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CHRISTMAS
SAFETY
THE TREE
One of the most common concerns for the feline owner is that dang ole
Christmas Tree. Beside the problem of a cat climbing the tree.
~~~> The sap can also be poisonous if eaten. And remember if the
sap gets on the fur the kitty IS likely to lick it off.
~~~> Even drinking the water from the Christmas tree base is enough
to
cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite.
~~~>Cats
will also chew on pine needles and they aren't called "needles"
for
nothing. Imagine what swallowing a needle might do to the inside
of a
delicate throat or tummy. They can easily puncture your cat's intestines.
~~~> String-type objects such as tinsel is a very attractive snack to some
cats.
If eaten, tinsel can ball up into a blockage or wrap around the
intestine and cut
off
circulation. Cover your tree stand tightly with
skirting and distract
your companion animal
from tree temptations with holiday toys and treats.
DECORATIONS
When
decorating for the holidays place lights and ornaments in safe
places.
~~~> Tinsel
and gift-wrap may look like fun toys but they can cause choking,
upset stomach
or even more serious problems. Avoid
glass ornaments. Consider a
smaller living
or cut tree that can be positioned on a tabletop, making it harder for
your cat to
reach decorations. Secure larger trees to a wall to prevent tipping,
and use a
screen around the base
to block access to electrical cords and gifts.
~~~>
Do not use edible decorations.
Decorating
trees with food is asking for problems. Candy canes and gingerbread
people can be
enticing to your pet. A diabetic cat can have some problems
with
regulating it's disease if she is stealing candy canes off of the tree.
Popcorn,
raisin, or cranberry garlands are beautiful, but can cause an
obstruction
when eaten, requiring surgery.
~~~> Also be
careful of decorating with things such as the artificial snow.
~~~>
Keep items such as tablecloths, table runners, etc. from hanging too
low to the
ground, and tempting happy cats running by to
grab an end and pull!
~~~>
Potpourri contains oils that can be toxic to animals if eaten.
~~~>
Angel Hair (spun glass) - can be irritating to
eyes and skin and
could cause intestinal obstruction if eaten in large
amounts.
~~~>
Styrofoam - can cause your cat to choke if
swallowed.
A
few tips to cat-proof your Christmas tree:
If possible, set up your tree in a room that can be closed when you're not
home.
Cover the tree
stand. Tree resins and preservatives in the water can
cause
gastrointestinal problems.
Put a hook in the ceiling above your tree and attack a
cord from the top of
your tree to the hook. This will prevent your tree from falling
over.
Because most cats will practice their boxing ability on those decorations
dangling within paw-reach, place only large heavy ornaments near the
bottom
of the tree. Nothing breakable. Nothing small enough to swallow.
Attach
the ornaments to the branch securely. No tinsel.
PLANTS
Keep all poinsettias, holly and mistletoe out of
reach of your pets.
Eating the leaves and berries of mistletoe could cause a drop in blood
pressure
&/or cause
severe gastric upset. Hibiscus
causes diarrhea. Ivy can cause diarrhea,
convulsions, and
in some cases even death when eaten in large quantities.
Other
holiday poisonous plants include Christmas rose, narcissus bulbs,
amaryllis bulbs and English Ivy.
FIRE
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...
"Nothing
is as lovely as a flickering fire in winter. But cats are way too fascinated
by
all that
flickering, so keep a sturdy screen, preferably of glass, in front of the
fireplace.
Ensure it is secure and there is no way a cat
can open it or get around it.
CORDS
Holiday light cords pose a special threat to cats who love to chew.
Always unplug
the electrical cord when not in use bundle cords together
run the cords
through PVC
piping or the special corrugated flexible piping available from
furnishing and
hardware stores as an alternative. Coat the cords
with stick
deodorant. Cats find the taste disgusting. :-)
Duct tape the cords to the floor or baseboards.
CANDLES
Candles and potpourri warmers also present a hazard, so keep them out
of your
cat's reach on
high shelves. Take
special care not to leave lighted candles on
your
dinner table unattended. Food is a special temptation and an even the
wisest kitty
can singe a tail and whiskers in passing near an open candle
flame
causing serious and painful burns.
THE
GARBAGE
Secure garbage in bins with cat-proof lids or behind locked doors. cats
may
chew up holiday throwaways such as meat scraps, bones, paper, foil or
plastic flavored with food, and even gift wrapping and ribbon, which can
absorb food flavors. Ingesting these items can result in vomiting, diarrhea
or intestinal perforation or obstruction. Meat-soaked strings from rump
roasts are also enticing. Ingestion can cause a surgical emergency called a
"linear string foreign body" in the intestines. Rich, fatty foods, like gravy
or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis,
which is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and
dehydration. Animals with this serious condition often require
hospitalization for treatment.
WRAPPING
PAPER, BOWS, RIBBONS
Many cats just love a nice chew on wrapping paper and ribbons.
While
a soggy corner on a present is of no great problem, some wrapping
paper
may contain toxins that are harmful to cats.
~~~>
The ribbon, especially the long curly ones, can ball up and block in the
intestines or
tangle around the tongue.
Avoid
emergency surgery by exercising some precaution.
~~~> Adhesives and glues can be toxic and are often attractive to
animals,
especially cats.
THE
PRESENTS
Put
away toys and gifts after their open. Small toys and rubber
balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in cats.
~~~> Be
aware that if you wrap a food product for a gift and put it under
your
tree that your cat can very easily get to the item, unwrap it and eat it.
~~~>
Perfumes and after-shaves contain ethanol (alcohol) and perfume
also
contains essential oils which can be very toxic to animals.
~~~>
Batteries for toys or other gifts
can be toxic and cause intestinal
obstruction.
Keep in a safe place until they are ready to be inserted in the gift.
REMEMBER
THE HOMELESS
Why
not make the holidays more enjoyable for homeless animals?
Contact
your local animal shelter to see if you can donate food,
kitty
litter, toys or time.
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