Avoiding doggy drama and kitty chaos: 5 tips for a pet safe Christmas

Here are our top tips to minimise stress and enjoy a pet safe Christmas. 

1. Watch out for sneaky snackers!  

Many festive treats are toxic to dogs and cats. Try not to leave food unattended in case your four-legged family members decide to grab the opportunity for a feast!  

In 2019 alone, Vets Now treated almost 130 dogs who had eaten mince pies on Christmas Eve – up from an average of 14 cases during the rest of December. 

We also recommend that you let children know that they must not feed pets any treats unsupervised.  

Some toxic or dangerous Christmas foods include:  

• Chocolate
• Raisins – in mince pies, Christmas cake etc  
• Onion gravy or onion stuffing 
• Candy canes (or any sweets containing xylitol) 
• Meat on the bone 

As much as it’s tempting to ‘spoil’ them with treats, it’s best to keep feeding your pets their normal food over the holidays to avoid upset tummies.  

If you must give them a little Christmas treat, you can give them a little bit of skinless, boneless turkey meat as long as there is no gravy on it!  

2. Keep curious cats away from Christmas trees 

Playful kitties are often drawn to Christmas trees, they’re like an epic cat tower filled with sparkly, dangling toys! 

However, there are some tricks you can try to avoid mishaps. For example, you could invest in a tall Christmas tree stand that makes the lower branches less accessible to your feline family. Or try a cat-friendly tree skirt such as a circular cat tunnel around the base of your tree to divert their attention.  

Some people choose to anchor their trees to the wall to prevent them from falling over, but at the very least, avoid using breakable tree decorations.   

Christmas tree needles will cause discomfort or potentially dangerous blockages if eaten, and they can get stuck in between sensitive paw pads. Get a non-drop variety if buying a real tree and keep on top of your hoovering!  

3. Stick to routine as much as possible  

Our pets thrive on routine and can become very anxious when it’s disrupted. Although you may have Christmas parties or more visitors than usual, do your best to keep the routine as close to normal as you can for your cat or dog.  

Keeping mealtimes and walk times consistent will help your pets navigate a busy festive season more easily. 

4. Give your cat or dog a safe space away from any noise 

Provide a quiet, safe space away from noise and commotion.  

Cats especially will appreciate a few cosy, little dens that they can tuck themselves away into. A blanket fort or even a simple cardboard box filled with their favourite blanket or toys can make a safe haven away from the celebrations.  

Dogs will appreciate having a quiet room to chill out in with their favourite bed or some safe toys.  

Advice excitable youngsters that it’s important for your pets to have their alone time and keep people away from their safe spaces when you have guests over.  

5. Don’t leave your pets alone for too long  

We hope you have a lot of fun out celebrating with friends but remember not to leave your pets home alone for too long. Christmas is better together anyway! 

If you’re taking your pets with you for any festive celebrations, it’s a good idea to take something familiar like a blanket, bed, or toy to help them feel comfortable.  

If there will be multiple pets in the home, it’s really important to keep an eye on them and watch out for potential conflicts over resources like treats or toys.  

Ensure all the animals have plenty of space away from each other and avoid introducing treats or toys when they’re together, especially if they don’t know each other. Baby gates or crates can be helpful to keep them separate at dinnertime or throughout the event.