How to Ensure Your Cat’s Safety and Happiness During Christmas
Pet-admin
This article first appeared on iCatCare on the 04th of December 2019 here.
How to ensure your cat has a contented Christmas
Most of us look ahead to the festive interval; the meals, the friends, the tree and decorations. However, for cats, Christmas could also be a time of stress and danger of damage. As a species they get pleasure from routine and are delicate to adjustments of their setting, making the celebrations difficult. In addition, the season means sure poisonous crops and meals could also be accessible to curious cats. At International Cat Care we now have consulted our veterinary members to ask them what accidents they see presently of yr. Based on this info and with the enter of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) this text affords recommendation on what to maintain out of attain and what to do to minimise the disruption to maintain our cats glad this Christmas.
Christmas crops
Poinsettia may be poisonous however medical indicators are normally gentle
Poinsettia is usually talked about as a probably toxic plant however its status is probably unfair. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service informs us that in over half the circumstances of pets consuming Poinsettia crops reported to them, the cat or canine reveals no indicators of sickness. If they do present any indicators they’re gentle reminiscent of being sick, drooling, refusing meals and being quieter than regular. Even these indicators quickly resolve with none particular remedy. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to maintain the plant out of attain. In addition, mistletoe, holly, ivy and Christmas cherry may cause a tummy upset and needs to be avoided inquisitive cats.
Many cat house owners have had the expertise of their cat climbing the Christmas tree and it falling over. Usually, each are unhurt however it’s price contemplating securing the tree to keep away from this. Injuries are reported from falling from Christmas timber and from the ensuing smashed baubles, with glass ones notably sharp when damaged. Ingestion of Christmas tree needles and the faux snow utilized to them may cause abdomen upset and different decorations may be ingested leading to a ‘international physique’. Chewing of lights and wires could be a drawback, particularly for nosy kittens and it’s not unusual for cats to cross urine simply the place you don’t need them to i.e. the tree, probably an issue if electrical plugs and wires are uncovered. This could be a signal of stress so learn on for strategies to scale back the anxiousness cats could endure presently of yr.
One of our vets reported seeing a cat with a singed tail from Hanukkah menorah candles and positively uncovered candles could be a hazard to cats who have a tendency to leap onto window sills and mantelpieces the place candles are positioned. As elevated areas are nonetheless accessible to most cats, candles needs to be saved the place you possibly can control them or left off the Christmas checklist.
At this time of celebration meals could also be overlooked, left-overs left inside attain. We historically fear about canines and chocolate toxicity for instance however what about cats? Chocolate can also be poisonous to cats, though the quantity a cat must eat to make them in poor health is quite a bit increased than for canines. Signs of chocolate poisoning together with being sick and passing diarrhoea, consuming quite a bit, showing drunk, trembling and even having a match. Hopefully, a cat’s lesser curiosity in candy treats means this danger is small.
Similarly, grapes and raisins, recognized for inflicting kidney injury in canines, could have an effect on cats however poisoning is way much less frequent. The VPIS would, nevertheless, advise remedy of cats recognized to have eaten these meals, and recommend that for instance mince pies aren’t overlooked. If you assume your cat has eaten such meals contact your vet and encourage them to name the VPIS for recommendation. On the topic of meals, it might be tempting to deal with your cat this Christmas, maybe additional cat treats or some scraps from the Christmas dinner. While a little bit left-over turkey shall be loved by the vast majority of cats with out hurt, extreme treats and human meals might make a cat poorly so do attempt to follow their regular feeding routine this time of yr; they gained’t know they’re lacking out! Another hazard may be cooked poultry bones – they’re onerous for cats to digest and may get caught within the digestive system so be certain that your cats can’t raid the bin after the Christmas lunch.
‘Foreign our bodies’ is the time period used to explain non-food objects which have turn into lodged in a cat’s physique, typically the digestive tract. They are much less frequent in cats than in canines, however we had been stunned by the quantity reported by our veterinary members. When we requested them about Christmas hazards this was essentially the most generally reported medical subject linked to the season. ‘Linear international our bodies’, these string or string-like supplies inflicting an issue, seem like the most typical and so tinsel, lametta (the lengthy ornamental strips of tinsel) and string (round meat or used to hold decorations) had been frequent culprits. One of our vet members reported eradicating a sticky mass of sellotape from a cat’s gut in June that had been there since Christmas, evidenced by the adhered holly leaves seen in locations! As talked about above, cooked poultry bones might also lead to damage. If your cat is seen chewing the tinsel or some other string-like materials, forestall their entry if attainable and control your pet for indicators of sickness. These indicators may be delicate in cats and embody merely sleeping extra, hiding away and being sick or refusing meals. Consult your vet if you’re apprehensive about your pet and do point out any non-food materials you could have seen your cat chewing.
This time of yr means numerous adjustments to a house, and for cats who typically thrive on predictability, routine and the perceived security of their territory (their dwelling and backyard), this may be distressing. The furnishings is usually moved round to accommodate additional friends, the tree is introduced in, lights and decorations are put up, music is performed, all making their dwelling look, sound and odor totally different. In addition, unfamiliar individuals, and worse nonetheless unfamiliar canines could go to the home and even keep for a number of days, once more at variable occasions, interrupting the traditional routine. In order to minimise misery throughout this season take into account the next:
Ensure your cat has a number of protected and comfy locations to cover and get away from the noise and hustle and bustle. A cardboard field or igloo mattress above the wardrobe or beneath the mattress can present safety. If new beds are added to the house presently, make them odor acquainted by including bedding already utilized by your cat.
Advise guests to not method the cat whether it is in its mattress, however solely to stroke the cat if it initiates contact. Visiting kids could also be eager to see and cuddle the cat however light stroking on the cat’s initiation have to be insisted upon.
Guests may be given cat treats and toys to assist educate the cat constructive associations with the brand new individuals.
Ensure there may be all the time an open door to permit the cat to get away from any noisy events or dinners to a quieter a part of the house.
Consider plugging in a ‘Feliway’ diffuser into the room the cats spends most time a number of days earlier than the festivities start. This product (accessible out of your vet) accommodates feline pheromones which may help the cat really feel safer. Ensure it’s switched on regularly all through the festive season.
If guests are sleeping in one of many rooms the cat normally makes use of, for instance, for sleeping, consuming or toileting, make sure to present the required sources (beds, meals or litter tray) in different quieter components of the home and ideally, earlier than the guests arrive in order that adjustments happen progressively and the cat is snug with the brand new location.
If the cat’s litter tray is positioned in a spot that can imply extra individuals site visitors or noise throughout the Christmas interval, it’s good observe to supply a further litter tray in a quieter a part of the house.
If the cat is especially sound delicate, keep away from crackers and celebration poppers.
If a canine is visiting it might be useful to limit its entry to the cats retreat areas utilizing for instance child gates on the steps.
