This month Dr. Jacqui writes about Holiday Tips

The holiday season should be a joyous time of celebration but it can also be dangerous for your cat. Avoiding the following typical feline holiday hazards can make the season pleasurable for all.

Tinsel:

Cats like to play with string like objects. Unfortunately, they often end up consuming parts of the string. When a cat ingests string there is a great risk of the string getting caught in the gastrointestinal track and creating a life threatening foreign body that needs to be removed surgically. Tinsel is a common culprit in this holiday disaster, so keep tinsel and other string-like decorations off your holiday tree and out of your holiday decorations.

Holiday packages:

While a beautifully decorated package can be a sight to behold, it can harbor risky elements for your cat. The most common risk on packages is the ribbons. These beautiful decorations, if consumed, can become deadly string foreign bodies. So either place these ribbon adorned packages out of your cat's reach or simply cut off the ribbons prior to placing the package under the tree.

Tree lights:

Some cats like to chew on electrical cords and the introduction of holiday lights can present a problem. This may be particularly true if the cat is present when you are stringing up the lights and starts to play with the wires. Cats who chew on cords are at risk for electrocution, a serious and potentially fatal accident. If your cat shows an interest in the cords or has a history of cord chewing, either forgo the lights or purchase cord protectors at your home hardware/improvement store.

Holiday candles:

Cats are curious creatures and may be drawn to investigate a flickering candle. Unfortunately, if they get too close, they can singe whiskers/fur or perhaps even catch on fire. Keep candles out of cats' reach and/or closely supervise your cat when candles are alight in your home.

Potpourri:

Depending on the mixture, some components of a dry potpourri mix may be toxic to cats if consumed. Warmed liquid potpourri has been associated with serious toxicity in cats as they investigate it by licking and consuming some of the liquid. It is best to either keep these out of your home or in a location that is inaccessible to your cats.

Tree water:

Many cats will be drawn to drink the water at the base of your tree despite offering them clean, fresh water elsewhere. Because they may be drawn to this novel water source, avoid using any chemicals or preservatives in your tree water. Check tree water levels regularly and refill as needed.

Tree climbing:

The introduction of a tree into the house can release the wild feline in your complacent couch cat...suddenly they want to explore and climb this great new object. If your tree isn't stable, this exploration could be a disaster with the tree tumbling, ornaments falling and furniture crashing to the ground. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you have a very stable tree stand and avoid placing objects on the tree that encourage your cat to scale the branches.

Ornaments:

Cats may find ornaments to be great cat toys to bat and paw, especially those hanging on the lower branches. If these ornaments are fragile, breakage is possible. Either avoid placing fragile ornaments on your holiday tree or place them on higher branches.

Holiday plants:

Some common holiday plants pose a risk to pets. The three top holiday plants that you need to be cautious about are poinsettias, mistletoe and holly. Consult with your veterinarian if your cat ingests any of these plants. If you know your cat has a tendency for plant consumption, it may be wise to avoid decorating your home with these plants.

• Poinsettia: While this plant, especially the currently available hybridized forms, is usually not deadly it can still pose some problems if ingested. The sap is a local irritant, so if a cat chews on a plant it may show of signs of oral distress such as pawing at its mouth, shaking its head or hyper-salivating. Ingestion may result in vomiting.
• Mistletoe: The berries of the mistletoe are the toxic component and if eaten in sufficient quantity can cause hyper-salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination and elevated heart and respiratory rates. Shock and death are possible. Small quantities of berry consumption usually present as gastrointestinal upset.
• Holly: The holly berries are the toxic component and if ingested in sufficient quantities can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and the subsequent medical complications of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Visitors:

While holiday visitors can make your season special, they also may inadvertently pose a risk to your cat. An indoor only cat may find opportunities to escape via open doors so make sure all visitors are aware of your cat's indoor only status and use secondary barriers to limit escape opportunities. For shy cats, visitors may disrupt their normal routine and limit access to their resources such as the food/water or litterboxes. This could result in reduced food/water intake or inappropriate elimination. To protect against this, create a safe haven for your shy cat with all necessary resources.

Kitty Gifts:

The holidays are a season of giving — don't leave your kitty off your gift list. Perhaps the best gift to give your cat during the hectic holiday season is the gift of time — set aside some time each day to play, pet or groom your feline friend.