As the holiday season rolls around, we're all starting to put up our decorations. For those of us with pets, it's a constant struggle of making the house look nice while making sure your cat or dog won't totally destroy it or make themselves sick.
While we can't give you tips on every Christmas decoration you may have, we can give you some tips on keeping your tree upright.
1. Location, location, location
This may seem obvious, but putting your tree in the right spot is extremely important. If you can put it in a room that can be easily closed-off to your pets, that's a good option. If not, make sure you're putting it somewhere away from shelves or other things the animals could use to climb into your tree.
2. Still Standing
Make sure your tree is fastened to either the ceiling or a wall to prevent it from toppling over. It's not only better for the tree, but it can prevent potential injuries to your pets if it were to fall on them.
3. Weigh It Down
If you can't tie your tree down, make sure it is heavy enough that it won't fall. You can add sand bags to the base to weight it down, or just use a wide, sturdy base to begin with. The extra effort could save you many a headache in the future.
4. Cover The Water
If you are using a live tree, you'll have a water bowl to keep it hydrated. Though in theory it helps the tree, it doesn't do a lot of good if the dog or cat drinks it all up. Make sure you somehow section off the water bowl, whether it be through boxes or a tree skirt that fits nice and snug around the trunk.
5. Put Off Decorating
Once you pick your tree, it's always enticing to decorate it right away. However, leaving an unadorned tree up for a few days can help your pets get accustomed to the new decoration and can take away from the excitement of all the ornaments later on.
6. Smelly Stuff
There are certain scents that are off-putting to animals but not a huge deal to animals. Cats hate the smell of citronella, so you can spray some pine cones with the scent and use them on your tree. It will keep the cats away from the tree, and it will keep your decorations in place!
7. Touchy Feely
There are certain textures that animals can't stand, either. These would include aluminium foil for cats, and double-sided tape for both cats and dogs. Putting these textures near your tree will keep the pets away!
8. Oo, shiny!
Just like you love the shiny Christmas ornaments, so does your cat. Anything reflective or glass will only draw in your cat's attention even more, which could lead to some problems. Wooden, plastic, and felt ornaments are your best options.
9. Safe Cords
One of the biggest safety hazards with Christmas trees and pets is when your rascals start chewing on wires. This can give them electrical shocks which can be extremely dangerous. Covering any wires with plastic tubing or cardboard can help prevent them from chewing, just make sure you don't end up creating a fire hazard.
10. Get Loud
Attaching noisemakers or bells to your tree can not only scare away your pets, but it will also let you know when they're nearby. That way, you can go shoo them away before they have the chance to do any real damage!
What are your tips for a safe and happy holiday season with pets?