Festive season safety tips for cats

The festive season has arrived! A time for family, joy and… your cat treating the decorations like a personal assault course. While the rest of the world is jingling bells, our chaos gremlins are plotting new and exciting ways to cause mayhem.

Luckily, we’ve come armed with top tips to keep your cat safe, happy and (relatively) disaster-free this holiday season.

1. Food with toxins (aka 'Stuff Your Cat Should Not Eat, No Matter How Much They Meow')

Chocolate
Contains theobromine and caffeine = bad. Dark chocolate is the worst offender, but even a sneaky lick of hot chocolate or cake can cause trouble.

Grapes & raisins
Found in mince pies and Christmas pud. Toxic to cats, great for you — so honestly, do the heroic thing and eat them all yourself.

Onions, garlic & leeks
They’re toxic, but when they’re disguised in stuffing and gravy… well, temptation happens. Keep plates out of reach or your cat will 'help' tidy up.

Rich, fatty foods
Turkey trimmings might seem like a treat… until the diarrhoea hits. Stick to their fresh meals — festive tummy upsets are not the vibe.

2. Plants, trees and other decorations (aka 'Things Solely Made to Torment Cats')

Christmas trees
A tall, shiny climbing frame full of dangling ornaments and forbidden snacks. Tree oil can cause vomiting and needles can irritate tummies.

Candles
Whether it’s an advent setup or a scented festive candle, cats + flames = chaos. Supervise or skip.

Poinsettias
Have a sap that’s mildly toxic to cats and can cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea when eaten.

Holly & mistletoe
Can cause major tummy upsets — and in larger amounts, breathing issues or seizures. Keep all versions (fresh, dried, decorative) out of swiping range.

Lilies
No jokes here: lilies are deadly. Pollen, petals, water from the vase — all dangerous. If you have a cat, lilies simply do not live in your house. Ever.

Potpourri
Toxic to cats, especially in liquid form. Smelling the dry form can irritate their sensitive noses, but ingesting it can burn the mouth and also cause vomiting, fever, tremors and organ damage.

Fragile decorations
Quickly claimed as your cat’s new toys, so consider this when putting up the tree. Glass baubles and candles, for example, should be skipped.

Still want festive vibes? There are plenty of cat-safe plants — check out our blog for inspo.

3. Stress (aka 'Why Are There Strangers in My House?')

Avoiding toxins = easy.
Avoiding stress = harder, especially for shy cats or those prone to stress-related bladder problems.

Signs your cat is stressed:

• Hiding away more than usual

• Going off their food

• Being less affectionate

• Not using the litter tray as usual

• In males: struggling to pee. If your male cat is having difficulty urinating, this is a veterinary emergency. He could have a blockage in his urinary tract.

How to keep Christmas cat-friendly

Pheromones
Plug-ins or collars help dial down the drama.

Safe space
A guest-free zone stocked with food, water, litter tray, toys and a cosy bed. Think 'spa retreat for one'.

White noise
Drown out noisy relatives with a TV or soft radio.

Routine
Your life may descend into festive chaos — but keep their meal schedule steady.