Cat Proof Your House This Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful time of year, but it can be a dangerous time for cats. As you decorate, their environment changes, posing new objects to be explored and new risks to be assessed. Is that flashing Santa ornament friend or foe? Where does that big tree lead? Do those boxes make a good new scratching post? It is important to understand how your cat will view the changes at Christmas time, so that you can anticipate and not punish his natural curiosity. It is also important to be aware of any dangers that could be introduced to your cat at this time of year.

The number one source of curiosity and amusement for your cat, of course, will likely be the Christmas tree. If your cat loves to climbs trees out of doors, then you can bet he is going to try scaling any tree that you bring into your house. Most cats won't get very far, but it is not uncommon for them to topple the tree with their energetic scrambling. If this happens, you risk not just injury to your cat but also damage to any nearby furniture and gifts. Make sure that your Christmas Tree is well supported and on a flat, stable surface.

Pine needles from natural Christmas Trees are another health hazard for your cat. Fallen needles are sharp, and can easily embed themselves in your cat's paws. Sweep up fallen needles on a regular basis.

In addition to the Christmas Tree, there are many other plants that pose a risk to your cat's health. Some plants are toxic to animals, and many of these are unfortunately often brought into the home at Christmas time. These include Mistletoe, Holly and Lillies.

When decorating your house for Christmas, remember that cats are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, and will be both naturally cautious and curious.

Dangling baubles and ornaments may seem like the ideal entertainment for a playful cat... the way they move and catch the light will draw fun loving kitties like a moth to a flame. However, cheap glass baubles can break easily, and the shards of glass can cause a great deal of harm to your cat. Avoid hanging ornaments from the lowest branches of the tree where they are most likely to catch your cat's eye and skip any ornaments that are extremely fragile.

Other decorations may not seem so appealing to your cat. For example, flashing lights or musical ornaments may frighten your cat, especially if they stop and start suddenly. If your cat seems frightened, begins to hide, starts urinating outside of the litter tray or displays any other symptoms of stress, remove the offending decorations immediately. While we are on the topic of things that might frighten your cat, consider how the noise level of your house changes at Christmas time. Just as is the case on bonfire night, your cat may be frightened of sudden loud noises often heard at Christmas such as crackers, poppers or bottle of Champagne being opened. Loud music or singing may also make them nervous so you might want to monitor the volume of Slade and SingStar if your cat is used to napping in a quiet house.

While humans may be able to deal with over indulging in sweets and treats at Christmas with the help of some indigestion medicine, the consequences to your cat from eating the wrong kinds of foods can be more severe. Don't leave food or snacks lying around where your cat can get to them (and that's just about anywhere!) and clean up leftovers immediately. Foods such as chocolate, coffee and chicken bones are all particularly dangerous to cats, while snacks covered in salt can leave your cat dehydrated. You should also take care to not allow your cat to indulge in an alcoholic tipple from any glasses left out. And although it may be tempting to treat your cat to his own Christmas dinner, serve him a gourmet cat food choice rather than a portion of human food as any rich food that he is not accustomed to can cause vomiting or diarrhea.

During the festivities of the season, pay particular attention to clearing up any discarded wrapping paper, ribbon or other small objects that might get lodged in your cat's throat. Christmas cracker toys and foil sweet wrappers are particularly tempting to cats, but pose a choking hazard due to their size. Tossing around a crumpled up ball of wrapping paper can be a fun way to play with your cat, but never let them play with it unattended, and take it away if you see him start to chew on it.

Keep a close eye on your cat during the Christmas season, to make sure he stays out of trouble and always ensure that he always has a quiet, cosy place to retreat to if all that partying gets a bit much for him.

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Protect Cats and Kittens With Veterinarian Approved Cat Flea Treatments

For pet owners, cat flea treatment is just as important as keeping your dog flea-free. You can easily see fleas crawling on white cats but if your cat has dark fur you may not realize your feline has a flea problem.

Dogs will furiously scratch at fleas and draw your attention with their grunts and whines. Your cat, on the other hand, appears to be grooming himself as usual and it may not be until you notice areas of thinning fur or raised bumps from bites that you realize there is a problem.

Some cats seem resistant to the flea activity in their fur. It's not unusual to find one cat in a household that has few, if any, fleas while it's housemate of a different color is being eaten alive by the parasites. Though cat owners may think their white and light colored cats are more prone to having fleas it's more likely the fleas and their detritus are easier to see in the fur of a pale cat.

Fleas threaten the health of a cat. When they bite they are drawing blood. A cat with a large number of fleas can become anemic and display pale, almost white gums. This is caused by blood loss and can be life threatening if not treated. For a small cat, a moderate flea population in his fur can lead to anemia. Fleas also carry other parasites such as tapeworm.

All fleas are not the same. There are five types of fleas that feed on blood and can be difficult to get rid of. There is a dog flea but the common flea we encounter in the U.S. is the cat flea that also can use dogs (and people) as hosts.

It is not the type of flea that determines what cat flea treatment to use but the species of pet. Most flea treatments for dogs are clearly labeled "for dogs only" and further warnings are often included in the packaging stating the product should never be used on cats.

Permethrin is an example of why this warning exists. Permethrins are effective as flea control for dogs but can be fatal to a cat's delicate metabolism. Some dog flea products such as k9 Advantix warn against use on a dog if the canine has close contact with a cat in the household.

Some cats suffer from flea allergy dermatitis and for these animals you need a product that quickly kills adult fleas and then continues to interrupt the life stages of the flea to prevent biting. These products use an IGR (insect growth regulator) in combination with a product to kill adult fleas.

Cats with flea allergy dermatitis may have bare spots or thinning of the fur around the base of their tail and you can feel bumps on the cat when you pet it. The bumps are most often located around the neck and behind the ears and are allergic reactions to flea bites the cat has suffered. Untreated, cats with flea allergy dermatitis may develop skin infections.

Over the counter products like Itch Stop can ease the skin reaction and itching until the cat flea treatment takes effect and rids your feline friend of nasty fleas. Kittens less than 10-12 weeks old should not be treated with topical flea drops. Instead, gently bathe the kitten with warm water and gentle dish soap such as Original Dawn or Ivory Liquid. Rinse thoroughly and use a fine toothed flea comb to remove any fleas or flea dirt left on the cat. To keep the kitten flea free for a while, wash or treat the pet's bedding when you bathe the animal.

Spot on products that claim to provide freedom from fleas for your cat are often sold in pet stores and discount stores at low prices. These products are not the same formulation as the poplar Advantage and Frontline Plus cat flea treatments and will not eliminate fleas for more than a few days, if that. Buy a cat flea treatment product from a reputable pet medication site. No prescription is required and prices are significantly less than purchasing through your local vet's office.

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