The Spruce
You may be eager to get your place quick for the holiday time of year , but are your design kat - friendly ? The sight , scentsand sound of the vacation season can be tempting to our curious feline . Cats have intercourse toexplore novel objectsin the environment , peculiarly those that are lustrous or stringy . They may be attract to the smells of vacation repast cooking or scared by the phone of parties and event .
Christmas Trees
Imagine your cat ’s excitement when he or she see a immense tree diagram covered in what look like khat toys . alas , Christmas treescan be dangerous to cats .
Keep flimsy ornaments and dangerous decorations out of compass when decorating your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . If your quat still ca n’t seem to jib the tree diagram , you may call for to keep your African tea aside from this area when you are not home . Consider putting up the Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a room that can easy be closed off .
Ribbons and Tinsel
Many cats are ineffectual to stand firm something glistening or sparkly . slews of cat go ballock for string and laurel wreath . It ’s only lifelike that your cat will desire to toy with medallion and natural endowment wrapper accessories like ribbons , bows , string , tinsel , etc . The danger in this is that train - alike materials can stimulate a dangerouslinear foreign body obstructionthat requires surgical process .
obviate using sluttish tinsel or other string - same fabric and opt for safer items . you may decorate endowment with paper bows or thick material medal . Use Judy Garland made from beads or thick fabric ribbons to grace your tree and house . The tinsel chaplet that does not take long strings may be safe , but attend it out of reach just to be dependable .
Flowers and Plants
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Holiday plants and blossom can calculate nice in your home , but they can also attract a funny felid . At the very least , your cat may have damage by jaw parting , knock over pots or vas , or even using the soil as a litter box ! Unfortunately , nibble flora and flush could send your khat to the emergency brake vet .
painted leaf are known for theirtoxicity to cats , but they run to have only gently toxic effect . Holly and mistletoe are more dangerous if ingested . blossom such asliliesand amaryllis are especially severe . It ’s best to completely keep toxic plants and flowers out of your home . Choose non - toxic industrial plant or use silk flowers or else .
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Candles and Fireplaces
The warmth of a candle or fireplace is like a ambition come up true for most bozo . However , some Arabian tea ( peculiarly kitten ) may get too close to stay good . Your cat may singe her hairsbreadth if she explores too nearly . Your cat can also knock over a candle and cause a flame .
Always keep candles out of reach of your cat . Never result candles or fireplaces burn unsupervised . utilize a fireplace shield / guard to prevent your kat from get too faithful to the fire or metal part of the hearth that can burn cranky paws .
Electrical Cords
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To your true cat , an extension corduroy might look like just another string to play with . strand light may be even more tempting since they sparkle . If your cat prove to play with or chew on electric cords , she could end up getting burned or electrocuted . bent light up out of reach of your cat and secure promiscuous cords so they do n’t dangle or slide on the level .
Human Food
The odor ofholiday cookingcan attract cats , specially if you are progress to a juicy roast . You may want to give your cat an extra treat during the holiday , and that ’s not inevitably a uncollectible matter . Just verify to ward off foods that can make your cat sick . Most CT are not interested in eating toxic food for thought like onions , hot chocolate , and avocados . However , they may crave a mantrap that contain these ingredients . Also , your cat can develop vomiting or diarrhoea after consuming rich , fatty foods . in high spirits sodium foods can make health trouble as well . Dairy products may make diarrhea ( vets figure that about half of cats are lactose intolerant ) .
While it ’s fine to extend a small sliver of lean meat , avoid letting your hombre feast on the pan drip , drink the gravy or corrode the whipped cream off your remnant Proto-Indo European . verify treats make up no more than 10 per centum of your cat ’s daily food uptake .
If you think your cat has exhaust a poisonous intellectual nourishment , contact your veterinarian or an brute toxicant center ( fee may apply ):
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ASPCA Poison Control ( 888 ) 426 - 4435Pet Poison Hotline ( 800 ) 213 - 6680
Dressing Up
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There ’s no arguing that cat look adorable when they are get dressed up incute little outfits . Santa hat , elf costume , sweater and pucker crown all look irresistibly cute on cats . Unfortunately , your cat may not see affair the same means . Many cats despise wearing habiliment or accessory , especially on their heads .
Before you set forth dressing up your Arabian tea this holiday time of year , make indisputable you are not create unnecessary accent . The vacation season can be feverish enough for your cat . Why make thing worse by torturing her with those reindeer antler ?
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Houseguests, Noise, and Chaos
The holiday season is gay and filled with medicine and chatter . Many people have party or small get - togethers with friends and family . There may even be talk and saltation . New Year ’s Eve has pyrotechnic . All this may seem like fun to you , but what does your computed axial tomography remember ?
computed axial tomography are highly sensitive to make noise . Many are shy or uneasy around strangers . The oecumenical chaos of the holiday season can try out your computed tomography . verify you provide a safe , comfortable place for your cat to shroud . Ask guests not to leave doors heart-to-heart so your big cat wo n’t get out . well yet , close up your cat in a comfortable elbow room with soft beds , food , water , and a bedding box . verify guests sleep together the way is off - limits .
Travel Plans
Will you locomote during the holidays ? If so , what is the programme for your computerized tomography ? If your computerized tomography is not accustomed totraveling , it ’s in all likelihood best to allow her behind . Or , take steps to get your big cat used tocar traveling . You may be capable tofly with your computerized axial tomography , but most owner avoid this unless the trip is long - term .
If your cat is n’t coming with you , resolve where she will last out . A boarding facility is one option , but this is also something most cats dislike . Your CT wants to be at home with you , so being home alone is the next right choice .
Consider happen a pet sitter who will chew the fat the house at least twice a day to put out fresh food and water system and take up the litter boxes . Many best-loved sitter will stick around for a slight in sheath your cat wants some lap time or playtime . Your pet sitter may even text you daily pictorial matter of your computed axial tomography while you are away .
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Cats as Gifts
Giving someone a cat or kitten as a gift may seem like a sweet gesture , but it ’s a bad estimation . Cats given to children may be block once the vacation time of year run and the novelty jade off . Giving a African tea to an adult is asking quite a pot . Are you sure the person require to take on the duty of cat ownership ? What if the person need to choose their cat ?
Becoming a cat owner is a serious step for both youngster and grownup . Be sure the recipient is quick for the committal before you give the giving . Better yet , give a hombre collar or toy as a natural endowment and tell the recipient that you will go together to adopt a cat after the holidays are over .
Holiday Safety Tips for Cat Owners . VCA Animal Hospitals .
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cat-o'-nine-tails and Christmas Trees . Pet Poison Helpline
Deck the Halls With Holiday Plants – But Are They Toxic?Pet Poison Helpline .
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Panziera , Welden & Schwertzet al . Lily Poisoning in Domestic Cats . ActaScientiae Veterinari , vol . 47 , no . 357 , 2019 . doi:10.22456/1679 - 9216.89516
Winter holiday pet prophylactic . American Veterinary Medical Foundation .
Nguyen , P. et al . Sodium In Feline Nutrition . daybook Of Animal Physiology And Animal Nutrition , vol 101 , no . 3 , 2016 , pp . 403 - 420 . doi:10.1111 / jpn.12548
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Kornreich , Collins , share ' snort ' and don’ts for Halloween pet safety .. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine .
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