Holiday Hazards

The last thing we'd want to happen during this happy holiday season is to become suddenly ill from something unusual we ingested, or hurt by something we played with. And there are lots of attractive, unusual, and hazardous things around us right now. We can easily be protected from all of them, and it never hurts to remind ourselves and our humans every year what they are in case we forget one.

Here is a list of what I believe and, more important, experts believe, are common holiday hazards to us cats.

1. Tinsel

I cannot warn strongly enough against hanging tinsel, or "icicles" on a Christmas tree in a house with cats. That's something my mom hadn't thought of when my sisfur had her first Christmas 11 years ago. There was tinsel on our tree, and then one day there was a piece of tinsel coming out the wrong end of my sisfur! She was okay, but it was scary. All the tinsel got gathered up and thrown away, and none has been in our house since. Ingesting tinsel could cause a serious intestinal blockage, and lead to emergency surgery to save your life.

2. Tree water

If you have a live Christmas tree in a stand with water, that water is very bad for a kitty to decide to drink. Be sure your humans cover it securely with tinfoil or something cats can't move aside. Or eat.

3. Plants

Pretty Christmas plants and greenery, like poinsettia, holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous to us cats. If we should (accidently of course) chew on the leaves or ingest any, we can get seriously ill. We never have those in our house, either. It's not worth the risk.

4. Light cords

I love to see the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree! They're great, as long as we don't chew on the cords while we're playing under there. But some kitties chew. And you don't want to get electrocuted! The cords can be hidden under the tree skirt, as long as somebody makes sure they don't get hot under there, or they could be gathered and hung on a nail higher up, or even wrapped in tinfoil and enclosed in a paper towels roll. Not perfect, but safer. They should always be unplugged, of course, if nobody's home but you.

5. Ribbons

Your humans need to be careful to put away ribbons and things they use wrapping presents where you can't get them. Hide the ribbons! is the cry in our house, because my sisfur will eat those, too, if she finds one.

6. Turkey bones

I know, I know, who ever heard of giving a cat a turkey bone? But the experts seem to assume our humans got no better sense than that. So they warn that the bones splinter and can cause intestinal damage if we swallow a piece. Well yes, they can. We knew that. And they probably shouldn't be given to d*gs, in case you've got one of those around, for the same reason.

7. And...

I guess I should remind us that eggnog is not meant for cats, sigh. But it sure is tempting, isn't it?

A little forethought and good sense on the part of your humans can easily keep the holidays a safe time for us, as well as a fun time. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!