How to Keep Kitty Safe this Christmas
Who doesn’t like the Christmas holiday season? Except, of course, the Grinch! Christmas lights, snow, cookies, presents, tinsel, red and green, Santa, family, friends, food, etc. etc. etc., Christmas is the best time of the year! Even cats enjoy the Christmas season! However, with Christmas comes potential danger for your kitty. How to keep kitty safe this Christmas.
FOOD
Holidays are always filled with all kinds of different food that normally would not be eaten any other time of year. From sweets to sours Christmas has it all. But should you be allowing your kitty to join you in your festive eating frenzy? Although we don’t want our kitty to feel left out, you should be cautious about what you feed your kitty cat this holiday season. Some of the Christmas treats that are not good for kitty include:
- Chocolate
- Gum
- Candy
- Yeast dough
- Onions
- Garlic
- Fat & bones
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
To read all about why these foods are not good for your kitty see our earlier article titled Just Because You Eat it Does Not Mean Your Cat Should. So your cat does not feel left out, be sure to pick up some special “cat” treats this Christmas.
DECORATIONS
Lights, tinsel, presents, ribbons, etc. these are the things that make up your holiday displays. However, hidden in the Christmas wonderland are dangers that could harm your cat. Christmas is a happy time of year for everyone. Make sure that your kitty stays safe and happy by being aware of the holiday decorations that could be hazardous for your kitty. Some of the holiday items that you should be aware of include:
- Ornaments (especially glass)
- Hooks
- Lights
- Wires
- Liquid Potpourri
- Water from live tree
- Flocking
- Tinsel
- Ribbons
- Burning candles
Cats are naturally curious creatures therefore, getting into trouble is what they do best. Who can’t resist the sight of shiny ribbons? Yes they are beautiful, but ribbons are dangerous to your kitty if he or she ingests them. Cats love to chew on things, especially holiday: ribbons, tinsel, wires, etc.. Once ingested, it can tear up their intestines and cause your cat either to vomit or get lodged inside. Chemicals from tree water and potpourri can also be toxic to kitty if he drinks it. Don’t let your bright holiday become dark with a visit to the veterinarian, keep an eye on your cat this Christmas. Of course, it is impossible to keep a constant eye on your cat all of the time so be sure that dangerous things such as burning candles are kept out of reach of kitty.
LIVE PLANTS
Christmas would not be Christmas with out the smell of pine. Live plants tend to attract cats. Chewing on live plants is a cat’s specialty. Cats love greenery! It does not matter if it is fragrant or not, cats will usually try anything at least once. While some plants will just cause your kitty to suffer a upset tummy others can be deadly. Holiday plants to watch out for include:
- Mistletoe
- Holly
- Lilies
- Pine
- Spruce
- Fir
- Amaryllis
These are the live plants that are the most toxic to your kitty. Ingesting any of these live plants can lead to GI problems, vomiting, heart problems and can also lead to death. Other plants such as poinsettias and Christmas cacti will only lead to a mild case of stomach upset.
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for you and your kitty. Keep your kitty safe this season by being aware of the seasonal dangers and taking precautions ahead of time to prevent your kitty from getting into trouble.
