At All About Cats Veterinary Hospital, we focus our care on cats only. Our veterinarians want you and your cat to enjoy the holidays and offer some tips to keep your cat healthy and well this holiday season. One way to protect your cat is to keep her away from toxins and other dangers that appear during the holidays. Foods, plants and decorations that are perfectly healthy for humans and some other pets can be deadly for cats, especially if your cat ingests them.
Mistletoe, Pine Leaves and Lilies
Be very careful if you hang mistletoe in your house during the holidays. The berries and leaves from the mistletoe are very poisonous to cats. If you have a kitten or cat, it's best to get an artificial mistletoe bunch.
While the needles from a pine tree aren't toxic, they are sharp enough to puncture your cat's stomach if swallowed. Holly leaves and berries are poisonous and can scratch up your cat's mouth if she chews on them as well.
Lilies and amaryllis are other holiday plants that are toxic to cats. Head to our veterinary hospital for evaluation right away if you catch your cat chewing on any holiday plants. If you ever have questions about whether a plant or flower is toxic, please call our cat clinic for more information.
If you have a live Christmas tree, the water under the tree poses a danger to your cat, especially if she gets thirsty and drinks from the bowl. Bacteria can grow in the water, especially if you put sugar in it, which will make your cat ill. The tree itself may be coated in chemicals which leach into the water and sicken your cat.
Tree trimmings and gift wrapping items, such as tinsel and curling ribbon, are often extremely enticing to cats. We recommend keeping these items in a room that your cat does not have access too. If tinsel or ribbon is ingested by your cat, it can cause obstructions in the intestines which may lead to intestinal surgery.
Las Vegas Cat Clinic Keeps Cats Away from Holiday Dangers
If you are foregoing the decorations this year and traveling out of town, or just looking to keep your cat safe for a night while you entertain, we offer cat boarding at our cat clinic in Las Vegas. By boarding your cat with us, you know your cat has a safe and healthy place to stay during the holiday party or while you are out of town. At our hospital, your cat will have plenty of supervision and care from our veterinarians and lots of stimulation and activity during the day. Your cat will return after the holidays healthy and clean.
What steps do you take to ensure you and your cat enjoy a safe, happy holiday season?