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Holiday Cat Tip 6: Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

A Christmas tree can be a very exciting addition for your family and for a curious cat! Cats, assuming this is just another tree, may try to climb, scratch, or jump on your X-mas tree. If your tree isn't secured inside the tree stand you may one day find your tree on the ground with kitty under it! Cats also go crazy over hanging ornaments, especially if they make noise! Such ornaments, mistaken for toys, may be smacked at, bapped at, or even pulled off the tree. Glass ornaments can break, creating shards that could cut or be swallowed by your cat. Ornament hooks and hangers can also pose problems for kitty if chewed on or swallowed. The best solution is to keep all ornaments off lower tree branches or any branches that your cat can get to. Tinsel can also be a problem for kitty. Many cats will chew and swallow tinsel or icicles. Such objects can get lodged in the stomach or intestines which can be harmful or even deadly to your cat. The pine needles of the tree are also toxic to your cat so try to keep as many pine needles as possible off the skirt of the tree and floor. Also try to train your cat to avoid chewing on or eating needles off the tree if he/she is a nibbler.