Well, The tree is up and this year, I have only one cat who is now almost 19. So I really don’t have to worry about her touching the tree or finding her sitting inside the tree like she did when she was young. If you have a dog or a cat, you need to take some basic precautions. I’ve written about a very bad experience that I had many years ago when I used to put tinsel on the tree. My cat at the time ate the tinsel and almost died. First rule of thumb, if you have a cat or dog, do not use tinsel or very thick garland. They will chew on it and it will get stuck in their intestines. Instead,  use thin garland, bows, ribbon etc. .  Second, place glass and expensive ornaments in the middle or top of the tree. My cats used to swat the ornaments. This could be dangerous if they knock them off the tree and break. The glass could harm but you and your pet. I put the inexpensive plastic ornaments near the bottom of the tree.

If you have a live tree, try to lure your pets away from it by having cat or dog treats on hand to distract them from chewing on the needles. The needles could get lodged in your pets throat.  Place decorations such as holly,  poinsettias and mistletoe in high sections.  The berries from mistletoe could cause your pets blood pressure to drop.

Remove strings and ribbons from presents under the tree. Your pets may think that they are toys. These items can cause your pet to choke.

Never use chocolate ornaments!

If you pet is a chewer, tape the electrical cords. Enjoy a safe holiday with your beloved pet.

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