Cats at Christmas

If you’re more ‘deck the halls’ than ‘bah humbug’, cat-proofing your decorations should be at the top of your festive to-do list. Keeping cats safe at Christmas needn’t mean binning the decorations.

When celebrating Christmas with your cat, be aware of decorations such as tinsel, baubles, and hanging lights, as well as Christmas foods or plants that can be poisonous. Your cat's environment could change, which may cause them stress. Doubly so, if you’re inviting guests around. One of the best Christmas presents you can get for your cat is a place for them to hide while the festivities are in full swing. 

Cats and Christmas trees go together like milk and cookies…only, those hanging baubles might look a little too much like toys for your furry friend. Christmas tree and festive decorations can be dangerous to your cats, especially if your cat enjoys climbing. It’s not only climbing that cats can’t resist. If you’ve bought a real Christmas tree, they may try to nibble or lick at it, which could be toxic. 

Decorations can be problematic for cats too, for example:

• Baubles. Cats may struggle to keep their paws away from baubles – that might not be a problem, but glass baubles could shatter, hurting your cat.
• Tinsel. If you’ve spent any time with a cat, you know they’re liable to bite off more than they can chew. That can be literal for cats who nibble on tinsel, which can cause blockages and even be fatal. Not to mention your cat falling and getting tangled in it.
• Christmas lights. Christmas lights can present a problem, as cats are likely to play with them. This could cause electric shocks, strangulation, or even house fires.

If you want to add a bit of greenery to your Christmas decorations, choose plants or plant food that’s non-toxic to cats.

Keeping cats safe during Christmas doesn’t mean you have to store all your decorations in the attic. However, you might need to change how you decorate to keep things as safe as possible for your curious kitty. 

Get a sturdy base

You don’t need to say goodbye to your Christmas tree, but the chances of your cat trying to climb it are more certain than Christmas songs in November. Get a sturdy base that won’t budge.

Put decorations high

Whether it’s an absentminded tail-whip, an innocent brush with a bauble, or a calculated paw-slap, your cat will disturb the decorations. By placing decorations higher, you reduce the chance of cats toying with the festive décor. 

Likewise, try to secure them, it’ll make baubles and ornaments less likely to fall and smash.

No tinsel

Love it or hate it, tinsel can be harmful, if not fatal, for cats if they ingest it. Think carefully about the type of decorations you choose to use, both on the tree and around your home.

Be careful with lights

Once you’ve detangled your lights, you should try to keep the wires covered. Unguarded wires, when chewed on, could be fatal to your cat. Always switch lights off when you’re not around and consider using battery-powered LED lights that are lower in voltage. 

Remember, if you’re not around to supervise your cat, it’s best to keep them out of any rooms where they can cause mischief.

Christmas trees and cats are a match made in chaos. The tree is a high place, adorned in toys and with plenty of hidey-holes. It’s a cat’s dream – and a potential nightmare for you.

Don’t worry, your cat and Christmas tree can co-exist with a bit of planning. Consider using:

• Cat-Deterrent Sprays. Cats don’t like bitter things, which means your sprouts are safe, and you can use bitter sprays to ward cats from chewing, pawing at, or climbing your tree. 
• Airspray Cans. If you can supervise your cat, motion and heat-activated Air-Spray Cans can deter your cat by scaring them away from a location you don’t want them playing in.
• Cat Training Mats. These mats aren’t harmful, but they can similarly startle your cats when they approach an area they shouldn’t be in. 
• Barriers. Physical barriers such as pet fences or playpens can keep a cat out. However, against determined cats, they may be best used alongside other deterrents.
• Foil. Cats are fussy, and you can use this to your advantage. Many felines dislike the sound, feel, and look of aluminium foil. If you create a floor cover out of aluminium, it might deter your cat from approaching the tree.
• A Cat Tree. If your cat can’t be separated from your Christmas tree, there’s only one thing left to do – get them a better one. Try upgrading that cat tree, with added features such as places to hide, things to scratch, and catnip. Before you know it, they’ll lose interest in those heirlooms and ornaments.