Have a Pet Safe Christmas!

You may take a quick glance around and think that your home is the perfect place to host the whole family’s fur babies and you may be right, but you may also be missing some key factors. Making a space that is pet-friendly doesn’t just mean offering a nice clean home with no mess, there are some things you may not have even considered that can be hazardous to your own furry family or your extended fluffy family members.

Almost every home has a Christmas tree around this time of year, but making sure it’s a pet safe tree is really important for your own pets and also any visiting fur babies. While there is a lot of debate out there between real and fake trees, including which is better for the environment, a fake tree is the clear winner when it comes to households with pets. The most common types of real trees used as Christmas trees include fir, pine and spruce which are all mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

They won’t cause any serious problems but if they consume the oils from the needles they can cause an upset stomach. Cats are quite prone to having a little chomp on the needles of real Christmas trees and the last thing you want over Christmas is cleaning up after a poorly tummy.

Even once you have your cat-safe Christmas tree, you still have to decorate it while making sure to keep it safe for your pets. Lights should be placed mostly around the middle to the top of the tree to avoid cables looking like fun toys. Many cats and dogs can’t resist playing with the lights. Tinsel might also be something you forego entirely if you have a kitten who loves to play with all things sparkly. If you place your tree right next to the couch, you’re essentially giving your pets a launch pad to jump onto the tree so a little caution with where you choose to set up your tree goes a long way.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your Christmas tree safe from your four-legged family members is to offer distractions! New toys can really help get the attention away from the big green thing that looks fun to play with and climb. Interactive toys can keep your pet busy for a while and satisfy their senses whilst a rope toy will give them something fun to chase.

Now you’ve distracted your canine companions and feline friends away from your Christmas tree, you should consider protecting your furniture. With so many people coming and going, nobody wants to be getting the hoover out between visitors to make sure all the pet hair is collected between guests. If you’re expecting some clawed guests who don’t know where is and isn’t free game to have a scratch, then just putting an extra layer over your couches will help to limit any damage or clean up after your guests leave.

Some lovely fuzzy blankets like dog blankets are great for protecting your furniture. Not only do they add a layer of protection but they’re seriously comfortable. You can even get some red blankets like the Scruffs Snuggle Blankets to make it extra festive.

It’s important to have an understanding of what foods to avoid with your feline friends and your doggy pals all year around, but Christmas is the last time of year you want to be dealing with an emergency because your pet ate something they shouldn’t. Christmas also happens to be a time of year when there is usually a lot of food lying around and much of that food isn’t good for our beloved pets. Things like chocolate, mince pies, bones for cooking and alcohol are very prevalent and all can be dangerous to your pets. Even sweets that contain xylitol are a nasty little surprise if your four-legged friend manages to steal them.

The best way to make sure that you avoid any stomach upsets is just to have everything safely out of the way. If you want your pets to join in then they can have their very own Christmas goodies like the Denzels Christmas Bauble filled with delicious pigs in blankets dog treats. You can get a Lifestage Natural Treat Christmas Selection Box packed with a great selection of different cat treats to suit every palette!

Accidents happen, especially during very busy periods. You might miss a request to go outside to go to the toilet or an excited puppy may not be able to hold it in. A cat in a new environment might miss the litter box - there is always a risk that someone might have an accident so making sure you have the appropriate cleaning supplies is important. Not only should they be pet-safe but many cleaning products will not destroy the smell of urine properly. A cleaner like Simple Solution Stain & Odour Remover Dog is a must-have for a busy Christmas!

Not only should you keep your own pets safe this Christmas, but even if you don’t have any fur babies of your own, it’s good to create an environment that is safe for the whole family including those extended four-legged family members. Your whole family will feel welcomed this Christmas with just a little effort to make it a great day for everyone involved.

For everything you need to make your home a festive wonderland for everyone including your beloved pets, visit us in store and online.