We’ve all seen videos, like this one, of cute pets playing with ornaments on the Christmas tree, leaping onto the Christmas tree, and even toppling the Christmas tree over. While these videos are funny, they also highlight the dangers of mixing pets and Christmas trees. Pets may topple trees, break ornaments, or chew wires, creating fire hazards.

Here are some tips for keeping your pets, Christmas tree, and home safe during the holiday season.

Secure your Christmas tree

Cats have a tendency to play not only around Christmas trees but on them and in them. Cats will jump from the ground, a table, a bookshelf, and even the mantle right onto the Christmas tree. If the tree isn’t secured, it’s easy for the weight of a cat to topple it over in an instant.

Cat-proof your tree by using a product to stabilize the base of the Christmas tree. A strong, heavy base, for example, will help to keep your Christmas tree upright even if a cat should jump onto it. According to Value Penguin, 72% of pet owners say that their pets have knocked down the Christmas tree or knocked ornaments off the tree. Of those 72%, 49% say damage was caused.

Prevent pets from climbing and jumping

Even though you’ve secured your Christmas tree, you want to do all you can to prevent pets from finding their way onto it. Here are a few tricks and tips that may help keep your pets away from the Christmas tree:

• Add bells to the tree: adding bells to the tree, especially to the bottom of the Christmas tree, will alert you when pets are playing too close to it, so you can shoo them away before any damage is done.
• Use orange peels: Cats don’t like the smell of oranges, so placing orange peels under the Christmas tree may help keep them away.
• Use spray repellents: In addition to orange, cats dislike other citrus scents, so using a spray repellant of water mixed with citrus or citronella oil can help.
• Set up a barrier: If you have active pets who don’t seem deterred by anything else, consider setting up some kind of fencing to keep them away from the tree. A baby gate works perfectly in this situation. You may also consider placing pinecones around the tree, as cats don’t like stepping on them and will avoid them.

Decorate cautiously

Avoid using tinsel in your decorating. It is a choking hazard for pets who are tempted to chew on it. You also want to avoid using food decorations such as cranberries, apples, cookies, and popcorn on your tree. They will prove difficult for most pets to resist. If you have sentimental ornaments that you would like to put on the tree, it’s best to put them up high where your pet can’t reach them or leave them off altogether.

Be responsible

When watching videos, such as this one, of a dog getting into mischief with a Christmas tree, it’s easy to laugh. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to stop filming when things get out of hand. It’s not worth having an injured pet or child or damaged belongings.

As you watch the antics of your pet, you are there to save them, but they do the same things when you aren’t home to protect them. Taking the previously mentioned precautions can help prevent your pet from chewing on wires and decorations, getting tangled up, or having the tree topple on them.

Don’t forget to test your home fire alarm so you can make sure it is working properly and you’ll be alerted in the event of an emergency.

This holiday season, enjoy your Christmas tree and your pets while avoiding situations such as your dog becoming entangled in Christmas tree lights!

 

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