Are Cats Allergic To Christmas Trees

Get Creative If You Must

If this is going to be your cats first experience with a Christmas tree, theres no way to predict how theyll react. Maybe youll get lucky, and theyll be totally uninterested. Thats not exactly likely, but you can hope. Assuming your cat is like most and develops a fascination with the Christmas tree, you might need to get creative. Every cat thinks differently, and you can adjust your cat-proofing strategy depending on how things go.

Maybe your cat is attracted to the shiny glass ornaments, but they leave the others alone. In that case, you can either remove the shiny stuff completely or put them out of reach. There are some seriously creative cat people out there who go to extreme measures to cat-proof their Christmas trees. From enclosing the entire tree in a wire dog kennel to only decorating the very top, there are some clever ideas. Do what you have to do to have a merry and cat-safe holiday!

Why Are Cats Attracted To Christmas Trees

Is your cat fascinated by your trees shiny baubles? Wont stop trying to climb it? If so, youre not alone. Cats are naturally attracted to Christmas trees for a number of reasons:

• Christmas trees are usually filled with shiny tinsel, baubles and sparkly lights for them to bat, which look just like their toys.

• Cats are curious creatures. In general, cats love exploring new, unfamiliar things in their home, and will attempt to climb or clamber on the object if they can, to get a good look at it.

• Climbing is a natural instinct for cats. They love high perches, and the top of the tree is no exception. They may try to climb the tree to get a good vantage point of their nearby environment.

• The bark makes a good scratching post. Scratching feels great for cats it relieves a natural instinct and helps to wear down their claws. If your cat doesnt have a scratching post nearby, they may be tempted to scratch on the bark of the tree.

• The pot and soil makes a good litter tray. If your cat doesnt love their current litter situation, they may be tempted to do their business in the tree pot. Cats with a tendency to urine mark may also be tempted to mark their territory on the new tree!

Watch Out Here Are 5 Poisonous Plants That Can Ruin The Holidays

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas when you start to see Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettia and mistletoe. However, the plants that can make the holidays so special can also make them deadly for your pets or at least a bit uncomfortable. Here are 5 plants that you should keep out of the way of your four-legged friends during the holidays:

Pine Needles

Whether they are on your Christmas tree, a wreath or some garland, pine needles can be a problem if ingested. The needles can puncture or irritate the lining of your dogs stomach, and the oils can irritate the mucous membranes. The needles may not kill your pet, but they can make him really uncomfortable and ill.

Poinsettia

Though not poisonous, this brightly colored holiday plant can irritate your dogs mouth and stomach, even causing vomiting. Your pet may spend a few days feeling bad, but it shouldnt cause more serious problems than that.

Mistletoe

You might want to pucker up when you see mistletoe, but if your dog gets too close to it, it can cause serious problems. Ingesting mistletoe can cause everything from gastrointestinal disorders to cardiovascular collapse.

Holly

Though holly has a low toxicity level for dogs, its leaves and berries can still cause vomiting, diarrhea and even depression. While it may not cause serious health problems, it can make the holidays a little less bright for your dogs.

Amaryllis

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How Can You Keep Your Cat Off The Christmas Tree

Here are a few tips for teaching your cat not to bother the Christmas tree, so you can keep them both safe. You might need to use one or all of them depending on your kitty.

• Don’t keep presents under the tree to tempt your cat.
• Don’t use tinsel or anything similar to decorate the tree, in case your efforts to keep your cat away aren’t successful and she eats it.
• Spray the tree needles with Bitter Apple Spray.
• Shake a can of half-filled with coins or make another loud noise if you see your cat about to mess with the tree.
• Consider a deterrent such as the ScatMat, which gives the kitty a small zap of static when she steps on it. Place one around the tree to deter her from going near it.

Additional deterrents for many cats include aluminum foil and citrus-scented sprays. Wrapping the tree’s trunk in foil can keep many cats from attempting to climb up, and spritzing the tree with citrus-scented spray or placing orange or lemon peels around its base creates a nice scent for humans but often helps cats keep their distance.

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What Should I Do If My Cat Has Been Poisoned

If you think your cat has eaten something dangerous, contact the vet immediately . All veterinary practices must have an emergency service available over Christmas but remember that you may need to drive there. Wherever possible have any packaging to hand so that you can tell the vet exactly what the substance or food is. Or if you have seen your cat chewing something, take samples along. Do not try to make your cat sick without asking the vet. If your cat is staggering or having a fit, clear obstacles out of the way, and make the room dark and quiet.

However, many illnesses can look like poisoning such as kidney disease or severe gastroenteritis. Both of these can have a sudden start. Unless you have an idea of what poison is involved, it is not normally possible to identify it by taking samples from an animal.

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Are Christmas Trees Poisonous To Pets Keep Your Furry Friends Safe With This Guide

Kelly Wynne Culture

Bringing a live Christmas tree into your home, no matter how festive, can be a bit dangerous. Dry bristles can be fire starters, and trees can fall over, so homeowners should take some precautions when bringing the outside in. Pet owners in particular should be wary of having a live tree around their furry friends.

Christmas trees are one of many holiday plants that can be toxic to pets. While trees aren’t the greatest concern for pets, they are considered “mildly toxic,” according to pet supply company Hartz. The oils from trees and tree needles can cause upset stomachs in animals.

The fir tree oils can cause excessive vomiting and drooling, and tree needles, if especially sharp, are bad for the inside of a pet’s stomach. Beware of dogs and cats eating the needles, as they can puncture the intestinal lining.

However, an even greater concern is the tree’s water. When hosting a live tree for the season, preservatives can be found within the tree’s base water supply. Your pet may mistake this for a bowl, and drinking from it can cause stomach issues that may poison a pet.

“Preservatives, pesticides, fertilizers and other agents, such as aspirin, are commonly added to tree water to keep the tree fresh,” Hartz explained in its tree guide.

Fake Christmas trees can harbor some of the same dangers. Even fake needles can be a problem for your pet’s digestion, so no matter how you celebrate, try to prevent your pets from eating anything on or around the tree.

Allergic To Christmas Check Your Home For Holiday Allergens

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Christmas is a time of joy, togetherness and… allergies? If you are coughing or sneezing, you may assume you caught a cold. You may actually be suffering from a Christmas allergy instead. Depending in the allergen, headaches, eczema and urticaria can also point in that direction. What are the most common holiday allergens, and how can you keep your home free from them?

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Your Fake Christmas Tree

• A tree that is made of polyethylene has less off-gassing.
• The big tip for your fake tree is careful storage. It needs to be stored in a dry place in a sealed bag or box off the floor.
• Set yourself a reminder every few months during the year to check if any creatures have found a way into your tree.
• As youre putting the tree up, give each branch a gentle wipe with a dry cloth.

Christmas memories can be happy or less than happy. With a bit of planning and effort, you can reduce the risk of holiday allergies.

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Dont Decorate In Front Of Your Cat

This is a rule I have all year around, not just at Christmas, that I never ever decorate when the cats are around. In fact, I dont even touch or adjust my decor when the cats are around. My solution is to simply put them in their cat room, but if you dont have one, then consider putting your cat in a bedroom or some other safe and cozy room where they can hang out while you make changes to your house . The reason for not decorating in front of cats is that cats are curious by nature and theyre going to be interested in anything youre interested in. If you start playing with your decor , then theyre going to do the same too. But if you decorate while theyre in another room, and then dont do anything to draw attention to your new decor, theyre much less likely to be interested in it.

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Provide Your Cat With A Distraction From The Christmas Tree

If your kitty is truly crazy for the Christmas tree, simple distractions could be an easy solution. Save special toys for the holidays or even introduce a few new boxes. We hear cats have a thing for boxes.

Daniel Quagliozzi, Cat Behavior Consultant at Go, Cat, Go! says, The basic point is surrender to the fact that you have brought in something any cat would be excited about, and adjust accordingly or redirect your cat into more compelling activities, like food puzzles.

Are Cats Allergic To Pine

Pinecatscat

. Herein, are cats allergic to pine trees?

Pine needles are not toxic, and most cats would not try to eat them, but if you suspect yours might do so, sweep or vacuum them up as soon as you see them. If a needle is swallowed, it can lodge in the cat’s intestines and cause irritation or even a blockage.

Secondly, what evergreens are safe for cats? The most common “live” Christmas trees are fir, scotch, and pine species. Generally, these trees are only mildly toxic. If the pet eats a lot, then the toxicity level increases. Christmas tree oils can ?be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive drooling or vomiting.

In this manner, can you have a real Christmas tree with a cat?

Christmas trees and decorations hazardous to catsChristmas trees themselves, whether real or artificial, can be a hazard if your cat has a tendency to climb things they shouldn’t. The oils produced by some real Christmas trees are also mildly toxic if consumed, causing minor irritation to a pet’s mouth and stomach.

Is Norfolk Island pine harmful to cats?

According to the ASPCA list of Plants Toxic to Cats, the Norfolk or Australian Pine IS toxic to cats. According to PullmanUSA it’s toxic to both cats and dogs and its symptons are vomiting and depression.

Pinecatscan

Abdulai Pfenning

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Necessary Ways To Cat

Amber4694

Tis the season for decorating! Twinkly lights, snowflakes, reindeer figurines, and dont forget the Christmas tree. Whether you go for petite and artificial or cut down a towering fir that scratches the ceiling, theres one important factor you need to consider: your cat. Cats could care less that Santa is watching, and they tend to be on their naughtiest behavior when the holiday decorations come out of the attic. If youre a cat parent, youll need to protect your tree from your cat, and your cat from your tree. Here are tips to cat-proof your Christmas tree without sacrificing your holiday spirit.

Why Allergies Spike During The Holidays

Lots of holiday favorites can trigger or irritate allergies, from food and pets to wood-burning fires and seasonal greenery.

And while you may manage allergy symptoms pretty well most of the year, symptoms to indoor allergens like these can really spike during the holiday season.

Why? Blame our tendency to snuggle in when the weather cools.

“You’re in a closed-up house, the heater is on, the windows shut — that’s why indoor allergies get worse in the winter,” says Asriani Chiu, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine , at the College of Wisconsin.

You can do a lot to alleviate holiday allergies — but first you need to know what’s triggering your symptoms to begin with.

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What Christmas Trees Are Safe For Dogs

Christmas treessafe for pets

Can christmas trees harm dogs?

Real Christmas Trees Can Be Dangerous, Too Because pine needles are not digestible, eating them can hurt your dog. Even older dogs might enjoy the scent and put the needles in their mouth. Because theyre sharp, needles can puncture your dogs GI tract. They can also cause cuts in their mouths.

what happens if a dog eats a Christmas tree?Tree

Contents

• 10 How do you weigh a Christmas tree stand down?

How You Can Avoid A Holiday Disaster

1. Australian retailer Pet Warehouse recommends investing in a faux Christmas tree with in-built lights and soft greenery to reduce the damage the tree can do to your cat.

2. If you have a real tree and the base has water in it, use a cover or tree skirt so your cat doesnt have access to the water source, which can have adverse affects on your cat if drunk.

3. Consider using an anti-scratch spray to deter your cat from pawing at the tree.

4.PETA recommends keeping your tree away from launching zones, such as tables, chairs and other places your cat usually climbs, and wrapping the tree base in foil or popping a sheet beneath it, as cats supposedly dont like the feel of foil on their paws.

5. Give your tree a good wash with the hose outside and let it dry off before brining it it.

While there are risks to having a real Christmas tree in your home, there are very few risks to having an artificial tree inside, besides your cat chewing on the branches and pulling it over. Dr Leonie Richards, Head of General Practice at the University of Melbournes U-Vet Veterinary Hospital writes that a serious mishap is as unlikely as waking in on Christmas morning to find Santa stuck in the chimney. You can never say never, but its not as high on the cards as just a mess.

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Christmas Trees And Dogs Dont Mix

A Christmas tree is a source of joy during the holidays but can pose dangerous hazards to your dog

Next to you, your dog may think that your Christmas tree is her best friend at least during the holidays. Most dogs are instinctively drawn to its inviting smell and the allure of gift boxes, wrappings, lights and ornaments. But beware her natural curiosity can place her at risk for serious injury or worse.Hazard Awareness and PreventionAge, temperament, and your dogs energy level all play a role in how much mischief she might find herself in. Even the most well behaved canine can succumb to the temptation of a Christmas tree and its trimmings. Short of 24/7 supervision, your next best defense to ensure her safety is to take precautions that minimize or eliminate the risks. :

Prevention is KeyIf possible, put your Christmas tree in a room that can be closed off from the rest of the house. Another option is to install a baby gate in the doorway to prevent entry to the tree room, or put low-lattice fencing around the tree and secure it so she cant knock it over. When you are not at home or unable to supervise her, confine your dog to her crate or a separate room to keep her out of mischief.

Decorations To Steer Clear Of

Cats are attracted to shiny baubles that glow and dangle so these should be avoided. Glass or breakable ornaments are also a recipe for disaster because they tend to splinter into shards when chewed. If swallowed, these can cause irritation, perforation or even blockages.

Other things to avoid are decorations with little metal hooks, festive plants such as holly and mistletoe, salt dough ornaments, and artificial snow as it can contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Finally, steer clear of snow globes. These have been known to contain antifreeze which is highly toxic to cats.

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Real Christmas Trees And Asthma

The increased mold spore count in your house during the holiday season can lead to an added chance of asthma.

• If you have a live tree, keeping it inside for only 3 or 4 days could be the answer.
• Or if you really want a real tree, why not set it up outside in a sheltered spot in front of a conveniently placed window?
• A fake tree might be a good alternative, but this can have its own problems. As long as it is stored and maintained correctly, it could provide an allergy-free Christmas. See our allergy prevention tips below.