Preventing Pet Accidents: Pet-Proofing Your Holiday Decorations

For we humans, holiday décor is part of what makes this season so special. From twinkling lights on our homes to fragrant Christmas trees, all sorts of nostalgic items come out for a few short, magical weeks.

But if you have pets, you know that decorations can quickly turn into dangerous holiday pet hazards for curious animals.

The team at The Urban Pet wants you to enjoy your holiday decorating without worrying about harming your pet. Here are our top tips for pet-proofing your holiday decorations to keep your furry friends safe:

Holiday Pet Safety Tips for Decorating Your Home

1. Choose Pet-Safe Decorations

Goodbye, fragile (and expensive) glass ornaments or heirloom snow globes that may or may not contain toxic materials! It’s time to store those items away for safekeeping or put them in a pet-proof hutch.

Instead, sprinkle pet-safe decorations throughout your home. Choose shatterproof ornaments made from materials like plastic or fabric, not glass. Swap out breakable tree ornaments for soft, plush decorations lower down where curious cats and dogs can easily reach. If you’re using lights, make sure they’re labeled safe for indoor use—and keep those cords out of reach of curious teeth to prevent chewing accidents.

And instead of donning your shelves and mantle with poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe, choose fake versions of these plants. They’re all potentially harmful to pets if ingested.

Finally, avoid tinsel. Your cat will love it, but it won’t love her back. The stuff can cause serious blockages in your pet’s intestines if ingested.

The more you pick pet-safe decorations, the easier you’ll breathe throughout the holiday season. 

2. Secure the Christmas Tree

If you have a Christmas tree, your first order of business before decorating it is to anchor it to the wall or floor, just like you would a heavy bookshelf. This helps keep it from tipping over when your pet climbs on it. And your pet will try. Especially if your pet is a cat.

You can also double up on the security by putting a baby gate around the tree. This works better with puppies, since they’re not skilled climbers like our feline friends.

Finally, avoid using edible chocolate or candy-cane ornaments on your tree. Your pet might try to eat them—regardless of whatever toxic-to-pets substances they contain. 

3. Beware of Electrical Hazards

Who doesn’t love the bounce of a flickering candle dancing on a windowsill? Here’s the thing: when you have pets in the house—especially cats, who can access places dogs just can’t—candles are fire hazards.

It doesn’t mean you can’t burn them, but it does mean you should be monitoring your candle anytime it’s lit. Don’t light one in the bathroom and leave it burning there unattended, for instance.

And we already mentioned cords, but they’re worth mentioning again. If you have puppies or kittens in the house, cord-chewing is a real risk. You can purchase cord covers to protect your young pets from harming themselves. Or, you can make sure to only use decorative lights where you can always supervise your pet—in the living room, for instance.

A Peaceful Holiday

When you plan out your holiday décor in a pet-friendly way, you invite a peaceful, safe holiday season into your life. Who wouldn’t want that? If you do run into any issues this holiday season, the caring team at The Urban Pet is just a phone call away. Call us at (615) 356-8993 to schedule an appointment for your furry friend.