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Overview:
Christmas is
an exciting time for the family, but it always pays to take
some extra precautions with our pets. There are many dangers
around, below are some suggestions on how to ensure your cat
stays safe during the Christmas period.
Christmas
Tree/Decorations
The only
fool proof way to keep your cat away from your Christmas
tree is to put the tree in a room the cat can't
access. Unfortunately, this is often not practical. So the
next best solution is to make the tree as safe as
possible. Real Christmas trees are more dangerous to
cats than fake plastic ones. Pine needles can puncture
internal organs if eaten, they are also toxic to cats. If
you do have a real tree, make sure the drink stand has
plenty of water to prevent the tree drying out &
losing needles. It is important that your cat isn't able
to get to this water & drink it as it could result in
poisoning. Ensure the tree has a good solid base so it
won't easily be knocked over by your cat. Try not to have
the tree near furniture & or shelves which the cats
could use to jump onto the tree.
Be careful
with tinsel, if you must have it on your tree, place it at
the top of the tree where the cat is less likely to be
able to get at it. Tinsel can be caught around the base or
move down to the intestines & stomach & cause a
blockage, which will result in emergency (and costly)
surgery to remove it. A safer alternative are
the strands of beads. Ornaments should be securely
attached to the tree to prevent them being knocked off.
Also place delicate ornaments up high where they're less
likely to be knocked off & broken. When there is
nobody around, unplug Christmas lights, you may want to
try applying a cat repellent such as bitter apple to
the lights to deter your cat from chewing the wires,
obviously if this was to happen it could cause a fatal
electric shock.
Artificial
snow is toxic to cats, so is best avoided.
Candles are
especially popular over the Christmas holiday period, be
careful to make sure your cat can't get close to lit
candles.
Please
note, your cat isn't a novelty item & it's dangerous
to try & decorate your cat with ribbons etc.
Plants
Holly,
mistletoe, poinsettias are all popular plants to have in
the home at Christmas, especially in the northern
hemisphere. These plants are toxic to cats so should be
placed where your cat can't get to them. Please see our
page on common
household toxins for an extensive list on toxic &
non toxic plants.
Food/Sweets/Chocolate
Many cat
owners enjoy giving their cat the occasional treat of
"human" food & generally this doesn't harm
the cat. However, it is important to remember that
some foods which are fine for humans to eat can be toxic
to cats. The odd sliver of chicken or turkey (off the
bone) is fine, however it really isn't a good idea to give
them large quantities of such food as this can lead to
gastrointestinal problems. Never give your cat
cooked chicken or turkey bones, these bones can splinter
& can become lodged in your cat's throat or puncture
the intestines & stomach.
Chocolate is toxic to cats,
the darker the chocolate, the more toxic. Chocolate
contains both caffeine & theobromine, which are both
toxic. If you suspect your cat has eaten chocolate watch
for signs of restlessness & vomiting, if in doubt, see
your vet.
Cats will
often scavenge for food in the garbage so be aware that if
you've covered your turkey with foil & thrown it in
the bin, your cat may drag it out & chew on it which
could make the cat sick. Cooked turkey bones will also
attract your cat. Be aware of this & if possible, take
your food scraps etc., to your outside bin.
Xmas
ribbons/wrap
Ribbons
etc., pose the same problem as tinsel, if eaten, it may
lead to intestinal blockages. It's important to ensure all
ribbons/wrap etc., are safely disposed of.
Visitors
Some cats
love the attention of visitors, others find strangers in
their house stressful. Christmas is often a busy time with
visitors coming & going. Be mindful of your cat's
feelings & give the cat the option of somewhere quiet
to escape to should the need arise, this is particularly
important if your friends & relatives have young
children.
Holidays
If you are
going away on holiday, you have several options for your
cat. You may choose to put your cat in a boarding cattery
while you are gone. It is best to check out the premises
prior to taking your cat there so you can ensure the
cattery meets your standards. Any reputable boarding
cattery will insist your cat is up to date on it's
vaccinations, this is important for the well being of your
cat & all other cats they have boarding there. Many
vets also do boarding for cats but in my opinion this
isn't ideal for more than a few days as their cages tend
to be much smaller than those you'd expect to find in a
boarding cattery.
There are a
growing number of pet sitters available these days. They
will come over once or twice a day to feed & play with
your cat & to clean the litter tray. I find this most
suitable when going away for a few days.
If you are
going away for an extended period of time you may want to
consider asking a friend or relative to house sit.
Whichever
option you take, make sure you leave a phone number where
you can be contacted & your vet's telephone number in
case of an emergency.
Toys
When buying
toys for your cat, make sure you thoroughly check them
first. Similar precautions should be taken with your cat's
toys as you'd take buying a toy for a young child. Make
sure there is nothing glued on that the cat can pull off
& swallow. As the toy will quite likely be chewed on,
ensure that it's made from a non-toxic substance. There
are many wand like toys on the market which most cats
love, these should be put away safely when not in use
because the cat could become tangled on the string. Any
toy that is small enough for your cat to swallow is
dangerous & should be avoided.
Kittens
as gifts
Buying a
kitten as a gift is fine as long as the person receiving
the kitten has asked for a pet & knows that owning a
cat is quite likely to be a 15-20 year responsibility.
Never buy a pet as a surprise gift for somebody. Also,
because Christmas is usually such a chaotic time, it is
best to try & arrange to collect your kitten after
Christmas to avoid undue stress on the animal. Please, if
you are considering buying a pet as a gift, really think
it through before you do so. Pet ownership is a big
responsibility & shouldn't be entered into lightly.
Any shelter worker will tell you that their most busy time
of the year is just after Christmas people bring them
unwanted pets. Don't add to the problem by buying a pet
for somebody on a whim.
Ticks:
Ticks are
around from spring & into autumn.
Snakes:
Snake bite poisoning is a
very serious danger to cats, especially in the warmer
months.
Read here for more information on snake bites &
cats.
Heat
Stroke:
Another medical emergency is
heat stroke (also known as hyperthermia). If you
suspect your cat has heat stroke, seek veterinary
attention immediately.
Related
articles:
Keeping Cats off Christmas Trees:
Giving Cats As Gifts:
Cat
Toys & Gifts:
Chocolate Poisoning in Cats
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