Just had this through on email & thought it would be of use posted here -
Make Sure your pets are safe this Christmas . .
Cats are generally more nervous and suspicious of new people than dogs. Your cat may well not be used to having lots of friends, family and younger people in their house so extra care needs to be taken to ensure they are able to escape the noise and festivities if things get too much. Keep a room available that your cat can hide in if it needs to get away. Ideally this room should have something they can hide safely behind or under e.g. a bed. Quietly check on your cat regularly to ensure they are okay and make sure they have access to a litter tray and food.
No child should be allowed to harass your cat or pick them up without supervision. This will prevent your cat biting or scratching the child and also ensure the cat is not accidentally dropped or hurt.
The Christmas tree: This is an important focus point of any family Christmas but remember that if you have a real tree the needles are likely to drop. These can be very sharp and can easily get stuck in pads or throats. It is advisable to secure your tree well to make sure it cannot fall over if an excitable cat decides to swing on it.
Decorations: Tree decorations in particular can be intriguing for pets. Ensure that decorations will not break into small sharp pieces or, if they are swallowed, will not cause a medical emergency.
Holly, mistletoe (especially the berries) and yew are poisonous to pets and can be extremely dangerous. Poinsettias look very pretty but are highly toxic to cats so keep these well out of the way. Lilies and their pollen are also highly toxic to cats and should be avoided – even the pollen, if ingested while your cat is grooming, can cause toxicity.
Balloons, Christmas crackers and poppers are all very noisy and may cause fear in your cat. Ensure your pet is kept away from these noises to prevent panic.
If you have a particularly nervous and timid cat, it may be worth investing in a feliway diffuser. This is a plug in pheromone that can help pacify cats in stressful situations.
Your cat is likely to hide if there are lots of people or noise around the house at Christmas. Give them time and encouragement and they will hopefully venture out and be included so they too can enjoy the Christmas festivities. Take the opportunity to encourage your cat to play using toys such as those from the ‘Dr Noys’ range. If your cat is nervous and hides away, make sure they either have access to the outside to toilet or the use of a clean litter tray.
We all like to spoil our cats with presents at Christmas, as well as there being lots of novel gifts available, it’s an ideal opportunity to spoil your friend with a new cosy bed, fun toys or collar (always ensure the collar is quick releasing in case they become caught).
