Wishing you all a restful time over the holidays
Last year we provided you with a list of dangerous foods for cats which can be more available over the holiday season. You may want to look back and see if any of these things are common in your house. If they are, you may want to protect them from nosey cats. Food isn’t the only thing which may disrupt your cats at this time of year:
Electrical cords: We place Christmas lights and often cats start chewing on these thin cables. This can hurt your cat and ruin your Christmas lights!
Candles: Cats are usually good at keeping away from flames. If the candles are on an ornament or the tree, the cat could knock over what the candle is in and cause a fire. Check how well-protected your candles are from your cat.
Artificial snow and spray-on decorations (on the windows or on Christmas trees): To prevent a cat from knocking over a tree, some people decorate their windows and existing furniture with spray-on snow. Try to make sure your cat can’t reach those either. Just a small lick of fake snow can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Stink bugs: Colder weather encourages insects to come into warm homes. Sting Bugs have plagued Europe recently. Cats can chase them and bite or swallow them when they are caught. This causes drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea and can cause other digestive tract and allergic reactions. Anti-insect spray is also not healthy for cats, our advice is to keep an eye on what else comes into your warm home and if you detect a bug and later any of these symptoms, go to a vet immediately.
Noise and guests: Some cats find this very stressful and they will hide, refuse to eat, and get aggressive. If your cat dislikes parties, let them stay in a quiet room in your house, and offer them food and a litter box there. They can eat, sleep and poop without having to be in the party.
Fireworks: Your neighbour might think it is a great idea but they can cause extreme stress in cats (and dogs). Again, try to find a quiet place with your cat where you can reassure them that all is well and keep them away from dangerous mini-explosions.
Fatty food: Although we wrote a lot about food last year, please don’t forget that fatty foods like gravy or leftovers are not healthy for your cat. The high fat content can cause pancreatic issues.
Xylitol: One more food tip, many people have started adding sugar alternatives to desserts. This one, in particular, affects a cat’s insulin release and can lead to liver failure. So save all the desserts for humans.
Many people won’t need a list like this. They know how to keep their cat safe and comfortable as we approach the longest night of the year. Feel free to share it with others to spread knowledge on how to make the most of the holiday season.
