Introduction
Christmas is perhaps the most dangerous holiday for cats. Weather a cat is young or old, there is always the danger of climbing the tree and/or playing with all of the ornaments. This behavior is normal in cats, expecially since they see it as their own little forest. Here are some suggestions to make the holiday safe for your cat.
Christmas tree Safety Tips
Anchor the tree
Whether you have an artificial tree or a live tree, cats are tempted to explore its arrival. To help prevent cats from knocking the tree over, one option is to duct tape the legs of the tree stand to the floor. If you have carpeting then use a fine wire around the tree and anchor it to a piece of furniture or the wall. This will keep the tree from falling on the floor and on top of kitty.
Prevent Chewing
Cats ofetn like to chew on the branches of christmas trees. If you see your cat doing this then spray the branches with cayenne pepper in water. The taste will deter any further chewing.
If you put your own lights on the tree then be sure that the wires are hidden in such a way that the cat cannot get at them. Cats love electric wires to chew on. If your tree is the kind that has the lights already on it then be sure to cover the wires leading from the tree to the outlet. You can either tape them down or run them through an old paper towel roll.
Secure Loose Ornaments
Cat will often bat tree ornaments and chase them around the house. The most dangerous ornaments are the thin glass balls. When they hit the floor they break and kitty can get the glass in its paw or its nose. To keep the ornaments from falling, fold the wire over the tree branch until it is totally wrapped around the branch. Place unbreakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree.
The presents under the tree are also dangerous. Cats love the thin curly ribbon. This ribbon can be swallowed and become entangled in the cat’s intestines. Cats do not like the sound that foil makes, so wrap your presents in foil gift paper and wide ribbon.