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Christmas Time: Be Careful What the Cat Eats

Burning candles, Christmas trees that tempt you to climb up, or poisonous decorations from snow spray are just a few of the dangers cats are exposed to at Christmas time. As far as nutrition is concerned, it can also be dangerous at the festival.

During the holiday season, you should keep a close eye on what your pet is eating. Much of what is on the Christmas table or set up for decoration could be just as tempting as it is unhealthy for your cat.

Chocolate, Biscuits & Leftovers From the Table

Even if it is well-intentioned, cat owners should not make any exceptions for their pets when it comes to species-appropriate food, even during the Christmas season. Therefore, do not give your darling anything from the table. Most foods are too fatty, too spicy, or too salty for your pet.

Leftovers are also not for cats. For example, if you give them bones from roast chicken or goose, there is a risk that they will splinter and seriously injure the cat while eating. Chocolate, biscuits, cocoa, and other sugary drinks are often tempting, but unhealthy to dangerous for house tigers and should not be left unattended. It is better to buy a particularly tasty cat food if you want to make your beloved cat happy on the holidays.

Poisonous Christmas Plants

One of the most popular Christmas plants, the poinsettia, is one of those plants that can be very dangerous to cats. Plants like these should therefore be placed out of reach.

Conifers can be dangerous to cats because of the essential oils they contain and the prickly texture of their needles. Remember that not only the Christmas tree but also an Advent wreath could tempt your cat to nibble on it – so it’s best to hang it up so that your curious furry friend can’t get to it. Find out as much as you can beforehand about which plants you are going to buy during the Christmas season and what effect they might have on cats. Setting up cat grass as an alternative is always a good idea – you can’t go wrong with it.

You should also be careful with Christmas decorations that could be swallowed by your kitty. Rustling, glittering tinsel, or angel hair, for example, invite you to play. However, if the material is swallowed, it can cause serious damage to the cat’s digestive tract. Likewise, pets and ribbon are a bad combination – don’t leave them around the house. The same applies to Christmas decorations, which can also be nibbled on by your cat. The objects are often chemically treated and have a negative effect on the cat‘s health if they are nibbled on or swallowed. 

Mary Allen

Written by Mary Allen

Hello, I'm Mary! I've cared for many pet species including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish, and bearded dragons. I also have ten pets of my own currently. I've written many topics in this space including how-tos, informational articles, care guides, breed guides, and more.

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