Holiday Happiness for Cats (Part I)

The holidays are often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year. While most people will agree, the holidays can actually be quite stressful and even dangerous for our feline friends. With so many exciting new toys, like Christmas trees, lights and candles, cats can easily find themselves in precarious situations. As their human parents, it is our duty to make sure we keep them as safe as possible. This is a two-part look at how a little bit of cat proofing can help to provide a safe and happy holiday season for all.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are beautiful and we all know how irresistible they are to cats! There are videos of cats terrorizing trees are all over the internet and many are quite funny. As funny as the videos may be, unfortunately, Christmas trees are a big hazard for cats. In addition to containing oils which can cause mouth and stomach irritation in cats, ingesting the actual pine needles can lead to punctures or intestinal obstructions. Cats are quirky and like to drink water from strange places. Water in the tree stand can contain any combination of bacteria, insecticides, pesticides, preservatives, fertilizers and other toxic chemicals that are often fatal to cats and kittens. This can be easily avoided by covering the base of the tree with a cover, some foil or even a tree skirt.

Holiday Plants