Christmas is on its way and
the arrival of trees, guests and fancy food will all have an impact on your
cat. Cats Protection suggests
the following tips to make sure your pet’s festive season is a safe and happy
one….
Eleven things a-choking
Avoid
using tinsel and ‘angel hair’ as these can get stuck in cats’ throats. If your
tree is real, vacuum around it frequently – as well as being a choking hazard,
pine needles can hurt cats’ feet and cause infections.
Electrical cords for fairy lights could be mistaken for toys or prey, so keep them covered up to avoid disaster.
Nine candles burning
They
look pretty, but a fire won’t! Keep them out of your cat’s reach to avoid them
being knocked over or causing him an injury.
Eight gifts a-miaowing
Never
give cats as presents unless this has already been agreed with the recipient.
It goes without saying that cats are a commitment beyond the festive season and
are not to be treated as novelty gifts.
Several toxic plants
A
number of festive plants are potentially fatal to cats, including mistletoe,
holly, ivy and Christmas roses so choose carefully and keep them out of the
reach of moggies. For more information on which plants may be harmful to your
cat visit the International Cat Care website at www.icatcare.org
Six baubles swinging
Your
cat may well be tempted to biff dangling decorations, so it’s best to avoid
glass baubles as they could shatter.
Five dressed-up cats
Do
not be tempted to dress your cat up. You may think it makes him look ‘cute’, but
he’ll only feel stressed and demeaned.
Four calling guests
Having
friends and relatives to visit is part and parcel of the Christmas period, but
your cat may not wish to join in with the festivities. Ensure that he has a
quiet room to himself with his food, water and litter tray easily accessible.
If you have a real tree, the base should be a no-go area for puss. The water may contain preservatives applied to the tree that are poisonous to cats. Cover up the base so he can’t get at it.
Two turkey bones
You
may be tempted to share some tasty morsels with puss, but restrict this to a
small amount of boneless turkey for his Christmas dinner. Some rich foods –
like chocolate – are toxic to cats and should definitely be off the menu.
A kitten stuck up a tree
To
kittens in particular, the Christmas tree is a toy-toting gift in itself.
Discourage your feline friend from climbing it, but also ensure that its base
is as sturdy as possible in case he sneaks off on a festive mountaineering
adventure!
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