A pet-safe Christmas tree and decorations for dogs and cats: what really matters

The most underestimated risk of the tree is not the baubles, it is the tree itself falling over. A climbing cat or a dog that knocks the structure can topple several kilos onto itself or another animal, with decorations smashing and wires pulling taut. Anchoring is the first safety measure, far more than the decorations.

• Anchor the tree to a wall or the ceiling with a clear line, or use a wide, heavy base: it is the number one defence against tipping.
• Place the tree away from furniture that gives a cat a springboard and away from the dog's running lanes.
• Cover or empty the water in a real tree's base: it can hold resins, fertilisers and bacteria, and an animal that drinks it risks gastrointestinal upset.
• Sweep up fallen needles from a natural tree every day: swallowed they can irritate or pierce the digestive tract, and their points bother the paws.

Not all decorations are equally risky, and some widespread fears are less founded than others. It is worth separating the concrete dangers, which deserve action, from the inflated worries.

The practical lesson is to place the most dangerous decorations high and toward the inside of the tree, and reserve the lower band and outer branches for shatterproof, unappealing objects. Shiny metallic strands and loose candles are the two things simply worth removing in a home with animals.

The holidays also bring ornamental plants and foods that are absent the rest of the year, and several deserve attention. The poinsettia has a worse reputation than it deserves, while mistletoe and holly are more troublesome, and some typical festive foods are firmly to be kept away.

• Poinsettia: its toxicity is often overstated, the sap can irritate the mouth and stomach but rarely causes serious pictures, though it remains a plant not to be eaten.
• Mistletoe and holly: more troublesome, with berries and leaves that can cause gastrointestinal upset and, with mistletoe, more serious effects if eaten in quantity.
• Amaryllis and some ornamental bulbs: potentially toxic, to be kept out of reach.
• Chocolate, raisins, sweets with sweeteners, cooked poultry bones and very fatty festive foods: all recurring reasons for a holiday clinic dash.

Making the holidays safe does not mean giving up the tree or the lights: it means a few conscious choices in the setup and a small daily routine. Here is a sequence that covers the main points.

1. 1

   Anchor and place the tree before decorating it

   Wall anchoring or a heavy base, away from cat springboards and running lanes. Stability comes before any trimming.

2. 2

   Distribute decorations by risk

   Fragile, metallic and appealing items high and toward the inside, shatterproof decorations low. Remove shiny metallic strands and loose candles entirely.

3. 3

   Secure the wires and lights

   Fasten the wires along the trunk and on the floor with covers or channels, keep them from dangling free, and unplug the lights when you go out or to bed.

4. 4

   Manage the base water and the needles

   Cover a real tree's base water and sweep up fallen needles every day, removing two silent but frequent risks.

5. 5

   Create a calm zone for the animal

   With guests, noise and a changed routine, set up a quiet refuge where the animal can retreat, with its bed, water and its own things.

6. 6

   Keep emergency contacts ready

   Save the number and address of the clinic open over the holidays: on public holidays the usual practices are often closed and knowing where to go saves precious time.

Noting what an animal may have eaten and when, with the time and estimated amount, helps the clinic a great deal if something goes wrong during the holidays. On hectic days memory deceives, and a quick note on what happened is worth more than a vague recollection.