Cat vs the Christmas tree

Putting up your Christmas tree is a moment that, for most of us who celebrate Christmas, is the act that symbolises the beginning of the Christmas period. The mistletoe goes up, the stockings come out, and we start to place presents under the tree as we wrap them. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for humans, but not so much for our feline friends.

From tinsel to poisonous poinsettias, here are some of the main seasonal dangers that cat parents need to watch out for.

Decided to get a real tree this year?

Cats and particularly kittens can be little tinkers, which means if you put a big tree in the middle of your living room it’s very unlikely they will leave it alone. Sadly pine needles can be deadly for cats. Ingesting a pine needle can puncture intestines, and pine is highly toxic to cats and can cause liver damage or death.

The tree water is another danger you might not be aware of

There are a few reasons why the water at the base of a real Christmas tree is dangerous:

• A lot of companies will recommend chemical enhancements to keep your real tree alive for longer. But these chemicals are toxic to your cats, and it can be really tricky to keep them away from water.
• Water from the Christmas tree itself can also be toxic, as fire retardants that are sprayed onto the majority of Christmas trees before they’re sold.
• Pine sap is also a toxic substance to cats.

Christmas lights

Arguably the most popular Christmas tree decoration, Christmas lights are a common hazard that pet parents overlook.

Chewing on the wires is an obvious hazard, but some lights can break easily and the sharp edges can really injure kitties.

Tinsel

How often do you find bits of tinsel scattered around your house at Christmas time? It’s easy for cats to ingest and once they do it can become lodged in their intestines and result in a blockage.

Fake it

Fake Christmas trees are the best way forward. And avoiding the decorations mentioned above will guard against a lot of the hazards associated with them. Make sure you keep an eye on your kitty climbing on the tree – it might be a cute Instagram picture but if it falls your cat could be in trouble.