For many people Christmas is a wonderful time of gathering, socializing and getting tasty things into your home. If you are over cozy at a time of the year can speak, then it is the Christmas period. Pets are all part of that and if you have pets, and cats in particular, there are some things you should pay attention to. That is better for humans and animals. What are the obstacles and what are the possibilities?
Bling bling
The shiny silver, the beautiful crystal or the shiny baubles, it’s all part of the Christmas season. Add to that fake snow, angel hair and the beautiful ribbons and you have the playground for the cat. But you have all that nice stuff at home to decorate the tree and the rest of the house and not as a toy for the cat (s). Your cat should be fine, but you also want to keep your things intact. That means that you have to think about what can and cannot end up in the living room during the Christmas period. In short, ask yourself: ‘is what will be placed in the living room, hang or lie catproof?’
How do you catproof the house for Christmas?
Source: Pixabay
Christmas tree
The beautiful large real pine tree is of course not catproof. Also not with root ball, so if you put a Christmas tree, realize that you can get rid of your needles relatively quickly. One cat thinks it can find a nice spot at the top and the other cat may stay on the ground, but will let the lower branches move nicely. Especially when it contains Christmas decorations.
There are also cats that want to eat the needles and that is very bad for the cat. The needles are quite poisonous. With a real tree, make sure that the water where the foot stands is covered. The water seems like a nice drinking bowl for the cat, but the water is also poisonous.
Then the artificial tree seems like the solution, but that is not entirely true. The plastic needles are also toys for the cat and if the cat ingests the needles, it can become clogged. If you are considering an artificial tree, consider the ones that are really very different. The trees made of plastic or wood are not that traditional, but certainly decorative and sometimes even artistic. There are standing models, but also hanging ones. The latter is also safer with the cat.
Whether you buy a real tree or an artificial tree, make sure it is not too large. A smaller tree is less interesting for the cat. Furthermore, the base, where the tree stands, must be solid and preferably with the largest possible surface on the ground. This makes the tree less likely to fall over if the cat jumps into the tree or against the tree.
Source: Pixabay
Christmas baubles
Fortunately, there is a great solution for the traditional Christmas bauble, the unbreakable plastic ball. In the early years they were still ugly balls without that beautiful sparkle, now you also have very nice sets with unbreakable balls, bells and houses.
If you still want to use the traditional balls, realize that the edges of a broken Christmas ball can cause cuts in the feet of the cat. So at least hang the balls and other decorations higher up the tree. After all, the cat taps the balls out relatively easily at the bottom of the tree. The higher, the safer is the motto.
Other Christmas tree decorations
Garlands, angel hair, fake snow, lights and other decorations, it is all equally beautiful for the cat. After all, they are wonderful toys. But the lights can shock the cat. The other ?? toys ?? in the tree can ruin your beautiful tree (if the cat tries to get them in the tree) and if the cat gets something inside, it can cause problems with the intestines. So be careful with this.
If you still want to apply these decorations, see if they are catproof. Angel hair and fake snow is never really catproof, but there are garlands that are made of stiffer material and that makes it slightly less interesting for the cat. There are also plastic bead garlands that are very decorative. Outdoor lights can take more and can therefore better withstand the claws of the curious cat. Outdoor lights come in large and small models and can therefore also be used indoors. An extra advantage with this set of lights is the fact that it has a much longer cord. Always useful if you have no electricity in the immediate vicinity of the tree.
Source: Ukanga, Pixabay
Candles
Candles are always cozy and therefore absolutely belong to Christmas. It is therefore important that they are placed in such a way that the curious cat is not suddenly without whiskers or tail hairs. A large wind light containing the candle can be the solution. If you want to work with a candlestick, make sure it is high enough, that the base of the candlestick is large and as heavy as possible and check that the candles are properly secured.
Food and drink
Christmas also includes good food and drink, but you also have to think carefully about what you put on the (coffee) table. Putting the cozy chocolate Christmas wreaths on the table is not really useful with a cat. Chocolate is poisonous to the cat (and to the dog), so put cozy glass containers with a lid on the table. This way you can see what is in it, people can enjoy it, but it remains out of reach of your cat.
Depending on what you are going to eat, there may be sticks in the meat. Do not allow this material to reach the cat. After all, it tastes like meat and the cat can gnaw on it. Splinters can have disastrous consequences for the stomach and intestines. When you start eating yourself, make sure that you also prepare a nice meal for the cat.
Finally
Christmas is a fun time for most people. Let it also be a pleasant period for the cats and take your precautions in time. Usually think carefully in advance and look for alternatives in the shops, enough to keep it cozy for people and animals during Christmas.
