Keep Your Cat Safe This Upcoming Holiday

Posted By Xavier Claude on Nov 17, 2014 | 0 comments

With the holidays coming, changes may be taking place at your house. Decorations are going up, special foods are being made and guests are becoming a frequent occurrence. While you and your human family members may be getting excited for the upcoming celebrations, your cat (or cats) are probably also noticing the changes. Although the holidays can be a fun time for your cat, it can also be a time of relative danger. These tips will help you keep your cat safe this holiday season. 

Some Cats Eat Everything

Some cats can be a bit orally fixated. Here are some of the things that may be hanging around your home around the holidays that could be bad for your cat if ingested. 

• Decorations. The tinsel on a Christmas tree is shiny and enticing for cats, and so are the Christmas lights. To keep your cat from eating these two inedible items, try using an electronic training mat to keep your pet away from the tree. These mats are sold online and in some pet supply stores. They emit a small static shock when pets step on them. The shock is harmless, but pets find it uncomfortable, which makes these mats a great training tool.
• Wrapping paper.Like tree decorations, wrapping paper is inedible for cats, and so are the ribbons and bows found on packages. These things, if ingested, can cause intestinal blockage. To avoid problems, pick up wrapping papers immediately after opening presents.
• Candy. Cats aren’t supposed to eat holiday treats and candies, especially chocolate. Keep all candies and chocolate–especially baker’s chocolate–out of the way of your cat. Learn to recognize the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in cats. This includes:
  • diarrhea
  • seizures
  • rapid breathing
  • muscle rigidity

Just in case your cat ever does ingest something harmful, keep the phone number for an animal medical center on hand so you can make contact with a veterinarian right away. 

Cats are Loners and Need their Space

If your house will be teeming with guests this holiday season, your cat may need somewhere to retreat away from the guests and the chaos. This is especially true if your guests will be bringing young children (because little kids just can’t leave cats alone). Without somewhere safe for your cat to be alone, your pet may become stressed out. Signs of stress in cats include:

• Trembling
• Illness
• Excessive meowing
• Pulling out of fur

Watch for these symptoms. To avoid stress, prepare a little bed in a secure spot where your cat can be safe and isolated from strangers.

Hopefully these tips will help you keep your cat safe this holiday season, so you and your pet can enjoy yourselves. For more information, contact Animal Medical Center or a similar location.