Pointers From Parker: Holiday Safety Tips Part Two

It is starting to look a lot like Christmas

I just love a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, with all those sparkling balls!

Christmas Trees and Cat Behavior

Tree attraction is natural. Kitty thinks you've bought her a new climbing perch, complete with cat toys that swing, sparkle, and invite paw-pats and biting. Cats love heights and the Christmas tree challenges them to climb-and knock the whole thing down. Some cats take "aim" at the tree just as they would your outside shrubs and baptize the greenery. Cat play includes using teeth and claws to target twinkling lights and dangling ornaments.

Instead, smaller trees can be set on table tops, inside of baby play pens, or in a room protected by a baby gate. Situate breakable and dangerous decorations on the top of the tree out of reach of inquisitive pets.

Create a Cat Christmas Tree for your cat's enjoyment. Attach guy-wires or twine to protect topple-prone trees from the cat's airborne assault. Just make sure the ornaments are kitty safe. Decorating with catnip mice and kitty treats, fresh mint or dried or silk flowers, bows, strings of beads or popcorn instead of tinsel, soft sparkle-ball pom-poms and soft cat toys. Keeping them on the lower branches encourages the cats to stay at floor level.

If you have a live tree cats may drink from the water in the tree base. Anything added-fertilizer, preservatives, aspirin-can make pets sick. Chewing tree lights, swallowing tinsel, eating tree needles or other holiday décor can kill a pet.

Instead, make the area around the tree unattractive to keep paws at bay. Aluminum foil deters many cats since they dislike walking on that odd-feeling surface. Silver foil also offers a festive holiday look, so use this as a tree apron around the base. Or, invest in some clear plastic carpet protectors and place under the tree-nub side up. That makes cruising or lounging under the tree uncomfortable.

The soft "tacky mats" available from home product stores designed to keep throw rugs from sliding around work well to keep cats away because they dislike walking on sticky surfaces. Another option is

Sticky Paws which is a double-sided tape product designed for cat training. Sticky Paws now is available in larger sheets as well as strips that you can apply directly to carpets beneath the tree, or to place mats situated on table tops or wherever needed.

Use your cat's smell sense to keep her away from the tree. Citrus scents are off-putting to cats so scatter orange or lemon peels (or potpourri) around the base of the tree. Vicks

With proper preparation, your holidays can be enjoyable for your whole family. Save a few empty boxes and ragged bows after the gift-giving frenzy. Boxes, bags, crinkled wrapping paper and other "cheap thrills" will encourage your cat will forgive any perceived snub regarding the holidays.

Have a great & Safe Holiday!

Love Parker :)



Pointers From Parker! Holiday Safety Tips

I'm a curious cat just like many of us are.  The Holidays are my favorite time of the year - with so many new things to explore.  Over the next few days I will be posting Safe Holiday tips to help keep your pur-fect feline out of trouble this Holiday Season.


Homes become pet playgrounds at this time of year so you need to cat proof holidays. Cats delight in un-decking the halls, climbing the tree (or watering it!), eating decorations, and otherwise wreaking havoc. The result is a Christmas that's anything but merry.

Plants and Cat Behaviors
· Cats rarely eat plants, but they do claw them and then lick/groom away the residue. So beware of poisonous holiday plants and floral arrangements that include lilies. Many varieties-including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and the Casa Blanca-can cause kidney failure in cats. Holly and live mistletoe cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested by your pet. Poinsettias are NOT deadly but can cause nausea and/or mild vomiting.

· Instead, silk or plastic holiday plants make an equally showy statement without the poison potential.
This is also good to do if you have a canine in your family as well.  They also are curious!

11 Fall Pet Dangers to Avoid

  The crisp chill of autumn is upon us, find out the top 11 fall pet dangers to avoid.

The crisp chill of autumn is upon us, that means changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and lots of holidays. But along with all that excitement comes some dangers for your adorable pooch and kitty. Find out the top 11 fall pet dangers to avoid.

Antifreeze

Every year more than 10,000 dogs and cats are accidentally poisoned with automotive antifreeze. Pets are attracted to the sweet taste of ethylene glycol and one to two teaspoons will poison a cat and three tablespoons is enough to kill a medium size dog.

Allergies

Fall weather can bring about all whole new set of allergies. Ragweed and mold are two big aggravates, along with grass and dust. Look for signs like scratching, biting, chewing, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and hives and rashes.

Arthritis

Cold weather can lead to arthritis caused by inflamed joints. If your dog or cat is limping, having trouble moving, jumping, or sitting, moving slower than usual, or whimpering when he moves, he may be suffering from seasonal arthritis.

Mushrooms

All mushrooms are toxic to dogs. Always watch for mushrooms in areas where you walk your dogs or where they run and play. Be especially cautious of parasol-shaped mushrooms and all small brown mushrooms. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can range from mild vomiting and diarrhea to severe digestive problems to complete liver failure.

Compost Pile

Your compost pile in your backyard is also dangerous to your pet. The decomposing organic material could contain mycotoxins that can cause hyperthermia, agitation, excessive panting or drooling, and even seizures.

Rodenticides

In fall and winter, mice and rats come flocking indoors to warmer surroundings. Putting out rodenticides will get rid of rodents but could also be fatal to your pooch and cat. There are four different types of poison and each has the potential to kill your pet: anticoagulants, cholecalciferol, bromethalin, and phosphides.

Candy

Everyone knows that chocolate is toxic to dogs, especially the baking variety, but so are raisins and the sugar-free sweetener xylitol. Be extra cautious on Halloween where pets can get into bags of candy. Wrappers and sticks from lollipops can also pose a threat causing intestinal blockages.

Thanksgiving

You may have the urge to share your yummy feast with your pet. This is ok in moderation. Just check the list of toxic foods for pets before you feed them. Avoid fat and fatty foods that can trigger pancreatitis in dogs and cats, and never feed your dog poultry bones. They easily splinter and break and can cause serious damage if swallowed.

Cold Weather

Chilly temps can also pose a threat to your pet. Indoor animals don’t develop a thick double coat like outdoor pets and should not be left outside unattended for any period of time. Consider buying a sweater for your dog for walks or booties to keep his paws safe from ice and rock salt. Also be cautious around ice – your pet could easily slip and rip a ligament or break a bone.

Decorations

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations can all be dangerous to your pet. Ornaments, tinsel, plants, costumes, and other decorations should all be kept out of your pet’s reach.

Plants

Although beautiful, some holiday plants are toxic to dogs. You should avoid holly, amaryllis, mistletoe, poinsettia, Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus, American and European bittersweet, chrysanthemum, Christmas rose, Jerusalem cherry, autumn crocus, and burning bush. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, tremors, belly pain, difficulty breathing, shock, organ damage, slowed heart rate, collapse, and even death.