Christmas time is coming up and we all know what that means for cats- new toys and a big shiny tree to play with! Cats are curious so when you bring something brand new into the home, they’ll need to inspect that it’s up to your home’s standards.
Decorating your house and tree for the holidays might take a little longer with a lingering feline around waiting to play and run off with anything they can grab.
Here are some tips to keep your house jolly and cat proof:
- Keep the tree small or strengthen the base.
Consider buying a smaller tree so if it does happen to fall over, it’ll be much lighter. If you still have your eyes on a big tree, choose one with a strong, heavy base so it’ll be harder to push over. Ensure the tree is kept away from any launching zones (e.g. furniture) to avoid temptation - Use a fake tree.
While in Australia most of us don’t use real trees but that is a good thing as pine needles can be toxic to animals or if swallowed, can pose a serious health risk. Fake trees can still look very realistic and are a lot cheaper to repair or replace if your kitty does go a bit Christmas crazy. You can also save money by using the same fake tree year after year. - Steer your cat away.
Cats focus a lot on smells so using scented sprays can help deter your kitty from wreaking havoc. To deter your cats, try lightly spraying a mix of ½ water and ½ white vinegar around your Christmas decorations. For something a little scentless, try wrapping foil around the base of the tree and scattering some orange peels nearby. If you want to remain festive, decorating the base with pinecones may work as a deterrent as well. - Tie your ornaments up tight and up high.
Ornaments and cat mischief go hand in hand. Avoid using ornaments with metal hangers as it could be a dangerous choking hazard. Make sure anything that your cat may consider a toy is placed up high and out of reach. - Choose decorations carefully.
Cats may be tempted to chew cords- especially from those pretty decorative lights. Make sure to use a cord protector and that all cords are unplugged when your cat isn’t supervised. If your cat is starting to chew cords or tinsel, it’s best to just remove them. Tinsel can become very hazardous when swallowed and instead you could opt for less tempting alternatives such as paper or felt decorations. - Try your best!
Your cat may still get to the tree and decorations no matter what you do! Don’t stress too much. As long as all hazardous materials are removed, enjoy the redecoration and interior skills of your beloved feline!
