The holiday season is upon us! As many of us start preparing for our favorite holiday rituals, our feline buddies are looking forward to a few of their own. At the top of Fluffy’s list? Wreaking havoc on Christmas trees. Here, a Urbana, IL vet offers some advice on keeping your frisky furball out of your holiday centerpiece.
Decorate Carefully
Fluffy is always cute and frisky, but she tends to dial her mischief meter up to 11 around the holidays. Keep this in mind when you decorate. Small or sharp items, such as ornament hooks, tinsel, small ornaments, ribbons, and manger pieces are all unsafe. Lights, tinsel strands, garlands, and ribbons also present serious choking and entanglement risks. (Many kitties are automatically drawn to things that are dangerous for them to play with, but that’s another topic.)
Block Access
You may want to consider getting a puppy gate. You can decorate that too, so it doesn’t ruin your decor.
Distraction
You probably won’t have much luck simply telling your feline friend to stay out of the tree. However, you may have better luck distracting the furball. Give Fluffy some of her gifts early, and tire her out with fun play sessions at night.
Go Artificial
Your furry pal may be able to scale a real tree, but she’ll have a hard time climbing a fake one. A fake tree may also save you money in the long run!
Choose The Right Location
Picking the right spot can also help here. Don’t put the tree next to a desk, chair, sofa, or anything else that gives Fluffy easy access. A corner may be the best option.
Offer Extra Support
It may not be a bad idea to add some extra support to the tree. Use fishing line to secure the treetop to the wall or ceiling. A good tree stand is also a must.
Training
Our feline friends are definitely smart enough to learn what they are and are not supposed to do. Whenever your kitty gets near the tree, do something to startle her. You can clap your hands, make a loud noise, or sound an alarm. Fluffy will probably beeline it for her favorite hiding spot to ponder things. Sooner or later, she’ll get the hint. Maybe.
Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your local Urbana, IL pet hospital, for all your furry friend’s veterinary care needs.
