Keep Your Cat Safe and Happy During The Holidays

There are extra dangers for cats during the holidays.

"Home for the holidays." "Thanksgiving dinner." These phrases conjure up cherished memories of family feasts, reconnecting with old friends, and welcome respites from work. True, these same phrases might also trigger angst about harried trips to the mall, relatives who don't get along, and way too many calories. But even with its commercialization, pressures, and occasional heartburn, we generally love this time of year. We feel invigorated, and for at least a while we can envision peace and goodwill.

"The holidays" and "Thanksgiving dinner" should also set off alarms if you live with a precocious kitten or a sedate feline who's been in the family for years. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve pose all kinds of risks for cats. But with some planning, proactive safeguards, and a keen awareness of the dangers of the holiday season, you and your kitty should have a joyous and festive time—and even sneak in your fair share of catnaps.

The rest of this article focuses on three areas of concern: rich and overabundant food, crowded households, and holiday greenery.

But Before You Read Any Further . . .

Here are two preventive steps you can take right away. They take almost none of your time, but they may be lifesavers. If you've already done them, you deserve a pat on the back and some appreciative purrs.

  1. Find out the phone number and location of the nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic. Post this information in a convenient place, such as the refrigerator, and also keep it in your wallet or purse. If an emergency occurs on a night, weekend, or holiday, the last thing you want to be doing is searching for a vet's office that's open.
  2. Do the same thing with the Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA). Their number is 888-ANI-HELP, or 888-426-4435. There may be a fee charged to your credit card when you use them, though the cost may be a bargain because it can be life-saving.

Microchipping and Identification

Although we don't like to think about it, the risks of kitties getting loose—not to mention disoriented—outdoors increases during the frenzy of the holidays. Microchipping is a way to give your cat permanent identification should she get lost. In addition, now is a good time to consider outfitting your kitty with a breakaway collar and attached ID tag. These safety measures help ensure that your kitty stays safe and sound—and ultimately with you—in case the unexpected happens.

Institute "Safety First" Kitchen Practices Well Ahead of Time

Teach your kitty that the stove and areas adjacent to it are out-of-bounds. Clap your hands, say "No" in a tone and volume that is not frightening but indicates that you mean business, and/or lift the kitty up and place her in a suitable spot if she wanders too close to the stove.

Given that the kitchen is often a sensory wonderland and that kitty enjoys being where you are, a compromise solution that often works is to designate and/or prepare places in the kitchen in which your kitty is allowed and that enable her to enjoy your company and the ambiance without getting in the way or putting her or you at risk. A footstool, a special chair, a windowsill, a cat condo, even a section of the counter that is not near the stove—all of these are potential cat-safe and cat-allowed kitchen areas.

Get into the habit of turning off all burners on the stove if you have to take your attention away from cooking for even a minute. This may seem excessive—until you have a conversation with a firefighter and ask what he or she has seen. Learn more in the article "Fire Safety for Cats."

If at all possible, feed your kitty her dinner before preparing yours. Not only will this very likely satisfy her appetite, but she may also go into the next room to wash off, as cats typically do—buying you at least a few minutes of time to do kitchen chores without a curious kitty complicating matters.

Remember that cats are stealthy; although this may be second nature for those who have lived with cats for any length of time, try to develop the habit of looking down from time to time when in the kitchen. Cats can be at the other end of the house and an instant later seemingly have teleported themselves to the kitchen floor next to your feet.

Unsafe Foods for Cats

General Considerations

"Just say no" when your cat begs for food from the holiday table, and keep your kitty away from holiday food in general. Holiday feasts and snacks tend to be high in fat, sugar, seasonings, and other ingredients that can cause severe digestive problems—and possibly an emergency trip to the vet—when ingested by cats.


Turkey-Related Foods

A bit of turkey (three or four small pieces) is fine as a treat for your kitty, but there are some risks:


Other Common Holiday Foods

Keep the following ingredients out of reach of your cat. These are common foods we have around the house but that may be more plentiful during Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow. Note that these items may be more accessible than usual to your cat if you serve a buffet-style banquet.

You can learn more in the slideshow article "Foods Toxic to Cats."

Popular Holiday Foods That Are Generally Acceptable for Cats in Small Quantities

In general, cooked, unseasoned meat, grains, and vegetables, unless listed above, are OK to feed to your cat in limited "treat" amounts. However:

Signs of Food Poisoning in Cats

Signs that may indicate that your cat has ingested something toxic include: staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors. Get your cat help immediately if you notice any of these signs. If not treated right away, your cat may suffer kidney or heart damage. Swallowing harmful foods can, in some instances, be fatal to cats, so you must take these signs seriously; your swift response can make all the difference. Call your regular or emergency vet or the Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) for guidance.

Tips to Prevent Your Cat from Self-Serving the Wrong Foods or Contributing to Calamities

Even if you don't feed your cat inappropriate foods, she may help herself to these foods if they're within her considerable reach. Here are some preventive measures you and your guests can take to help avoid accidental snacks and other mishaps.

Guest Control

While humans often enjoy the flurry of people coming and going over the holidays, the same may not be true for your cat. Many cats become stressed from the overload of new sights and sounds and disrupted routines. They may become frightened or aggressive—or even try to escape. To reduce your cat's stress level, do the following:

Holiday Plants

It's never too early to think about the plants we bring into our homes during the winter holidays. Many of us start decorating our homes right after Thanksgiving. Before you adorn your home with seasonal foliage, consider which plants may harm your cat. These include lilies, mistletoe, Christmas cacti, holly berries, and poinsettias as well as pine needles which can puncture your cat's intestines or stomach if she chomps on them.

The article "How to Keep Your Cat from Chewing on Houseplants" explains various strategies for protecting your cats and your plants from each other and includes handy lists of plants that are toxic and safe, respectively, for cats. If it's impossible to keep your kitty from nibbling on foliage, consider buying artificial renditions of holiday plants—including Christmas trees—which are basically harmless and can be recycled year after year.

Make Safety a Habit, So You and Your Cat Can Have Stress-Free Holidays

Don't be daunted by all these safety precautions for your cat. Protecting your cat from harmful substances and stress is something you do every day without thinking about it. But since the holidays are a bit more demanding and distracting, you may need to give your cat's well-being extra attention. So put your cat's safety on your holiday to-do list.

You May Also Like These Articles:

Foods Toxic to Cats - Slideshow

Fire Safety for Cats

Traveling With Your Cat

Stress in Cats

Common Plants Poisonous to Cats

Clicker Training for Cats: Come When Called

How Do I Get My Cat into a Carrier?

Training Your Cat To Stay Off The Kitchen Counter

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at CatHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with CatHealth.com.