Plan a Safe Holiday for Your Cat

When it comes to this busy holiday season, there are so many things to be careful of — not to mention keeping your cat healthy, happy and safe.

Below are some thoughtful and helpful tips that can help with just that:

• Provide a quiet place of solitude. Your cat may not welcome your guests as you do, so keep her favorite place free from the holiday hubbub so she can relax.  (Our cat acts out and poops outside the litter box when she is stressed.)
• Keep poisonous and dangerous plants away from kitty. Cats love to chew on plants. Mistletoe and poinsettia are poisonous to cats. Ingested pine needles can block their digestive tract. Keep your cat away from these poisonous and dangerous plants and you just might save yourself a trip to animal emergency hospital.
• Decorate with your cat's safety in mind. A variety of decorations can cause problems for your cat. Ribbons and tinsel are frequently implicated in veterinary emergency rooms. Light cords, when chewed on can cause severe burns, electrocution and death. Prevent these disasters by keeping decorations out of reach.
• Prepare for trips well in advance. Take special precautions when traveling with your cat no matter how you choose to travel. Several days before departing, consult with your veterinarian about how to properly prepare. Some cats may need a relaxant to help with anxiety.
• Table scraps aren't snacks. Holiday foods are loaded with fat and sodium and can cause stomach upset. Chicken bones can easily get stuck in the digestive tract and other foods like onions or chocolate may be poisonous. Chocolate can cause illness and even death in cats so it should be avoided completely. Chocolate contains theobromine, a potent cardiovascular and central nervous system stimulant that is eliminated very slowly in cats.
• In short, people food is for people. Stay disciplined and keep your cat on the right cat food formula such as Life's Abundance Cat Food for optimal health. Consider giving your kitty a wholesome kitty treat such as Gourmet Kitty Treats for Healthy Skin and Coat as a stocking stuffer.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!