We all love that Christmas tree smell so much!
The winter New Year’s Eve celebrations get us so excited with their sparkling lights, delicate decorations, and bright garlands.
All of this brings great pleasure not only to us but also intrigues our pets.
Setting up the Christmas tree is one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for the New Year. And our cats of course help us in this.
But before you set up the tree and start hanging the decorations, take a few minutes to read these Christmas tree safety tips for cats and your other pets.
And so, our take on “safety techniques” if you have a pet and a Christmas tree.
Our tips on Christmas tree safety for pets
Sometimes it can be very difficult to keep a young pet away from the tree, especially if it’s their first New Year’s Eve or Christmas.
And you still need to be careful with older cats who may not be jumping on the tree itself.
How our cats react to the Christmas tree
Once again, we remind you that we have three animals in our family and they all have completely different personalities. Therefore, of course, they react very differently to New Year’s preparations, including the Christmas tree.
Malva the cat
Let’s start, perhaps, with our older cat Malva. She likes two things best of all:
- the box from our artificial Christmas tree;
- the tree itself, as she sometimes climbs it like a tree.
As soon as we get the Christmas tree box out of the closet and take it out of the box, Malva is right there. It is an obligatory ritual to climb into the box and play inside it.
As for the tree itself, the only thing she sometimes does is to climb up the trunk to a height of about 1 meter and sit there.
We have noticed that Malva just loves such high things and climbs them with pleasure as in the wild.
You should see how she climbs up the vertical pole of our scratching post! We’ll be sure to make a video about it sometime.
By the way, about how to choose the right scratching post read our detailed article – believe us, we have a lot to tell you.
Cat Patricia
This is our Abyssinian cat of red (Rudy) color.
She is neutral to the Christmas tree and she is not interested in the tree or the toys on it.
All these balls, garlands, and other attributes of the new year – it is not about her.
At most, she can come up, sniff an unfamiliar object, and leave the room with a sense of accomplishment.
Cat Bluefield
Our other blue Abyssinian cat and our favorite because the youngest).
Here he is just giving “light” to our poor Christmas tree and behaves like a real monkey.
What behavior of our cat with the Christmas tree noticed:
- climb from the bottom of the trunk to the top of the tree;
- sit on the couch and touch a toy with his paw (not much touching yet);
- and now hit the toy hard with your paw to make it hit the floor;
- to jump up on the tree;
- and of course, just lie in wait under the tree like an ambush and hide.
Sometimes at night, we hear our Christmas tree shaking and toys flying off of it.
By the way, you know that cats are mostly crepuscular animals and their maximum activity is observed from morning to dawn and shortly before sunset.
We have stopped buying breakable toys and instead use wooden, plastic, or foam toys.
Oh, and we also have natural cones!
And a little bit of video!
So, it may be different for everyone, but no one has canceled the safety of the Christmas tree. That’s what we’re going to talk about next.
Christmas tree branches and needles – are they dangerous to cats?
It is the live tree that can be especially dangerous to animals. Dogs and cats love to chew on spruce or pine tree branches.
The fir oil from these trees can irritate the tissues of the mouth, causing symptoms such as drooling and vomiting.
Also, if your pet is constantly chewing on branches, there’s a chance that they may swallow a few needles as well.
If swallowed, pine needles can enter the digestive tract by puncturing the mucous membrane or can simply stick together, leading to intestinal obstruction.
Both options can have fatal consequences.
You should also be careful with artificial trees because pets are likely to chew on those crunchy needles too. Just like it’s happening in our neighborhood!
Of course, the best solution might be to limit pets’ access to where you’re setting up your Christmas tree.
However, we have no idea how to do that – our macaw cat will climb to any height and into any crevice.
Snowing (flocking) the Christmas tree
A popular tree ornament called flocking or imitation snow can also cause serious problems if a significant amount of it is ingested.
If you have a cat in your home, it is best to get a tree without “snow”.
Preservatives for Christmas trees
In addition, some trees are treated with chemical preservatives to keep them fresher for longer. Of course, this is only relevant for live trees.
These chemicals get into the water at the base of the tree, making it poisonous to drink. Such water becomes of course dangerous along with other poisonous plants for cats.
Pets will certainly want to taste such water if the stand is not covered.
You will have to cover it with a festive tree skirt, or you can use a towel, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil.
What about Christmas lights?
Garlands should be placed away from the very bottom of the tree. Believe us, your pet will definitely want to taste the electric cord of the garland.
An electric shock can severely damage the tissues of the mouth and cause long-term problems with eating. And of course an electric shock can cause breathing difficulties and even death.
It also makes sense to check electrical cords for signs of chewing. By the way, chewed cords are also a fire hazard.
Christmas tree ornaments as a source of danger to cats
Hang the most fragile and valuable Christmas tree ornaments on the upper branches of the tree and attach them firmly to the branches.
In general, it is recommended to choose ornaments made of wood, paper, plastic, or foam – ones that are unlikely to break. And those that do not have small composite things that can be eaten by the cat.
By the way, it is not necessary to hang ornaments exactly on the Christmas tree.
You can hang them on a garland that fits over a doorway, window, or on a furniture cabinet.
Murmeo comment! We have our own “scheme” for hanging toys too. From the bottom to the middle of the tree we have unbreakable and safe toys. And on top we can already pin a couple of our favorite glass balls.
Christmas candles
Naturally any burning objects like candles can cause a burn.
Don’t assume that your pet will feel the heat from afar. And even if they do, their curiosity will still take over.
One of your cats will probably stick their nose close to the candle and burn their whiskers, fur and everything else.
In addition to the burns, the animal may turn all your candles upside down out of fear – it’s not far from a fire.
If you can not do without Christmas candles, it makes sense to use special candle holders with a breathable cover.
Clappers and firecrackers
The dangers of clappers probably don’t need to be explained in detail.
It is worth remembering that any loud sound makes cats afraid and hide in the most secluded corners of your home.
Our cats are so much afraid of loud explosions.
Our acquaintances even had a case when a pet chinchilla did not survive a strong explosion or a firecracker or fireworks.
New Year’s tinsel and sprinkles
Let’s elaborate on this point a little more.
What is tinsel?
Tinsel (according to Wikipedia) are strands of shiny plastic or metal ornaments that mimic the ice chunks many of us like to use on trees. Sometimes they come in individual short strands, and sometimes in longer strands.
Silver used to be the “standard” color, but in recent years gold, blue, red and green tinsel has become increasingly popular.
Such strands are difficult to chew, and they do not dissolve in the intestinal tract. In addition, it is a surprisingly strong substance and can simply get stuck in the cat in the most unexpected places, such as under the tongue, in the stomach, or intestines.
How dangerous is it?
Tinsel is incredibly dangerous to cats, dogs, as well as other pets that may have access to it.
Oftentimes, the animal will often begin simply playing with the shiny tinsel, which shimmers and moves from the lightest touch.
Then it goes into the animal’s mouth, and further it is sure to be eaten.
For some animals, of course, it can go down the wrong throat, causing them to choke and cough. If you are lucky, the cat may cough and get rid of the problem.
Often, however, the tinsel is actually swallowed and then goes into the intestines.
What should you do if your cat swallows tinsel?
So, what happens after ingestion?
If you’re really lucky, nothing – and your pet will have shiny “poop” in the litter box in a few days.
However, if the tinsel gets stuck somewhere along the way – under the tongue, crumpled up in the stomach or stretched in the intestines – then it’s already a problem.
This situation is what veterinarians call “foreign body ingestion” – when some foreign object gets stuck in the intestinal tract.
This is known to cause vomiting and decreased appetite.
Because this can happen hours or even days after the tinsel has been ingested, owners often no longer remember what the pet ate or what may have caused the problem.
Once the tinsel has been ingested, we really have no choice but to wait and watch for any signs of illness.
The sooner you notice that your cat is behaving strangely, is passive, is not eating – run to your veterinarian immediately!
In the veterinary clinic, your cat will be examined, X-ray or ultrasound will be done. If a foreign body is confirmed, then in most cases, surgery will be required.
The main goal is to find and remove the tinsel as soon as possible before it causes more irreparable damage.
Murmeo comment!!! We got rid of all types of tinsel a long time ago. We advise you to do the same.
Dangerous Christmas decorations for cats – recap
Well, you have to make your own best efforts and identify those Christmas items that can be dangerous for cats and other animals.
And our list is just a small contribution to your knowledge and the well-being of your favorite pets.
Let us remind you once again the list of potentially dangerous items for a cat on the Christmas tree:
- branches and needles of the Christmas tree;
- snowing (flocking) the Christmas tree;
- Christmas tree preservatives;
- Christmas lights;
- fragile, glass Christmas tree ornaments;
- Christmas candles;
- clappers and firecrackers;
- Christmas tinsel.
If you have already done everything you can to keep yourself safe and not harm your pet, then of course it’s time to open the Christmas champagne).
Cheer up everyone and have a happy New Year and Christmas ๐ฑ.
Bye!
Murmeo link to the article: https://murmeo.com/en/christmas-tree-safety-tips-for-your-cats/
