Top Ten Holiday Decorations to Avoid.

This article is Jinx approved. There are always things to avoid during any holiday, it just seems as though Christmas may just have a few more to be careful of with pets in the home. 1)The Tree Itself. Make sure your tree is secure especially if you have a real tree. Dogs jump cats climb. Finding the safest place to put your tree may not always prove to be easy. Do your best. I am lucky that my furry ones stay out of the tree. 2)Imitation Snow. Not such a good idea. It sure is pretty but very toxic to your pets. 3)Preservatives On Your Tree or in the Water. Water is tempting to your pets. Chemical preservatives are sometimes used on trees to keep them fresh longer. This can leach into the water bowl, so cover the water bowl with a tree skirt, aluminum foil, or anything that will keep your pets out of the bowl. 4)Edible Ornaments. The cute little ornaments that Susie made in school are wonderful on the tree. But they are dangerous to Fido. Candy Canes are fun as well but not so much for your pets. Place them high just like the cute ornaments. 5)Lit Candles Oh the season is so much better when the house smells good with a beautiful burning candle. Left unattended they are one of the most dangerous items you can have in your home. This is true of children and pets alike. Keep the candles in a safe secure place. 6)Christmas Lights. Make sure those lights are securely tucked in the tree and on windows. Secure extension cords as well. Chewing on the lights not so good. Maybe you have seen National Lampoons Christmas Vacation movie, when the cat chews on the Christmas lights and gets fried. Not really funny. 7)Holly Berries, and Holly. Beautiful but toxic to children and pets alike. If you enjoy having this as a decoration, keep out of reach of pets and children. 8)Angel Hair. This is a blast from the past. You could use it to decorate your tree, oh how pretty but it made you itch. It is no longer on the market, but you may have some vintage ornaments that have it on them. Place this securely in a display case or leave packed away. 9)Delicate or Treasured Ornaments. Make sure these are placed securely high on your tree. Shattered glass ornaments can end up in your pets eyes, fur and stuck in a paw. 10)Tinsel. Skip the tinsel. It just creates such a mess, and you find it for weeks after the tree is down. Ingesting it can cause your pet a intestinal obstruction which can be deadly. Opt for garland and secure it well and not to low. I hope you found these tips helpful. I know it is a bit late in the season, but we have been very busy. Happy Cats.