviour.

Of course, nervous cats will also find information technology hard to have unknown people coming and going into their abode. Likewise as the new and unfamiliar scents of building work, there is the unfamiliar odor of strangers – something shy cats may notice especially hard.

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How can I tell if my true cat is stressed by building works?

Cats are clever creatures with subtle body linguistic communication, so you might not ever be able to tell if they are feeling stressed. It might surprise you to know, notwithstanding, that many of the signs of true cat stress are similar to those when your cat is in hurting. These can include:

• hiding or becoming more withdrawn than usual
• becoming less tolerant of people
• reluctance or hesitation when using the litter tray, using the cat flap or sitting on your lap
• eating or drinking less
• overeating
• a visible increase in anxiety or fear
• looking disturbed when sleeping or feign sleeping
• pacing, circling or actualization restless
• a scruffy or matted coat due to training less
• over preparation fur
• soiling or spraying in the firm

Notice out more almost stress in cats

What to do with cats during business firm renovations

If you're worried about the effect that building works may have on your cat, information technology is vital to plan ahead before you even plan in the works. This will depend entirely on your cat'southward personality, your private situation and the calibration of works yous're having on your home. If you're having a complete renovation, for example, or a number of rooms inverse around with plenty of noise and dust, it may be advisable to take your cat out of the home completely.

Consider placing them in a cattery or in a friend or family member'due south dwelling house for the duration. Again, y'all'll need to plan in accelerate every bit many catteries tin get booked up.

Of course, if you have a particularly nervous true cat and think it would be more than stressful for them to be uprooted from their habitation, it may be advisable to continue them in the house and follow our tips on how to proceed them calm.

Find out more about choosing a cattery

How to calm a cat during construction

If you're having small scale building works or need to keep your cat at home, what can you practice to help your pets during structure? There are a number of ways to assistance reduce your cat's stress.

• Go along your true cat's environment as similar equally possible. Ideally, keeping resources similar litter trays, food bowls and toys in the same place as usual will limit the corporeality of stress
• Likewise, maintain your routine as much as possible. Feed your cat when you would usually feed them and if possible, spend your evenings with them watching Idiot box or a like activity to keep normality
• Give your cat their ain infinite. Ideally, this would be a tranquility room away from the building works where they can get abroad from the noise if needed
• Provide your cat with plenty of places to get upwards high. Getting to a high spot allows cats to feel safe, providing them with a place to survey their environment. A cardboard box on a loftier shelf offers a groovy identify to hibernate, while a snuggly bed in a high spot is always welcomed
• Let them freedom to come and go. Ever make sure your cat tin can enter and exit the room as they please. Circumscribed them to a room is likely to brand them feel more than anxious
• Endeavour leaving a radio on a low level to go along them calm. You could also try a plug-in diffuser designed to keep cats calm, such as Feliway.
• Ensure your builders know where your cat is and to go along out of their manner

Painting with cats in the business firm

While painting a hallway or bedroom might exist seen as a much smaller job, some cats will still find the upheaval stressful and there are plenty of hazards to exist aware of.

When you are painting, brand sure to keep your cat away from the area. Cats are curious creatures and at best, you'll end upward with some interesting interior blueprint – at worst, your cat may try to lick the paint or end up with it on their paws or fur. Cat-proof your environment as you piece of work, making sure that any chemicals, paintbrushes and loose nails or screws are out of achieve. Highly territorial, cats often similar to sprawl out on painter'southward drop cloths or attempt to climb ladders – it is often easier to have them in a 'safe room' away from the painting site altogether.

Are pigment fumes harmful to cats?

Keeping your cat abroad from any chemicals involved in painting is advisable. The fumes from products such as varnish and paint remover also as rust removers and glue can all be dangerous if inhaled by your cat. If you suspect your cat has been poisoned, contact your vet immediately.

Find out more almost poisoning and cats

Source: https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/cats-and-building-works

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