Celebrating the Holidays with Your Cat: Safety Tips and Gift Ideas

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and gift-giving, and it’s even better when you include your feline family member. However, festive decorations, treats, and busy gatherings can pose unique challenges and hazards for curious cats. From keeping your kitty safe to finding the purr-fect gift, we’ve got tips to help you make the holidays safe and special for your furry friend.

Safety Tips

1. Decorate with Care

• Skip the Glass Ornaments: Avoid using decorations with sharp edges that could injure your cat.

• Rethink Garlands: Long garlands can become choking or tangling hazards. Opt for cat-friendly options like ribbon garlands or felt decorations.

• Secure Light Strings: Cats may chew on wires or get tangled. Use cord protectors and keep wires out of reach.

• Candles: Open flames are risky. Use flameless LED candles or only light candles when you’re supervising.

2. Pet-Proof Your Christmas Tree

• Anchor the Tree: Secure your tree to the wall with hooks or ties to prevent tipping.

• Avoid Toxic Tree Preservatives: Chemical-laden water in tree stands can be dangerous if your cat drinks it.

• Choose Safe Decorations: Use shatterproof ornaments and place them higher up on the tree where your cat is less likely to reach them.

3. Avoid Toxic Holiday Plants

• Skip the Poinsettias: Common holiday plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, and lilies can be harmful to cats if ingested.

• Go Artificial or Cat-Safe: Choose non-toxic greenery or alternatives like cat grass to keep your feline friend safe.

4. Mind Your Cat’s Mental Well-Being

• Create a Quiet Retreat: The hustle and bustle of holiday gatherings can overwhelm cats. Set up a cozy spot with their favorite bed, toys, and treats where they can relax.

• Minimize Stress: Spend extra time with your cat to reassure them, and limit their exposure to loud noises and unfamiliar guests.

5. Monitor Holiday Snacks

• Beware of Toxic Foods: Many holiday treats, such as chocolate, nuts, and sugary desserts, can be harmful to cats.

• Inform Guests: Make sure visitors know not to share table scraps with your cat.

• Keep Food Secure: Store food out of your cat’s reach to prevent sneaky snacking.

The Purr-fect Holiday Gifts for your Cat

1. Interactive Toys

• Catstages Infinity Ball Track Cat Toy

• Catstages Kitty Cube Puzzle Cat Toy
  

• Spot Rechargeable Electronic Flippin' Skinneeez Raccoon Cat Toy 

1. Cat Trees & Scratching Posts

• Petpals Group Tundra Cat Tree
  

• Petpals Group Urbane Multi-Activity Scratching Post
  

• Catstages Hammock Scratcher
  

1. Treats

• Incredipet Cat Grass Catnip Kit

• Intuition Whitefish Recipe Crunchy Cat Treats

• Intuition Easy SqueeziesLickable Cat Treats

• Vital Essentials VitalCat Minnows Freeze-Dried Cat Treats