How to Decorate for Christmas with Cats: The Do's and Don'ts

Nothing screams Christmas more than tinsel - the most decorative addition that is spread across every photo frame, shelf and never mind the tree!

When it comes to felines and creating the purr-fect festive display, the tinsel may have to be reconsidered. Posing the not-so-festive question - is tinsel poisonous to cats? We’ve put together everything you need to know from potential cat-friendly tinsel potential cat-friendly tinsel to Christmas decorations.

The bright, colourful and shining niceties of tinsel are enough to get adults excited, so it’s  no wonder our furry friends are ready to leap at the chance to play with it! After all, it almost looks like a festive cat toy! It can lead to their creative minds getting ahead of them, enticing them to nibble on the festive decoration - much like they do with a toy mouse suspended by a string or other cat teaser toys.

Whilst tinsel isn’t particularly poisonous to cats, it can cause serious illnesses if ingested.. If it’s your furry acquaintance's first Christmas, we would highly recommend taking it away from the Christmas decorations bundle.

I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘what happens if a cat eats tinsel?’.

The strands are extremely difficult for cats to chew, and as the sparkly decoration is made of plastic, it does not break down in their stomach. If, during the festive celebrations, your pet does ingest it, they could surprise you with a shiny surprise a few days later.

However, PetMD stresses how tinsel could cause a serious illness, as it can lead to blockages in their stomachs - which could be fatal.

If you find your cat hasn’t been able to cough it up, you may find that they show the following symptoms:

 

Give your vet a call for further advice on the next steps for your furry friend, as they may need to run exams to evaluate the situation!

Turning your lights for the first time starts the wave of true festive cheer. But with a mischievous feline on the prowl, you need to ensure it doesn't turn into the nightmare before Christmas.

With the electrical wiring at the core of our festive lights, the Blue Cross shares how it can be a real danger to our cats. However, with a few tweaks, pet owners can rejoice once again!

To avoid the classic tale (...or tail) of your ‘cat chewed through your Christmas lights’, direct them towards the middle of your tree, as the wires will be less visible to prying moggies.

It’s also handy to cover or hide the leftover wire coming away from your tree. Wrap the spare wire into a ball and hide it within the bottom branches to ensure your investigative feline doesn’t let curiosity get the better of them.

If you’re opting for wired lights, switch them off at the mains when you’re not able to supervise your cat. Battery-powered or built-in lights are the purr-fect alternatives to take away the need for extra wires and reduce the risk of any accidents.

Our felines are curious, loving features and although there are a few cat-proof features to consider, there are many moggie-friendly Christmas decorations to create your own whisker wonderland.

●        The Christmas Tree - Firstly, choosing an artificial Christmas tree is much safer than a real one - sorry to all real tree lovers out there! Pine needles can be dangerous to cats if ingested, so opting for an artificial one causes less mess and a safe feline. Treat your furry friend to a new cat scratcher to steer them away from launching for your tree.

●        Christmas baubles - they look amazing on our Christmas trees, especially ones that provide a sense of nostalgia. Avoid placing your baubles and other tree ornaments at the bottom of your tree, as they will be a perfect toy for cats to play with! As they’re dazzling and shiny, they will grab your pet’s attention in no time, so choose less striking decorations with a more rustic feel to avoid any disasters.

●        The position of your tree - cats are wonderful adventurers and if your Christmas tree is beside a climbable surface, it’s highly likely your loveable friend will attempt to launch onto your lovely decorated tree, so carefully consider where you place it.

You’ll be sure to have a meow-ry Christmas with your furry companion this festive season by following our top tips. Make sure you’re strategic with your lights and incorporate cat-safe Christmas tree decorations ahead of the big day for yuletide joy! Just don’t forget their present this year - explore our cat range to find the most special gift.