Pet-proofing Your Home for Christmas: Safety Tips for Cats and Dogs

Guard your Christmas tree

While decorating the tree may be a fun activity, as pawrents, we all know the struggles of stopping our pets from having a play with the baubles or fairy lights and knocking over the tree. Not only can a falling tree be dangerous with its weight but smashed baubles and tinsel can be risky for our furry friends. Using a barrier such as a pen or baby gate can be a useful technique for guarding your tree, but for those high jumping kitties, more effective methods include securing your tree with ties. Remember though, the bigger your Christmas tree, the more likely it will be that your cat will want to climb it.

You’re also probably best opting for an artificial Christmas tree rather than a real one. Sure, artificial trees may not look as nice as real ones (not to mention, they don’t have that glorious Christmassy smell), but as it turns out, pine needles are mildly toxic for cats and dogs. And least you’ll be able to reuse it!

Think about tree placement

Yep, where you put your tree is very important if you have a feline fur baby on the loose. Whatever you do, don’t erect your Christmas tree next to shelves or other furniture. If you do, your cat may see this as an invitation to spring-board from the furniture to the tree. As you can imagine, this can be pretty disastrous, especially if you spent a lot of time decorating your tree to get it perfect.

Skip the tinsel

Tinsel is dangerous to pets for a few reasons. It can cause severe damage to your fur baby if they ingest it and they can easily get tangled up in it if it’s left lying around. Because it’s so sparkly, tinsel drives cats wild and they may go to great lengths to get their paws on it. Do your pet (and yourself) a favour: skip the tinsel completely.

Unplug your Christmas lights

Nothing says Christmas like warm, twinkly lights. However, some dogs and cats are notorious for chewing through wires. When you go to bed at night, or if you leave your house during the day, make sure you unplug your lights just in case your pet decides a bit of a chew is in order. In this case it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Choose pet-safe plants

There’s no argument that holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are traditional festive foliage, but they are in fact poisonous to our tail-waggers when eaten. Although keeping them out of reach reduces the risks, it is best to steer clear. Why not opt for an artificial plant instead?

Keep food and drink out of reach

In the lead up to the big day, we’ll no doubt be attending or hosting a party or two. If you’re preparing a few tasty nibbles for your guests, it is important that your pet doesn’t get their paws on any. There’s a variety of festive foods that can be toxic to our furry friend’s including raisins, chocolate and sweets. Beverages must also be stored with caution; milk and alcohol can cause very upset tummies, and sometimes more serious issues. Your kitty can still get involved in the fun with our amazing range of dry and wet food or why not treat your pooch to our Tasty Licks made with no artificial nasties?

Avoid open flames

With winter approaching, we may be tempted to warm up with a traditional open fire. They make a great festive ambience and colder nights toasty, but unless you’re using a guard, it can be extremely dangerous for your furbabies. Candles also pose a risk of nasty burns, so why not try battery operated candles which are safe if knocked over?

Don’t leave presents under the tree

If Santa Paws has been early, make sure he doesn’t leave any gifts under the tree before the big day; this risks the presents being clawed or chewed open. Wrapping paper and ribbons can be toxic to animals, as well as the potential food inside. There are non-toxic gift-wrapping options available which are a much safer option.

Create a safe place for pets

Although some of our furends may love the extra company and decorations, others could find the festive season stressful. If you’re having family and friends over, create a quiet place in the home where your pet can retreat from the noise. Make sure to leave a bowl of water, food and a comfortable bed and blanket for warmth. Their favourite toy can also provide a welcomed distraction for those feeling lonely or overwhelmed.

Check out our full Webbox Christmas range for cats and dogs to make your holidays both magical and safe!