- ⏱️ 7 min read
- 🐱 Cats first
- 🐶 Dogs too
- 🦃 Thanksgiving hosting
The doorbell rings, and your cat sprints for the bedroom. You will not see them again until the last guest leaves. Or your dog is the opposite: barking, jumping and unable to settle all afternoon. With family staying for the holidays, you want your pet to feel safe, not just survive the visit.
Hiding is a normal way for a cat to cope with strangers, and the kind answer is to make hiding easy, not to pull your cat out. In this guide, Petstone sets out a simple before, during and after plan for cats and dogs, the stress signs to watch for, and when it is time to call your vet.
Quick answer
- Let your cat hide. Never pull a cat out or force them to meet guests.
- Set up a quiet room before anyone arrives, with water, a bed, a hiding spot and a litter box.
- Ask guests to ignore your pet and let your cat or dog approach on their own terms.
- Keep an excited dog on a leash or behind a gate, and give them a stuffed chew toy to settle with.
- Call your vet if fear is severe, lasts long after guests leave or gets worse.
Why cats hide when guests come over
To a cat, a full house means new smells, loud voices and people reaching out to touch them. Hiding gives your cat control. The Fear Free Happy Homes team advises making sure "elevated and floor-level hiding areas are easily accessible", rather than trying to coax your cat out.
Holidays add extra triggers that both cats and dogs can find hard:
Doorbells and doors
Arrivals come in waves, and every ring starts the alarm again.
Noise and crowds
More voices, music and kids running through the house.
Unwanted attention
Guests who reach for, stare at or chase a pet that wants space.
Changed routine
Late meals, skipped walks and a kitchen full of tempting smells.
Overnight stays
Guests sleeping in your pet's usual rooms for days at a time.
Which signs show your pet is stressed by guests?
- Hiding or trying to get out of the house
- Trembling, lip licking or yawning (often seen in dogs)
- Avoiding people or usual activities
- Growling, barking, scratching or biting when someone gets close
These signs come from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, which calls hiding or trying to leave one of the biggest signs of stress. It also warns to watch for doors left open as guests come and go. Growling or scratching can mean a pet feels threatened by unwanted attention, so give them space.
For more on body language, see Petstone's guides 9 Signs Your Cat Is Stressed and 9 Signs Your Dog Is Anxious.
How to set up a quiet room before anyone arrives
Pick a room your pet already likes, away from the front door and the kitchen. Set it up the day before, so it smells familiar by the time guests arrive.
- Add the basics: water, food, a bed and, for cats, a litter box.
- Give cats choices: one high spot, such as a shelf or cat tree, and one covered spot on the floor.
- Add a calm job: a food puzzle or a few small treats to find. The Fear Free team suggests turning a favorite room into a cat "spa".
- Keep it closed to guests: put a note on the door so nobody lets your pet out by mistake.
- Move your pet in before the first doorbell, so arrivals happen on the other side of a closed door.
Plan a long play session or walk before guests arrive. Texas A&M notes that tiring out a dog or cat beforehand can help them rest during the party.
What to tell your guests (and what not to do)
Most stress comes from well-meaning people. A short message to your guests before they arrive makes a big difference:
- Please ignore the cat: no petting, staring, talking to or reaching for them, even if the cat comes close.
- If the cat stays nearby, gently toss a tiny treat to the side, then look away.
- Keep the quiet room door shut, and check that outside doors close behind you.
- Follow the house plan for the dog: either ignore the dog, or ask for a calm sit before offering a treat.
- Children play with pets only when an adult is watching.
The cat tips come from Fear Free Happy Homes. The dog tips come from the American Kennel Club, which also suggests keeping an excited dog on a leash and bringing a dog out only after the first rush of greetings is over.
How to help a dog settle during the visit
Dogs often show stress as too much energy rather than hiding. The AKC suggests putting your dog in a crate or another room before guests arrive, rewarding calm sits and downs with high-value treats, and offering a stuffed chew toy in a quiet retreat. Make one family member responsible for the dog, so nobody assumes someone else is watching.
For more ideas, read How to Keep Your Dog Busy When Guests Come Over for the Holidays.
What else helps a nervous pet over the holidays?
A quiet room and calm guests come first. Some owners also add a calming product for the busiest day. Options include a plug-in diffuser in the quiet room or a calming chew given ahead of time.
UBACALM is a beef-flavored soft chew made to help support calm, relaxed behavior in dogs and cats. It is given by weight, 30 to 60 minutes before a known event such as guests arriving. Results vary, so try it on a quiet day first and ask your vet before you start.
See the UBACALM soft chewsNot sure a chew is worth trying? Our guide Do Calming Chews Work? What to Expect Before Holiday Guests compares chews, diffusers, a quiet room and vet options side by side.
After the visit: when to talk to your vet
Give your pet time. Keep the quiet room open, put the furniture back where it was, and return to normal meal and walk times as soon as you can. Let your cat come out when they are ready. If your pet seems calm by the next day, that is a good sign the plan worked.
- Your pet's fear is severe, or they growl, snap or bite
- Your pet hides, will not eat or will not use the litter box long after guests have gone
- Stress around visitors is persistent or getting worse
- You are planning a big gathering and your pet has struggled before
Texas A&M notes that owners can talk to their veterinarian about short-acting medicine for party stress, and that some pets do better at a boarding facility or a friend's home.
Shop this guide at Petstone
Simple ways to give your pet a calm corner while the house is full.
UBAVETUBACALM Calming Soft ChewsA chew for dogs and cats before guests arrive.View product
PetstoneCozy Indoor Cat Cave BedA covered hiding spot for the quiet room.View product
SodaPupAutumn eMat Lick MatA calm licking job in the quiet room.View product
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FAQ
Should I make my cat come out to meet guests?
No. Forcing contact usually makes fear worse. Let your cat hide, ask guests to ignore them, and let your cat choose when to come out.
How long will my cat hide after guests leave?
It varies by cat. Many come out once the house is quiet again. If your cat keeps hiding, will not eat or skips the litter box after the house is quiet again, call your vet.
Should my dog meet guests at the door?
Not if your dog gets overexcited or nervous. The AKC suggests keeping your dog in a crate or another room as guests arrive, then bringing them out once things calm down.
Can I give my pet a calming chew before guests arrive?
Some owners do. Choose a chew labeled for your pet's species and weight, try it on a quiet day first, and ask your vet before starting.
Sources
- Fear Free Happy Homes: Does your cat hate company? Help her cope (hiding spots, retreat room, guests ignore the cat, tossing treats)
- Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine: Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips (stress signs, open doors, exercise beforehand, vet options, boarding)
- AKC: How to Help Your Dog Handle Holiday Visitors (leash, crate or separate room, rewarding calm, chew toy, briefing guests, supervising children)
Prepared by the Petstone team from product information, brand specifications and common owner questions, drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person before publishing.