The long-awaited Christmas holiday season has arrived, with its tree, decorations and traditional sweets. But we must remember that Christmas and the New Year bring many dangers for our animal friends, from New Year’s fireworks to decorations and traditional dishes. Let us look together at what they are and what we can do to make the holidays a joyful time for them too.
The Decorations
During the holidays, almost all families choose to decorate their homes with the traditional Christmas tree, nativity scene or both. Anyone living with a dog or cat should know how interesting animals may find the decorations used to decorate both the tree and the nativity scene.
There are many large and small objects that dogs and cats may chew or swallow, such as:
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Baubles
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Light cables
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Ribbons
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Bows
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Polystyrene
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Iron hooks
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Artificial snow
To prevent our animals from getting hurt without necessarily giving up Christmas decorations, we can take a few simple precautions.
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Choose a tree that is not too large: the risk of the tree toppling during play and the cat’s climbing is greater if the tree is large. A more modestly sized tree will remain standing longer;
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Avoid real trees: by now, few people prefer buying real trees rather than synthetic ones. Remember that although swallowing real or plastic needles is always dangerous, the risks increase with a real tree. The cat or dog may chew its bark and swallow it;
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Place the tree in a safe spot: the tree should be protected from our animals’ “attacks.” Try to secure it as much as possible to the surrounding furniture, perhaps using strong transparent nylon lines. They will not be visible but will keep the tree in place. Another precaution is to avoid having nearby furniture from which the animal can jump more easily. A very small kitten hanging from the Christmas tree probably will not cause damage, but imagine 6 kilos of feline launching itself onto the branches;
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Choose decorations carefully: the tree, nativity scene and decorations on doors and windows can be just as beautiful without some elements that are more dangerous for our animals. Avoid artificial snow and glass objects that can fall and break into countless sharp fragments, as well as lit candles, to prevent the animal from getting burned;
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Make the decorations less appealing: use a repellent spray, readily available at all pet stores, to spray around the tree and on the nativity scene. The cat and dog, disgusted by the strong smell, will run away. Also avoid objects that reflect light and pendants, which cats can easily mistake for prey;
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Secure the decorations firmly to the tree: baubles, figurines, pinecones and all decorations must be firmly attached to the tree branches, for example by tying them securely with strong cords. Avoid metal hook-shaped hangers that are simply placed on the branch, because the animal could easily remove and swallow them;
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Decorate only the higher parts of the tree: avoid decorating the lower parts of the tree, because they are the first areas animals can reach with their paws;
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Choose larger figurines for the nativity scene: for those who do not want to give up the nativity tradition, an excellent idea may be to choose larger figurines. We would probably need an entire room to depict the whole collection of characters, but we can also do without the knife grinder or a couple of sheep;
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Protect electrical cables: Christmas lights are essential on the tree, nativity scene and balconies. In any case, try to protect them by covering them with insulating adhesive tape wrapped around all the electrical cables, to prevent the animals from getting shocked;
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Watch out for gifts: Christmas Eve is a joy for everyone, but when the fateful moment of exchanging gifts arrives, remember to collect all ribbons and bows that may interest dogs and cats in a bag.
If we have cats at home, we must also be careful with plants. Not everyone knows this, but poinsettias are extremely dangerous for cats, because they contain substances that are poisonous if ingested.
Traditional Holiday Foods
Aunt Pina is already at the stove, and we cannot wait to enjoy all the traditional Christmas sweets and dishes.
We will not discuss our own diet, since Christmas comes only once a year and everything is allowed, but let us remember our animals. Here are some of the most dangerous foods for the dog and the cat:
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Chocolate: it is highly toxic to animals;
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Sweeteners: xylitol is very appealing to our animals’ palates, but it is also dangerous if ingested;
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Panettone and pandoro: leavened products can upset the digestive system of dogs and cats, so avoid them. They may also contain raisins, which are very dangerous for animals;
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Exotic fruit: during the holidays, tables are often enhanced with exotic fruit. Pay particular attention to avocado, which is poisonous to dogs and cats.
As you can see, it is not true that people who live with a dog or cat must necessarily make sacrifices. The important thing is to follow a few simple, practical tips so that everyone can enjoy the holiday season peacefully together.