As the holidays approach, many frisky kitties are having a ball batting at tree ornaments, hopping into suitcases and empty boxes, and ‘helping’ with giftwrapping. This special time of year can be lots of fun for cats, but it can also be dangerous. Below, a vet from Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair animal clinic, offers tips on keeping Fluffy safe and sound throughout the holiday season.

Food

Fluffy has a reputation for being finicky, but in actuality, many of our feline friends will eat, well, just about anything. Some foods that are dangerous for cats include meat on the bone; raw meat, eggs, dough, or yeast; chocolate; caffeine; and anything that contains xylitol. Garlic and onions are also dangerous, and are particularly concerning because they are so often used as seasonings. Keep your furball healthy and safe by offering her suitable treats, like canned tuna, chicken, or salmon in water; shredded deli meat; or cooked, plain fish or poultry, without the bones, skin, or fat.

Trees

Cats have been climbing trees for thousands of years, for safety, shelter, and good views. Your feline buddy may be delighted to find a tree covered in shiny, dangling objects in her kingdom. Fluffy may try to scale it out of sheer instinct. There are a few basic precautions you can take to help keep your tree standing. Choose a tree with a sturdy base, and place it in a corner, away from desks, chairs, and other potential kitty jump-off points. Hang fragile ornaments on the top part of the tree, and distract your frisky furball by offering her some fun new toys to play with.

Decorations

Many decorative items are quite dangerous to Fluffy. Ornament hooks; ribbons; tinsel; tree needles (real or fake); fragile ornaments; candles; potpourri burners; and anything with sharp edges, small parts, or dangling threads are all hazardous to pets. Ask your vet for safety tips.

Guests

Some kitties get very uneasy when guests come over. If you have a bashful furball, put Fluffy in a quiet back room with food, bedding, toys, and a litterbox when you have visitors. Your pet will spend the time napping peacefully, which, as we all know, is really what cats do best. All of us here at Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair veterinary hospital, want to wish you a wonderful holiday season. Contact us anytime!