With the holidays finally here, cat owners everywhere are rejoicing at the season and all the joy it brings. For those of us who love the company of feline friends, the holidays are one of the best times of year. However, they can also be one of the more stressful times if you’re not careful.
To make sure you and your cat enjoy the holiday season to the fullest, it’s crucial that you understand some of the best practices for caring for your pet this season. In part 2 of our 2-part holiday care guide, we cover the top vet-recommended ways to look after your cat during this time of the year.
1. Take Great Caution with Decorations
It wouldn’t be the holidays without decorations. However, all the baubles, ribbons, garlands, and lights adorning our homes can actually be very hazardous for cats. Take Christmas trees, for example—cats love climbing them, whether they’re real or not, and this often leads to toppled trees and fallen, broken decorations.
If you can’t keep your cat away from the tree, make sure it’s firmly secured at the bottom to reduce the risk of it falling. Furthermore, we strongly recommend choosing cat-safe decorations to hang on the tree itself—glass baubles can be very dangerous to your cat if shattered, for instance. The same goes for ribbons and dangling ornaments, which many cats find irresistible. These decorations can cause intestinal injury or upset if consumed, potentially leading to serious health concerns. Because cats are so nimble and crafty, it’s best to keep the more hazardous decorations out of your home entirely.
2. Make Sure Your Cat Can’t Get At Holiday Treats
Like decorations, the holidays are marked by the many treats and feasts that we indulge in during the season. Of course, many people’s cats will want to try all the delicious holiday fare, which can present a variety of health concerns. For instance, cooked poultry, such as chicken or turkey, is hard for cats to resist, but the brittle bones present a hazard if eaten accidentally.
In general, we recommend you avoid giving human food (even if it’s non-toxic) to your cat. Most of our holiday food is high in fat and sodium, which isn’t conducive to a healthy diet for your furry friend. Avoid giving your cat table scraps, keep an eye on the turkey while it’s resting, and make sure your garbage bin is well secured.
3. Take Care with Hazardous Holiday Plants
Many people like decorating their homes with festive plants during the holidays, but make sure you know which ones can be hazardous to your cat before displaying them. There are a few to be aware of, including:
- Lilies – Lilies are often found in winter floral arrangements. They’re beautiful but extremely dangerous flowers for cats. Every part of the lily, from the leaves, to the stem, to the pollen, to the water in the vase, is highly toxic. If you own a cat, never bring a lily into your home.
- Poinsettia – Though less toxic than some may believe, poinsettias (and especially their white, sticky sap), can cause vomiting, digestive upset, drooling, or possibly diarrhea if ingested by your cat. Keep it well out of reach or out of your home.
- Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Christmas Cherry – These plants are less hazardous than others, but can still cause digestive issues, vomiting, or diarrhea if your cat gets at them. We suggest making sure they stay well out of your cat’s reach.
4. Keep an Eye on Wrapping Paper
Cats love playing with discarded wrapping paper, but it’s important to keep a close eye on them while they do it. While the paper itself is generally not a concern, ribbons are. Some cats might play with a ribbon only to wind up ingesting it, leading to serious digestive health concerns. The same goes for twine, bows, and long pieces of tape. In general, it’s best to clean up your wrapping paper and give your cat an appropriate toy to play with instead.
5. Make Sure Your Cat Has a Quiet Place to Unwind
The holidays can be a stressful time for us humans, so imagine how your cat must feel! If you’re planning on throwing parties, having guests for dinner, or hosting friends to stay with you over the holidays, we suggest setting up a nice, quiet place for your cat to relax in when they need it. If possible, dedicate a room for this, supplying it with your cat’s bed, blankets, toys, a litterbox, and a food and water dish. Make it available whenever your cat wants it, giving them the chance to have some alone time if they start to feel stressed or overstimulated.
6. Inform Guests About Your Cat
If you’re having guests over for the holidays, make sure everyone knows about your cat beforehand. For one thing, inform guests to take care when entering or leaving your home if your cat is known to dash for the door whenever it opens. The last thing you need during the holidays is searching for your lost cat in the snow.
Also, be sure to talk to any kids coming to your home about how to treat your cat with care and respect. This includes letting the cat approach them versus chasing them down, avoiding rough play, and not tugging on the cat’s ears, tails, or paws. This will help your cat feel safe and prevent any unfortunate scratching incidents from spoiling the holiday fun.
7. Keep Your Cat Warm
Cats love to be warm and cozy, but the cold weather of the holidays can make this a challenge. To counter this, consider setting up your cat’s bed closer to a heater, leaving the heat on when you’re out, or giving them a gift of a heating pad to relax on. Read our guide on keeping your cat safe and warm in winter for more ideas.
8. Spend Lots of Time with Your Cat
With all the excitement of the holidays, it might feel harder to make time for your cat—but they need it! Make a point of spending lots of time playing with your pet, not only to give them the exercise they need, but also to enrich them emotionally and help them feel safer and more comfortable at home during the holiday chaos.
9. Make Considerations for Visiting Dogs
If any of your guests will be bringing a dog, you might want to make some considerations to ensure everyone’s pets stay comfortable. For example, set up some baby gates big enough to block a dog, providing your cat with parts of the house that the dog can’t access. Alternatively, put your cat in their safe, quiet room (complete with food, water, and litterbox, of course) for the duration of the visit if you don’t think the pets will get along. If you do decide to introduce your cat to a new dog, make sure to supervise them carefully.
10. Board Your Cat with Care
Planning a trip over the holidays? You’ll have to ensure you leave your cat in the care of someone you can trust. Ideally, your cat can stay in your home and be cared for by someone they know who either stays in the house or visits daily. If this isn’t an option for whatever reason, the next best thing is to leave them with familiar people. If none of this is possible, you’ll need to look into a reputable pet sitter, boarding facility, or kennel to care for your cat while you’re gone.
11. Keep a Vet on Call
With so many extra cat care considerations to make over the holidays, we can’t overstate how much peace of mind you get when you have a trusted veterinarian at your disposal. A vet can answer specific questions that may come up about your cat over the holidays, offer guidance if you’re struggling to keep them happy and comfortable, or offer their expertise in the event of a health emergency. With this list, your cat should have just as fun a holiday as you.
Did you miss part 1 of this series where we talked about holiday care for dogs? Read up on it here!
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