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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Cat Safety for Christmas

You do everything you can to keep your family members safe. At Halloween, you check your kids' candy to make sure it's mischief-free. For Fourth of July, you discourage your cousin Ed from chewing on firecrackers (well, most of the time). Now that the winter holidays are approaching, it's your cats' turn for a little extra TLC. Read on for some pointers.

If you have a Christmas tree -- and a live one at that, never let your cat drink from the water in the tree's stand. Chemicals sprayed on the tree, not to mention toxic tree sap, leach into the water. Spray the tree skirt with a deterrent to keep Fluffy away. Better yet, go for an eco-friendly artificial tree... you'll save on cleanup time and save hours shopping for a tree each year.
If you decorate a Christmas tree this year, be sure and avoid use of tinsel. Tinsel, though shiny and wonderfully spaghetti like, will not agree with your cat's intestines.
Stabilize that tree. If you have an acrobatic kitty, he or she may eventually try to climb that bit of nature you've brought indoors. The last thing you want on a "silent night" is to have to call out "Timberrrrr!"
Be wary of mistletoe and poinsettias, which if nibbled on by your feline companion, can damage their liver and kidneys... eventually proving fatal. Try using imitation plants, or if you must use the real thing, place them out of kitty's reach.
Ribbons and wrapping may look great on your gifts, but be wary of using any long, dangly ribbons or daubles which may be tempting for kitty to nibble on. The last thing you want on Christmas Eve is a trip to the emergency vet because your cat has eaten several feet of silver and gold ribbon.
Do not feed your cat rich people-food... especially anything containing coffee or chocolate, which is toxic to cats This goes for all year long, of course, but please resist the urge to bestow your generosity on your fluffy friend in this manner.
Candles, while pretty, are a hazard to cats...and if they get tipped over, to your entire household. Please limit their use, place them strategically so your cat can't reach them, or avoid them altogether.
Ah, visitors. While you may love them, your cats may not... and the feeling may be mutual. Be especially cautious if the guests have children who may not know the proper way of treating an animal. If you're not sure how visitors will react to your pets, keep them safely in a bedroom or separate part of the house until your guests depart.
If you are giving your cat(s) cat toys as presents, check them first to make sure that they are not too small to be swallowed or choked on, and that all small pieces are stitched or glued on thoroughly to survive the chewing process.
Last but not least... please never give a cat or kitten as a holiday present. This goes for dogs, too. Animals are not things, and once the glow of the season passes, the recipient will awaken to find that they've been committed a life-long commitment to care for this little fluff ball. This is an especially poor choice if the gift is made to a child.