How to Protect Your Cat or Kitten During Christmas

Christmas is here again! And while we humans are enjoying gifts and treats from our loved ones, it is important we take care of the needs of our other loved ones, the treasured family pets, particularly our intelligent and curious companions, cats. It does not take much time to ‘kitty proof’ your Christmas tree, for example. A little common sense is all that is required.

Having our cats join in the fun on Christmas morning, (opening their own catnip mouse for example is a joy to behold). Their presence enhances Christmas and they are often the centre of fun during the early morning ‘unwrapping of the gifts’. If anyone opens a gift in a large box, kitty or cat alike will promptly make it his or her new toy. They are not interested in the Playstation III or flat screen television inside it, just the interesting string dangling temptingly from the top.

Here are some tips for those of you who have a new kitten or cat, to make sure that you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas.

1. Kittens (and some cats) love to chew and they don’t know the difference between a piece of string being dragged around the floor by a human, or an electric cable dangling from that shiny Christmas tree. Slide a length of plastic tubing (like a clear garden hose) slit longwise around the electric light wires dangling off the bottom of your tree. This material is plentifully and inexpensive, available from almost every DIY (Do It Yourself) store.
2. Avoid putting your favorite antique or family favorite baubles and ornaments at the bottom of the tree, these may prove just too tempting for your kitten or cat, who would love nothing better than to swipe them with his paw. Reserve the bottom branches for plastic ornaments which will bounce should kitty take a liking to them.
3. Make absolutely sure that your precious companion has his or her name and your telephone number, or some form of identification on them, during this busy holiday period. Indoor cats are masters of escape, and when you are busy greeting visitors, it is all too easy to miss your cat’s Houdini-like escape. Mitigate the disaster by making sure that whoever finds your furry friend can telephone you to re-unite you with your furry companion.

These little extras may seem time consuming to you at this busy holiday period, but what price do you put on protecting your unique and furry companion? Anyone who owns a cat or kitten knows already that they are extremely intelligent, very loyal and worth every bit of protection you can give them.