With the holidays coming up, there are some special considerations for the beloved felines in our families! From being away from home to having a house full of people, here are some ways we can help the cats in our lives to feel more comfortable and to be safe.

  • Some of our favorite holiday plants are toxic for our pets or can be dangerous if ingested. Plants like poinsettias, Christmas Lilly, maryllis, mistletoe, and holly are all listed as plants that we’ll want our cats to steer clear of.
  • If you’re planning on traveling, find someone to check in on your cat as opposed to boarding them. This can be the least stressful option for your cat. Cats feel safer in environments they know well, even if you’re not there, they’ll feel a whole lot better sleeping on their favorite chair over navigating an entirely new space that they don’t recognize.
  • If you’re having guests over, make sure that your cat has plenty of safe spaces to retreat to, if they need that. Make sure that your guests know to respect your cat’s space. If your cat chooses to hide, allow them to do that, making sure to give them lots of love and attention when things are quiet again.
  • For those of us who have cats who show a little too much interest in the Christmas tree, creativity will be needed!
    • Putting ornaments up high on the tree can keep some cat’s curiosity at bay, while others will need any ornaments on the tree to be securely attached with extra wire to ensure that they can’t pull them off of the tree.
    • Try putting cat-safe “ornaments” where a curious cat can see them. Many cat toys can be made to hang from your tree, and for some cats who just want to play with the ornaments, allowing them to discover and bat at toys hanging from lower branches can be a great way to allow them to interact with the tree while also keeping the rest of the tree safe.
    • Some cats will need a physical barrier in front of the tree. As much as we may not love the idea, putting a play pen up around the tree can keep some cats out of the area all together.
    • Avoid using tinsel and make sure that the lights on your tree are safely secured. Unplug the lights when you’re not available to monitor your cat with the tree.

For more tips on holiday safety, check out this great article! https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/holiday-pet-safety