Keep Christmas Safe for Your Feline Friends

The holiday season is one of the most magical times of the year. The tinsel, gifts, friends and family provide constant wonder and excitement. But for many cat owners each year, Christmas is also a time of great danger. All of the trimmings and decorations that make Christmas so special can also make it deadly for your feline friend. Here are some of the most common dangers for cats over the holidays.

The Tree and Its Trimmings

Cats are notorious tree climbers. The only way to keep your cat from climbing the tree is to keep him away from it by putting in a room he cannot get into. Of course, if you cat is a member of the family, this is not practical.

Instead, do what you can to make the tree safe. Fake trees are safer than real ones, which have sharp pine, toxic needles your cat might be tempted to eat. If you must use a real tree, keep it watered, and make sure your cat cannot drink the tree’s water. The water could poison your cat.

Another danger is having the tree tip from the cat’s climbing antics. Keep the tree away from furniture the cat could use to jump onto the tree, and make sure the base is solid and sturdy. If you cannot keep your cat from climbing the tree, make sure it is well anchored to something sturdy.

Some tree trimmings are also dangerous. Make sure any trimmings that are within your cat’s reach are not breakable. Anything glittery and dangling is tempting for your cat. Tinsel is a choking hazard, and fake snow is toxic. Avoid these items. Keep your cat from chewing on the wires of the tree’s lights with a bitter apple spray.

Similarly, if you like to decorate your home with poinsettias, choose artificial ones. These plants are highly toxic if ingested, and your cat is likely to try to eat some of it. Even if you put the plant up high, it is still a danger because cats can climb and the plant will drop leaves.

Ribbon and Wrap

Christmas paper and ribbons are shiny and enticing to a cat, particularly a kitten. While it may be cute to see your cat play with these, do not give in. These can be quite dangerous. If they are swallowed, which is likely, they can cause fatal intestinal blockages. Even choking on the ribbon can cut up tender throats.

When opening your presents, dispose of all scraps of ribbon and paper immediately in a place that your cat cannot access. Again, leaving these out and available could be a fatal mistake.

Food

Some of the holiday food that you will be serving your guests is dangerous for your cat. If you choose to serve these treats, keep them out of reach of your cat, and inform your guests to keep their dishes off of the floor or any other cat-accessible surface.

Chocolate is toxic to cats, so keep the sweet treats away. An occasional piece of meat is fine, but do not feed your cat large quantities of your meat. This can lead to stomach upset. Chicken and turkey bones are never safe, as they will splinter and can puncture internal organs. Alcoholic beverages are another danger.

Fruits are an unexpected source of danger. Apples, apricots, cherries and plums all have a toxic cyanide type compound that can poison your cat, especially if the seeds, leaves or stems are consumed. Macadamia nuts can also be toxic, but not to all pets. It is best to avoid access of these to your cat just in case he has a sensitivity to them.

Remember, even the garbage can is not safe from a curious kitty. Make sure you take out the garbage at the end of the day so your cat doesn’t scavenge for food scraps during the night. By using common sense, you can keep your cat safe through the holidays.

Toxic Foods and Plants – additional reading

http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/humanfood.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1&aid=1029

http://www.entirelypets.com/toxicfoods2.html