Christmas with a Cat

and how to prevent one disaster or another. Experienced cat owners know exactly what we mean when we say: few times of year are as stressful as the days before Christmas and around New Year's Eve. We don't mean that everything gets hectic again, that gifts have been forgotten, that Christmas parties are piling up now that Covid-free times are back, or that by mid-December you still have no idea what you're doing on New Year's Eve. No, we're talking about living with our beloved cats during this turbulent time. The newcomers among us might now ask - why turbulent? The time before Christmas is wonderful, isn't it! Finally time to snuggle up on the sofa, finally the perfect weather to stay home, stroke your velvet paw and drink warm tea. Yes - all of that is true, and of course we do all of it! But there is also a clear increase in hazards and stress factors that need to be kept in mind. We at LucyBalu asked ourselves: what are the biggest pitfalls - and how can we avoid them?
Let's start with what our cats find most fascinating: anything new. Anything new within their familiar four walls pulls our curious house tigers out of chill mode and turns them into the wild cat that simply has to examine everything closely. Whether it's Christmas decorations, poinsettias or the Christmas tree makes no difference at first! Anything new wants and needs to be thoroughly examined.

Is Christmas decor even possible?

We'll reveal which kind is the right one.

Our beloved Christmas decorations are practically irresistible to cats too. They sparkle, they glitter, they turn ever so gently…. which of our house tigers wouldn't pounce on that in delight! At first glance that doesn't seem dangerous - or does it? Unfortunately, it is. Many decorations, for example, contain straw. Our cats often love to chew on it. Unfortunately, pieces of straw come loose easily and can quickly get stuck in the palate or even the throat. Because cats have what's called a soft palate, it can even happen that stiff straw stems work their way up into the nose. Hard to believe? Our vet thought so too, until she had to pull an 8 cm long piece of straw out of her cat Monaco's nose under anaesthesia.

Some plants, such as the poinsettia, are genuinely dangerously toxic and can cause severe symptoms. But the fresh cut flowers that decorate the festive table can also quickly become a considerable hazard - you can find out more about this HERE

Christmas tree baubles are especially popular with cats. Once fished down from the tree, they roll delightfully erratically across the flat, get pushed under furniture and some even jingle while they're at it! As long as the baubles are made of plastic, we're happy to cheer our kitties on. With glass, though, both cat and human need to be very careful - shards in paws or even in little mouths can put an end to any good mood in no time. And in the worst case, a trip to the vet is in order.

A tree, yes or no?

Because every tiger occasionally feels the urge to knock it down.

The tree itself is actually harmless for cats, as long as it stands firmly and can withstand a wild attack from the house tiger. Here it's really only annoying for us owners when the prettiest baubles and other decorations go flying wildly around the room. Very important: we strongly advise against tinsel! These silvery-gold strands are simply irresistible to our cats. However, once swallowed, their structure can cause serious injuries in the digestive tract and can literally cut off parts of the intestine. But chocolate or Christmas biscuits aren't exactly harmless for the animals' digestive systems either. Here it's especially important that we, as owners, make sure nothing tempting is within reach of our velvet paws.

So is Christmas with a cat all dull, with no decorations, no sweets and no tree?

Of course not 😊 We simply recommend offering our beloved pets cat-friendly toys to keep them distracted, not leaving the little rascals unsupervised with new things, especially at first, and choosing non-toxic varieties when it comes to plant decorations. It also makes sense, of course, not to hang the most precious, most expensive or grandma's heirloom baubles on the tree if you know your cat finds them simply irresistible. Generally speaking, the less it bothers us if the tree does topple over, the more relaxed things become. If your flat or house allows it, for example, it can make sense to “lock up” the Christmas tree at night - meaning it's fine for a short while if the living room isn't accessible around the clock. Of course, only if nothing important for the cat is in there, like water bowls or the food bowl!