Holiday Safety for Cats

Our resident cat expert, Wendy Nan Rees, offers advice on trimming a cat's nails.

Cats are naturally curious.

I know I have talked about safety before, but as I have found out first hand, you can never be too careful. That is why this week’s tip is about holiday safety and your cat.

The reason I wanted to write this column is due to a conversation I had with my friend Ruthie. We were talking one day recently about Christmas and the challenges we personally have as pet owners. I don’t have cats of my own, but Ruthie does, and she told me that they don’t have a Christmas tree. So naturally, I asked her why. She told me that for her to keep her sanity without having to take a trip to the vet every other day, not having a tree was the best way to go.

I was intrigued, so I asked her what kind of problems her cats could get into. After she told me that they climb trees outside, and would be thrilled to have one in the house to climb, I started doing some research. This is a list of the things I found out can be dangerous for cats around the holiday season.

1. The Christmas Tree: the needles, the stand, the water, ornaments and tinsel
2. The food: Chocolate
3. The Plants: Poinsettia, Mistletoe, Pine boughs

If you use a real Christmas tree, not only is the pine tar toxic to your cats, but the needles are a danger for felines because they could puncture your cat’s intestine if swallowed. The ornaments can be a hazard because they are so tempting just hanging there. What cat wouldn’t want to stop and play with all those dangly things? Tinsel can be ingested and cause stomach or intestinal problems as well.

Here are some suggestions for how to keep your cat safe around the Christmas tree. Place your tree in a safe place, maybe a room your kitty does not go into. If this is not an option, get yourself one or two inexpensive spray bottles that have a “stream” option. Put them around the room the tree is in, and when you see your cat going near the tree, say “NO” firmly and loud enough for your cat to hear. If he or she doesn’t listen, spray the cat with the water bottle. You may have to repeat this a few times, but the cat will get the message.

Make sure that the stand you put your tree in is sturdy and can’t be tipped over easily. If you don’t want to purchase a new stand, you could try putting pebbles or stones in the stand with the water. The stones will add weight to your stand and make it harder for the tree to tip over. As for the water, instead of using a commercial tree preservative, use sugar water. The tree will soak up the water, and even if your cat drinks it, it won’t be toxic to them. Use a formula of about three parts of water to one part of sugar. If you warm up the water, it will make it easier to dissolve the sugar. Just make sure that the water is room temperature when you put it in the stand.

Also, it would be a good idea to place your ornaments, tinsel and other tree decorations out of your cat’s reach. Don’t forget, this means stretching length also because some cats will stand on their hind legs to reach something that is of interest. Pine trees can cause death so please be careful!

The food we have during the holidays can also be dangerous. Even the smallest amount of holiday chocolate can harm your cat so you must watch very carefully, and make sure that if there is chocolate in the house, you keep it out of the cat’s reach. The holiday dinner can also harm your cat since this meal is usually high in fats and sodium. Too much of these items can give your pet a very upset stomach. If you serve turkey, make sure that all the bones are put into a secure garbage container or taken directly outside after the meal is finished. This way, there is no possibility of your cat getting a bone stuck, or chewing on one that can splinter and cause an internal puncture.

If alcohol is served, make sure none is placed within your cat’s reach. They may be attracted by the sweet smell of a glass of wine, and could end up with alcohol poisoning as a result. Clear any leftover wine glasses from the table immediately, or make sure your guests take the glass along if they go into another room.

Remember plants like poinsettia and mistletoe are dangerous, as they are poisonous. Keep them out of reach, and if your cat looks as if it is in distress, call your veterinarian immediately.

Don’t forget about your cat’s curiosity with bags and tissue paper because these items can lead your cat into trouble. If possible, put the gifts under the tree Christmas morning or keep them off the floor completely. Before then, keep gifts and all your holiday trimmings in a safe room where kitty will not go. This way, all of you will have a safe and fun holiday season.

“Remember the animals in your life are not just your pets they’re your friends” WNR

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