How to have a pet friendly holiday

Written by Karma Cat Rescue Society volunteers Jacqueline R. and Aza J.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year …

Keep Your Tree Safe

Real trees are considered mildly toxic to cats when chewed or ingested. Fake trees are not as dangerous in this way, but be aware that pieces can still break off and create a digestive blockage or choking hazard. Here are a few tips to keep your tree safer:

• Anchor Your Tree: Some cats love to climb and love a challenge even more! Make sure your tree is well secured to the ceiling or wall. You can use eye hooks and fish line, or a really heavy, sturdy tree base.
• Choose a Safe Location: Keep your tree away from anything your cat already likes to climb, like cat trees, scratching posts, counters, furniture, and bookshelves. These are potential launch zones for your cat to jump up into the tree. Some cats sneak around and try to climb by starting at the bottom. Protecting the base of the tree by preventing access to the base may be your best bet.
• Block Off Tree Water: Some of the chemicals added to the trees to help them stay green can be toxic to pets and make them sick. Place a cover over the base or use tinfoil or a tree skirt to prevent a cat from getting into the water.
• Cover Electric Cords: Kitties love to chew, and chewing on a live wire can be dangerous, so cover those cords with a cord protector, tree skirt, or other safe material.

Be Smart About Decorating

Anything new and shiny can be irresistible for your cat, so give kitty some time to adjust to the tree being in the house before you decorate it.

Once you do start decorating, keep dangly breakable ornaments out of reach. Glass ornaments and ornament hooks can cause puncture wounds and serious harm. Also keep ribbon and tinsel far away from kitty’s claws – they can cause intestinal blockage if swallowed. Here’s a quick list of items to keep an eye on:

• Metal Ornament Hooks
• Tiny Holiday Decorations that are Easily Swallowed
• Fake Snow (it is toxic)
• Tinsel
• Long Ribbons or String

Plants

Here’s a list of plants we often have in our homes around the holidays that can be toxic to our furry friends. For a comprehensive list of plants that are safe/unsafe for animals, please visit the ASPCA list here.

• Poinsettias
• Lilies (extremely dangerous)
• Mistletoe
• English Ivy
• Rosemary Topiary
• Holly
• Amaryllis

Candles

Candles are a beautiful addition to your home during the holidays. Sometimes kitties like to push things over or may get to close, so be careful! If they are placed too low or in a spot easily accessed by a pet, they may knock them over or brush against them accidentally. It’s important to never leave a burning candle unattended in the house.

Candles can also pose respiratory risk to pets. Some scented home products may produce a reaction to your pets, so keep an eye out for signs of sneezing, watery eyes, or trouble breathing during and after candle use.

Once you’ve done a check and made sure your holiday home is safe for your furry friends, make a cup of something warm, cozy up in front of a fireplace, binge the latest streaming series, and call for your kitty to join you for some snuggles!

From all of us at Karma Cat Rescue Society, we wish you and yours the very best of the holiday season!