Selamat Hari Raya - The Complete 3-Part Guide For Cat Owners
- Justin Lim JH
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
Hari Raya Puasa is upon us, and it is one of the most joyful times of the year for families across Singapore and other south east Asian Muslim communities. This is the 3rd and final part of the Hari Raya special blogs lined up. So lets gather all the information we know and dive into the festivities.
Inviting guests
As we've previously discussed in a previous blog, cats run on instinct. During the busy Raya season there will be an influx of guests coming over to celebrate, but the noise and crowd might not be what your cat is used to. It is well known that cats can be overstimulated during any festive period, as they are particularly sensitive about unfamiliar sights and scents.
The go-to fix is to set up a quiet room before guests arrive. Put their bed, water, a familiar toy, and if possible (not always) some calming background music in there. Close the door. Check on them periodically, and resist the urge to drag them out to meet people. If they want to hide, let them hide. This will better regulate their stress levels, and is a preventive measure so that your cat does not develop something serious out of it.
Also brief your guests, especially young children, not to enter that room or chase the cat around, as even when domestic cats are cornered they may scratch or be hostile.
The food spread
The second-parter, we talked about the types of food to avoid giving to your cat.
The common foods you'd see at the table are Rendang, satay, ketupat, dodol, kuih. A good chunk of what's on the Raya spread contains garlic and onions. Both are toxic to cats, affecting their red blood cells in a way that can lead to a condition called haemolytic anaemia. The troubling part is that cooking does not remove the toxicity, and symptoms like vomiting, weakness, and pale gums may not appear until a day or more after ingestion. Plain, cooked chicken or fish are staple treats, as they come with digestible animal proteins.
Avoid giving specific Raya snacks to your cat to avoid unnecessary health complications.
Fireworks and Late-Night Noise
The 3rd-parter in this series is to manage noises from festive celebrations and gatherings.
Festivities often come with fireworks, whether from organised displays or neighbourhood celebrations. Cats can have strong fear responses to sudden loud noises. If fireworks are expected near your home, keep your pet indoors with windows closed, draw the curtains, and use white noise or music to dampen the sound.
You may also have the option to tire your pet out during the day before celebrations. Having your cat sleep soundly through the entire time would be an easy solution.
If your pet has a history of severe anxiety around loud sounds, speak to your vet before the festivities begin. There are safe, short-term options available that can make a real difference.
Selamat Hari Raya
Selamat Hari Raya to all our Muslim pet owners, may this festive period be merry! May these 3-parter blog series be of use to all of you, to keep both your cat and your guests safe from the loud happenings from the festivities.
References and Helpful Links
Comments