Veterinarians and pet experts weigh in on the best ways to keep cats out of Christmas trees .
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Decorating for the holidays is typically a gleeful activity that invokes fond store . But for cat owner , it can be the most stressful time of the year . As shortly as theChristmas treeis drag through the front door and theholiday garlandis draped over the chimneypiece , the task of keeping your African tea out of the decorations begins .
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In a computed axial tomography ’s eyes , the Christmas treeis just a braggy green cat tower , and the dangling florilegium anddelicate ornamentsare simply toys to paw at . This season , you may prevent unnecessary computerized tomography - astrophes by planning ahead to keep both your Christmas tree and your feline friends out of harm ’s way .
We turned to veterinarian and favorite expert for advice on how to guy - proof a Christmas tree . These confidential information will keep your computerized axial tomography safe from dangerous interior decoration items ( you definitely want to channelise clear of tinsel ) and keep them from ruining your dead - decoratedChristmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
1. Avoid Tinsel
Tinsel and angel fuzz are as tantalizing to cats as to world , but with a far more spartan and potentially harmful outcome . " African tea in particular might be entice by tinsel ’s miniature - alike visual aspect , but if ingested , it could get stuck to their tongue or tooth or make an obstructor in the intestines , " saysElisa Allen , vice president of programs atPETA . She warns that ingesting tinsel can lead to surgical procedure or even be fatal , so it ’s just to skip this particularnostalgic holiday trend .
2. Reserve Fragile Ornaments for the Tree Top
Protect your cat — and your syndicate ’s Christmas heirloom — by arrange precious ornaments as far up the tree as possible . tenuous decorations should be stay fresh as far off from your favourite ’s reach as possible , where they ca n’t be knock off and damp . Not only does this protect your breakables , but it keeps your cat safe too . Broken shabu can injure their mouths and paws , and ingested pieces of plastic or ice can lead to intestinal obstruction , Allen admonish .
3. Anchor Your Christmas Tree
cat like rise Tree to get a good view of their surroundings and find rubber when they feel threatened . However , Christmas tree provide more danger than safety . " Real or fake , Christmas trees can fall over and cause serious hurt to fauna , " Allen read . " So be sure to anchor them to a wall or cap with string to prevent chance event . " you’re able to tally further stableness and weight by using a stout stand or tree guard as well .
4. Tie Your Christmas Ornaments to the Tree
The metal hooks traditionally used to hang ornaments on the tree can be unsafe for positron emission tomography if they chew them . Instead , Allen suggests tying Christmas ornaments to the tree with ribbon or twine . That way , they ’re also less likely to be knocked off with a quick swipe of a manus .
5. Opt for a Small Artificial Tree
The pocket-size the tree , the less serious any inadvertent injuries are likely to be . Likewise , an artificial Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree reduces the peril of impairment to your favourite . " genuine trees have precipitous needle that can damage eyes or puncture peel , " Allen says . " Dogs and cats sometimes like to drink tree water , which can contain fallen acerate leaf , putting animals at risk of intestinal punctures or blocks if ingested , " she adds .
6. Resist the Urge for Fake Snow
Transforming your theatre into a white winter wonderland with faux snow is off the table if you ’re a pet proprietor . ‘ Fake snow is often made of chemical that can cause fatal liver damage in cats or risk a block if ingested , ’ send word Coryn Julien , Director of Communications atAlley Cat Allies . ‘ We do n’t recommend decorating with it . ’
If you ’re set on the flocked look that ’s swerve the right way now , opt for awhite contrived Christmas treeinstead of a green one that has flock material on it .
7. Secure Your Christmas Lights
String light are a Christmas staple in most households . However , Julien warns , ‘ strings of lights can pose a hazard both for cats getting tangled in the string and burning themselves by chewing the wires . ’ Instead , she recommends wrick to lead lights or fasten your string lights with potent tapeline , so they are n’t swing and tempting fate .
8. Provide Additional Deterrents
‘ allow extra enrichment in the home can also help oneself keep cats interfering in a cat - friendly way and foreclose the Christmas tree from being a novel source of entertainment for them , ’ says Laura Watson , register veterinary nurse atInternational Cat Care .
Watson suggests programming little and frequent interactive play session with your cat to aid them expend lots of energy . you may also engage their playful side by dispensing their daily meals in puzzle feeders around the home . Tiring your cat out with extra playtime will keep them from bet to your holiday interior decoration for amusement .
9. Create a Safe Refuge for Your Cat
If you ’re playing host this Christmas , create a safe recourse in a unruffled part of the firm for your cat to retreat to . The sudden inflow of friends and crime syndicate or a stampede of vernal children can feel menace and unsettling for your cat . harmonise to Watson , good cat hideouts include composition board corner , tunnels , paper bags ( with handles removed ) , and cat activity centers . give them a shoes to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed will aid deter the scared zoomies that can end in a tip - over Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or broken ornaments .
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