Holiday Cat Care Tips

The holiday season is here! Of course, no holiday scene is complete without a purring cat. Fluffy is part of the family, too! Your furball definitely deserves a little extra TLC at this time of year. Read on as a Jacksonville, FL vet offers some advice on caring for kitties around the holidays.

Presents

Don’t forget to pick up a few things for your cat. Toys, treats, and new beds all make great gifts for our feline buddies. Of course, Fluffy may ignore her presents and bat at ornaments on the tree, or play in empty gift bags. With cats, you just never know!

The Tree

We can’t really discuss holiday cat care without at least touching on Fluffy’s habit of attacking trees. If your feline buddy is a little ball of energy, you’ll need to at least try to catproof the tree. Tinsel, ornament hooks, ribbons, garlands, and fragile ornaments are all dangerous for playful pets. We recommend putting most of these decorations on the top half of the tree. Hang just a few unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches. You may also want to secure the treetop to the wall or ceiling with fishing line.

Hazards

Keep your frisky pet in mind as you decorate. Many holiday plants, such as poinsettias, lilies, holly, and ivy, are toxic to kitties. Candles and fireplaces are also an issue. You don’t want Fluffy sticking her tail in a scented candle!

Guests

Some kitties are very friendly, and will hop from lap to lap when visitors come over. Some won’t bother to get up from their beds, or will just sprawl out in the middle of the floor. And then there are the scaredy-cats, who will bolt for cover as soon as the doorbell rings. If you have a shy furball, set her up in a quiet back room with bedding, food, toys, treats, and a litterbox whenever you host events.

Treats

Food is a big part of many holiday celebrations. Fluffy will definitely appreciate a special snack! Canned tuna or crabmeat in water is always a good option. Kitties can also have sodium-free broth, shredded deli meat, or cooked, plain meat, fish, or poultry without the skin, bones, or fat. Just be sure to stick to things that are safe for cats.

Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your San Jose, Jacksonville, FL vet clinic, anytime. We’re happy to help!