Christmas Cats: A Literary Companion

Christmas Trees And Decorations

Christmas holds many fanciful sights and wonders, for a curious cat, and particularly for a kitten, whose world is still being discovered. It can also be one of the most dangerous holidays for a cat. Always keep a kitten's curiosity in mind when decorating. Breakable, toxic, or harmful ornaments, plants, and knickknacks should be kept out of the cat's reach or not used. Strings of popcorn or beads, as well as the string and needles to make these garlands, can kill your cat.

Electrical cords, if bitten into, can pose a fatal risk. Some cats love to chew them, bat at them, claw them. Keep your electrical cords bound tightly and wrapped in aluminum foil or another material that is unattractive to cats. Cords can also be run above doors, secured to the wall along baseboards, or in some other way fastened out of your pet's reach. Also be careful not to let cords run under furniture or carpets on a permanent basis, or the cord can get worn down after a time and cause a fire.

Another way to help keep your cat off the cords is to purchase from a pet supply store or veterinarian a product with a bitter taste that can be sprayed on electrical cords (or plants) to make them taste bad. However, this might not work as a one-time preventive measure if you have a particularly mouthy kitten or cat. And the taste will eventually wear off and have to be reapplied.

Fireplaces and kerosene heaters should be protected with safety screens. It is in your cat's best interest to err on the side of caution and make sure the cat cannot come into contact with or be exposed to hot embers or sparks. Wood-burning stoves usually pose little danger to cats, but some cats will sleep so close to the stove that their fur becomes hot to the touch.