Mary Allen
The Christmas season is the time for reflection. Fairy lights are hung up, candles are lit and presents are wrapped. But for our four-legged friends, this time holds many dangers.
Our fluffy darlings are a playful species and are fascinated by everything that hangs, dangles, and swings.
Christmas baubles, tinsel, and candles therefore often awaken the play instinct in the little tigers. And in the worst case, it can be fatal.
Candlelight danger zone
Candles make the Advent season really cozy. However, the flickering light has a completely different effect on our fluffy friends: it encourages them to play. This can cause serious burns to the animal and possibly even a house fire.
You should therefore avoid real candles. LED candles are a safer way to get the Christmas spirit going anyway. You can also light up the Advent wreath with LED candles. This creates a cozy light without any flickering danger.
Danger zone Christmas tree
For the cat, the Christmas tree gives a clear picture: It must be a new climbing tree with lots of shiny and glittering balls hanging from it.
No wonder your cat’s curiosity is aroused immediately. But that’s dangerous: once the cat has jumped up, the first Christmas bauble quickly falls and shatters into a thousand pieces. There is a high risk that your cat will cut its paws open or even eat a splinter.
Such accidents can be avoided with a few tricks. First of all, you should fix the fir tree in such a way that it cannot be knocked over by the cat.
It is best to choose a particularly heavy Christmas tree stand that is designed in such a way that the water for the tree cannot be reached by your cat. Because this is also harmful to your darling.
If necessary, also attach the green splendor to the wall with hooks so that there is no risk of falling over.
The first few days when the Christmas tree is up, you should also pay special attention to your fluffy friend and teach him that the fir tree is not a toy. You can find out how to teach your cat a few etiquette rules and – even more importantly – how to keep her busy in other ways in our article “How kitty learns etiquette”.
Danger zone tree ornament
Also, choose your tree decorations carefully. Instead of glass or porcelain balls, those made of plastic are suitable because they don’t break so easily.
You should also avoid tinsel. If your fluffy friend eats some of it, it can lead to an intestinal blockage.
You should also attach the chain of lights out of the reach of your four-legged friend, otherwise, your cat could become entangled or even suffer an electric shock.
Danger zone flower pot
Unfortunately, the ever-popular poinsettia, a plant with particularly eye-catching red leaves, is also not a good decoration idea for cat owners. If the cat eats some of it, it can lead to death.
The first symptoms are vomiting, tremors, and delayed reflexes. Cat owners should therefore definitely avoid poinsettia.
Danger zone gift packaging
While we wrap the presents, some kitties stare in fascination at the gift ribbon. As long as you are careful that your cat does not eat the wrapping paper or strangle itself with the ribbon, nothing can happen.
After packing, however, you should stow the utensils away safely so that your animal friend cannot reach them.
Christmas bags are also dangerous. Your playful cat may find the brightly printed, crackling bags an exciting toy. So make sure that your darling doesn’t start biting it. The plasticizers in the bags can make the animal sick.
Climbing into the bag is also not a good idea as there is a choking hazard. In addition, your cat could get tangled in the handles and injure themselves. You should therefore also keep the Christmas bags safe and inaccessible to your velvet paw.
Danger Zone Treats
Christmas time is always dinner time. In particular, we humans are particularly fond of sweet treats these days. But our colorful plates, filled with chocolate, cookies, and tangerines, can be fatal to our fluffy friends.
Cats do not tolerate chocolate and cocoa. Although they generally don’t like our favorite treats that much, the cat shouldn’t use them accidentally either. Even a small amount can harm your fluffy friend. The higher the cocoa content, the greater the risk.
The substance theobromine is to blame. It triggers vomiting and cramps in the four-legged friends and can even lead to death. So you better hide your advent calendar, then nothing can happen to your sweet tooth.
Danger Zone Holiday Roast
Even if we eat the Christmas roast, caution is advised. The bones of the prepared duck or goose splinter easily and could cause internal injuries to the cat. It’s best to take the leftovers from the Christmas feast straight to the rubbish bin so that Miezi doesn’t get any stupid ideas.
If you follow all of these tips, you can enjoy the contemplative time with your furry friend in a relaxed and carefree manner.
We wish you a merry and loving Christmas!