At this time of year, cats can have a ball… sometimes by playing with our Christmas tree baubles!

However, our decorations, some foods & festive plants can be very dangerous for cats and other companion animals.

We would like to share some tips for keeping your feline friend safe and content...

 

Your tree & decorations

For all cats, but especially relevant for those young ones who are more prone to climb & investigate, the Christmas tree can pose significant danger.

It’s always advisable to supervise your cats around your tree and any decorations that they can reach. The tree itself (real or artificial), the lights, decorations & gifts can all be hazardous if chewed or knocked.

 

 

Place fragile decorations on higher branches out of reach and ensure your tree is stable. You could try putting a barrier around your tree, like a puppy pen, (which can protect it from other pets & young children too), although this may not too much of an obstacle to skilled climbers!

Placing bells on lower tree branches can help to alert you to your pet’s activities.

 

 

Appropriate hiding places

Cats feel safer when they have a choice of hiding places, offered at various heights. Providing platforms & hiding places, both at ground level and higher up, demonstrates a wonderful home environment.

 

 

This is even more important if there are going to be planned or unplanned guests arriving. The choice to be outside or inside, preferably via the use of a catflap, and a choice of litter trays in quiet areas, will ensure that your cat feels safe.

 

Enrichment

It’s always a good idea to provide your cat with enrichment, whether they’re mainly an indoor or outdoor cat.

An indoor cat may enjoy enrichment that's tailored to allow them to express their natural behaviours, including hunting, catching and consuming ‘prey’ toys.

 

 

Playing with your outdoor cat in this way may also reduce the amount of actual hunting they participate in, possibly reducing the likelihood of being presented with an unwanted Christmas gift of your own by your cat!

Try these festive, home-made ideas, and possibly also save your tree from preying paws...

 

Interactive play

Your cat will love to play with you, making your relationship even stronger. How about scrunching up some leftover wrapping paper (avoid the glittery or foil types) into a ball and flicking it across the floor for your cat to chase. You can even add a piece of string to make the ball ‘dance.’

 

 

Make lots of little paper balls, hiding some easy to find and some more difficult to find treats inside. Then, pop the balls into a cardboard box (whose cat doesn’t like a box?). You can even scatter some loose treats inside the box of balls.

 

   

 

It will be hard for your cat to resist diving in, but if they are a little unsure to start with, get one of the balls out and play with it first.