As you deck the proverbial halls this season, please hold your favourite feline fur-iends in thoughts. Any adjustments of their common routine – a home all of a sudden full of new scents, sounds and strangers — might ship even essentially the most sociable cats scampering for security.
Be aware of and cautious in regards to the vegetation you deliver into your home. Despite their apparent magnificence, holly, mistletoe and poinsettia are poisonous to cats and ought to be saved out of attain, whereas a single leaf from any type of lily is deadly. The oils of a Christmas tree can irritate their mouths and stomachs, inflicting vomiting, whereas the prickly needles are hazardous to their total GI tracts.
To err on the facet of warning, contemplate shopping for a synthetic tree and synthetic vegetation as an alternative.
Consider subsequent the breakable ornaments and dangling tinsel, shiny ribbons and synthetic snow, ropes of small lights and flickering candles. All eye-catching eye sweet to curious kitties with batting paws, small, sharp tooth and swishing tails.
Hang delicate ornaments larger on the tree and resist putting any in ornamental bowls on low surfaces. Not solely can cats choke on them, however the sharp edges of any damaged items can lacerate their mouths, throats and intestines. Drape tinsel larger on the tree as nicely, and hold ribbons on items beneath the tree to a minimal. If tinsel or ribbons are swallowed, they’ll twist and bunch inside a cat’s intestines, inflicting critical, generally deadly injury if not caught shortly sufficient.
Artificial snow is poisonous and ought to be averted in any respect prices. Lights, massive and small, strong and flickering are one other hazard, not solely as a result of they’re sizzling and breakable, however due to {the electrical} cords holding them collectively. If bitten, they’ll trigger electrical shock if not correctly grounded, and if frayed, they’ll trigger extreme lacerations to your cat’s tongue. Place all lighted candles out of attain to cut back the chance of singed fur and pads, paws and tails, and decrease the possibility of them being tipped over, leaving burning wax in all places or worse, beginning a fireplace.
As appetizing as vacation fare is for individuals, it could actually show agonizing, even deadly for cats. The most infamous offenders are:
Raisins and grapes: A handful of raisins could cause sudden kidney failure in a cat. Also keep away from giving her grapes, whereas looking ahead to indicators of toxicity ought to she unintentionally eat some. Signs that normally happen inside 24 hours are lack of urge for food, lethargy, weak spot, stomach ache, diarrhea and decreased urination.
Onions and garlic: The sulfoxides and disulfides in each destroy pink blood cells and may trigger critical blood issues together with anemia.
Fat trimmings: They trigger upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea.
Bones: Whatever the scale, form or texture, all of them spell the identical factor: hazard. From throat scratches to abdomen perforations to bowel obstructions. To safeguard in opposition to these painful prospects, all leftovers, notably bones, ought to be rigorously wrapped and promptly disposed of.
Alcohol: It’s conventional to rejoice the vacations with extra alcohol than regular – in cooking and in drinks resembling eggnog and fruit punch. For security’s sake, hold these temptations (together with partially eaten plates of meals and half-empty glasses) out of the attain of your cat to keep away from intoxication and alcohol poisoning.
Chocolates: Although chocolate has lengthy been taboo for cats, most candies are wrapped in foil for the vacations. Now, not solely can your cat get sick from consuming the chocolate, the wrappers themselves can get caught in her throat or trigger issues as they work their method by means of her digestive tract.
Christmas pudding, cake and mince pie: Filled with doubtlessly poisonous raisins, currants, and sultanas, they’re additionally made with fats and suet, and laced with alcohol — from scotch and brandy to sugary liqueurs.
And so, with some considerate planning beforehand, you and your favourite feline fur-iends can benefit from the happiest and healthiest of holidays collectively.
Nomi Berger
Nomi Berger is the bestselling writer of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and lots of of articles. She is a volunteer author for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and likewise volunteers her writing expertise to animal rescue teams in Canada and the USA. For extra details about Furry Friends go to www.furryfriendswa.org or contact them at [email protected] or (360) 993-1097
