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Keeping your cat safe this festive season
As the Christmas period gets underway we start to prepare to relax and enjoy ourselves, but it important to remember our little partners. Here are a few Christmas time pointers to help them to enjoy Christmas too.
Toxic Christmas Plants
The festive season brings beautiful decorations and plants into our homes, but some popular Christmas plants can be dangerous for our feline friends.
• Poinsettia – poinsettia poisoning is mild but can cause vomiting, drooling and irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.
• Lilies – All parts of the plant are poisonous, including pollen and water from the vase. It can cause severe and fatal kidney failure so it is best to keep lilies out of the house if you have a cat!
• Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe – Can all cause gastrointestinal upset and mistletoe can lead to seizures
• Amaryllis plants – All parts of the plant are toxic and can cause gastrointestinal upset, lethargy and tremors in severe cases.
Contact us on 01386 240220 straight away if your cat has eaten any poisonous plants.
Christmas Food
Christmas is the time for celebration and indulgence, but we do need to be careful with certain festive foods around cats, these include:
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Onions and garlic (cooked or raw) – Can damage your cats red blood cells leading to anaemia.
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Raisins, grapes and mince pies – can cause kidney failure, and there is no known safe amount.
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Chocolate – vomiting, restlessness, increased heart rate and seizures
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Alcohol – Spillages that are licked up can cause low blood sugar, coordination problems and could lead to liver failure.
If you would like to share some festive food with your cat, stick to plain cooked chicken or turkey or even buy cat-specific Christmas treats!
Christmas Tree
While it is a beautiful centrepiece for the festive season, for many cats, the Christmas tree is the best toy ever! Whether real or artificial, Christmas trees can pose a hazard for your cat.
-The needles from real Christmas trees can be sharp and mildly toxic if eaten, causing irritation to the mouth and stomach. It is important to sweep up fallen needles regularly. Artificial trees can still be chewed on and could cause issues if plastic parts are swallowed.
-Stability is very important to ensure that they do not fall over if you cat decides to jump at it or grab and pull a decoration.
-Avoid fragile ornaments that could break if knocked off.
-Avoid tinsel and ribbons as if ingested these can cause intestinal blockages.
-Take care with wires for lights, try to cover them if possible to avoid chewing.
Top tips!
Introduce the tree to your cat slowly by letting them explore and get used to it before decorating and provide new and exciting toys to distract them!
Stress
With so many changes to the house such as festive decorations and family gatherings, Christmas can be a stressful time of year for cats, particularly nervous ones. Cats are creatures of habit and so sudden changes to their routine can leave them unsettled.
Signs your cat may be stressed:
-Hiding or avoiding interactions with people
-Changes to appetite
-Overgrooming or toileting outside of the litter tray
-Increased vocalisation, scratching or marking behaviour
Tips to help
-Keep routines as consistent as possible, including meal times.
-Create a safe space for them that is quiet with familiar bedding, toys and a litter tray.
- Introduce decorations gradually so that they can get used to them
-Use calming aids such as pheromone diffusers or oral supplements.
Please call us on 01386 240220 if you are worried about this time, or if you notice any changes to your cats behaviour.
