How to Keep a Cat Safe During the Winter Holidays

Cats like presents, too. Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, New Year's Eve and other winter holidays are a joyous, exciting time for humans, but they can be scary or dangerous for our pet cats. Gift ribbon, poinsettias, candles and tinsel are just a few holiday traditions that can harm, or even kill, a cat. With a little planning and forethought, you can have a holiday that is happy for both you and your cat.

Step 1: Wrap your gifts with thick ribbon, sturdily applied, and decorate your tree with garland instead of tinsel. Many cats love to eat things that they shouldn't. Tinsel or thin ribbon poses a choking hazard or can become wrapped around a cat's intestines, eventually killing the cat.

Step 2: Store chocolate and other candies safely away from cats, and do not leave open alcoholic beverages unattended. Chocolate and alcohol are toxic to cats. If you are entertaining, remind your guests to keep an eye on their drinks.

Step 3: Be careful with meat "treats." It's tempting to give your cats a little treat and offer them a bite of turkey, goose or ham. However, ham is very fatty and even very small amounts can cause digestive upset in cats. Poultry may be given in moderation, but do not let your cats chew on the bones, since cooked bones are very brittle and can splinter easily, damaging your cat's mouth or digestive tract.

Step 4: Keep lit candles well out of reach of your cats, and do not allow candles to burn unattended or for extended periods of time. Cats don't understand fire like we do, and may become curious about lit candles.

Step 5: Avoid bringing poinsettias, ivy and mistletoe into your home. Cats love to chew on plants, but many common holiday plants are toxic to cats. Even if you think you have a safe spot to put them in, many cats find the lure of green things irresistible and go to great lengths to try to eat it.

Step 6: Be aware that your cat is probably going to climb a Christmas tree. Ensure your tree stand is sturdy, and choose a tree with softer needles. Avoid hanging fragile ornaments on the tree, in case your cat tips it over; at the very least, place breakable ornaments near the top of the tree, so that your cat cannot as easily bat them off. Avoid hanging ornaments with metal hooks, since they can be a danger to your cat if swallowed. Another alternative is to forgo the indoor Christmas tree altogether, and instead string lights around some outside trees and hang ornaments in windows and doorways.
Step 7: Keep your cat shut away in a private room if you are having a party. Having lots of unfamiliar people in its house can be stressful to a cat, and with people coming and going there is the danger of it slipping out the door and getting outside. Choose a room in a quieter part of the house and set up the cat's bed, litter box, toys and food and water bowls so that your cat has a sanctuary during the chaos of a party. Put a sign on the outside of the room reminding guests to keep the door shut.

Step 8: Set aside time every day to give your cat some special attention. When you're busy shopping, decorating, entertaining and cooking, it can be easy to overlook your cat's needs.

Contributor
By Sonya Welter
eHow Contributing Writer