Christmas a creeping closer, and things are feline festive at VetzPetz HQ. We’ve got the twinkly lights up, and we’re ready for Santa Paws. But is your house ready for Christmas with your feline friend? Let’s look at ways you can cat-proof your home this holiday season.
Which is best for cats, real or fake Christmas trees?
It’s really up to you. Both have their hazards. Real trees, if chewed (or the water drunk), can cause skin and digestive irritation. Fake trees can result in bits of plastic clogging up your cat’s digestive system. So it’s really up to you; as long as you keep watch when your cat is around the tree, you should be able to keep them safe.
Ways to prevent your cat from knocking over the tree
This is a classic at Christmas. It’s just so tempting; your cat can't resist trying to climb the tree, so what can you do to avoid it?
- Use a heavy base. For a real or fake tree, a heavy, sturdy base will help keep your tree upright.
- Wrap the lower trunk in tin foil. Cats hate the feel of foil, so it will put them off the idea of climbing.
Put your decorations higher up the tree
Alright, this may result in a slightly odd-looking Christmas tree, but if your sparkly decorations are higher up the tree, your cat will be less tempted to bat them all off.
Avoid glass decorations and tinsel, and move your lights
Glass decorations are likely to smash if your inquisitive cat bops them off of the tree, which is hazardous for your cat and the rest of the family. Tinsel, like fake trees, is also a hazard, so if possible, stick with plastic or natural decorations and avoid glass and tinsel.
When it comes to the twinkly lights, if you place them deeper into the tree, you’ll still get that gorgeous twinkle, but the wires will be less tempting to chew as they’re less visible.
Avoid Christmas plants like poinsettia or the berries from holy and mistletoe
Beautiful and traditional though they are, Poinsettia and the berries of holly and mistletoe are all toxic to cats. Perhaps consider artificial ones instead?
Signs of Christmas plant poisoning in cats
If you think your cat might have been chewing on a Poinsettia or munching on the mistletoe here are some signs to look out for—make sure you get them to a vet as soon as possible.
- Drooling
- Licking lips
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin irritation (including redness, swelling, and itchiness)
- Eye irritation
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Abnormal heart rate
- Staggering
- Difficult breathing
- Seizures
- Collapse
Watch the wrapping!
Did you buy your cat some irresistibly tasty or catnip-filled toys? Don’t put them under the tree with your other gifts; their smell might be too delicious, and you’ll end up with the gift wrapping destroyed on everything they can get their claws on as they attempt to open them!
Keep delicious Christmas food out of your cat's reach
Many of our Christmas favourites are poisonous to your cat, such as chocolates, cherries, onions, and garlic. Plus, if your cat gets their teeth into a cooked meat bone, it can splinter and cause lacerations in their digestive tract. No fun for anyone. So keep the Christmas food out of reach.
Plug in some feline pheromones
Things might feel a bit stressful for your cat during the holiday season, so get a plug-in pheromone diffuser or try a calming pheromone collar to help them feel calm during the festivities.
Have a Festive Feline Christmas
With all the catproofing done, it’s time to get down to some serious Christmas celebrations! Crack out the catnip and dig into your Christmas dinner.
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