Holidays: A Dangerous Time for Your Cat

Keeping you cat safe during the holidays can be hard. There are numerous things you have to do to get your cat ready for the holidays. Your vet can give you more specific instructions, but I have listed some here for your convenience.

Flowers: No holiday is complete without decoration and sometimes decorations include flowers. If you have toxic flowers in your home, remember to place them very high where you cat cannot reach them. Some of the most popular flowers that are harmful to your pet include bleeding hearts, calla lilies, poinsettias, daffodils, Easter lilies, irises, ivies, tulips (the bulb part), and a number of other plants. Most cats will not go out of their way to eat these things, but to be on the safe side, put them in a place where your cat won’t reach them. Better yet, don’t bring those flowers into your home at all or opt for fake plastic versions. There are many kinds of plants that can harm your cat, so check with your vet to make sure before bringing new kinds of plants into your house.

Guests: Unless you are visiting relatives or going out during the holidays, you can expect guests. Guests can be very scary for your cat, unless he or she is used to unknown human contact. It’s a good idea to keep your cat in a room away from the party with the door shut. This will prevent your cat from being scared. When people are coming into and out of your house, there’s also the potential that your cat could get outside, and there is also the danger that guests will feed your cat unsafe human foods. It is better to keep your cat away from the party.

Alcohol: Alcohol and animals do not mix well. In fact, alcohol is deadly to animals. You or your guests might think its funny to put a little beer into your cat’s water bowl. When you have guests, put your cat’s food and water bowls somewhere safe where no one can tamper with them.

Candles and lights: Candles and electrical lights could also be unsafe for your pet. Cats are attracted to bright lights, and a candle could not only burn your pet, but could also start a fire in your house. Or, at the very least, you cat will spill wax onto furniture or carpets. Use electrical lights instead, but remember to keep the cords covered and taped down so your pet isn’t tempted to play with them. Overall, keep an extra eye on your pet during the holidays to make sure they are staying safe at all times. You can have a good time without compromising your cat’s health.