A message from our friends at the Cat Hospital of Burlington about how to make sure that you and your cat have a happy and safe holiday season.

 Holiday hazards...danger lurks behind every Christmas tree....

 You really can't open up a newspaper or surf the cat-friendly websites this time of year without finding all kinds of dire warnings about how dangerous the holidays are to your pets. So we thought we'd join in the panic-mongering with a few tips of our own....

 The number one holiday-hazard question we're getting these days -- Will my poinsettia kill my kitty?

 Probably not.

 The much-maligned poinsettia isn't the worst thing your cat can eat this holiday season -- but we tend to subscribe to the 'better safe than sorry' philosophy when it comes to potentially-harmful plants and our kitties.

 Still, there are some absolute no-no's at this time of year....

 Lilies -- ingesting lilies usually has a fatal outcome for cats due to kidney failure

 Tinsel -- "oooooh," says fun-loving kitty, "sparkly and string-like! how does it taste?" Tinsel and "icicle" decorations can cause intestinal blockage...the veterinary emergency room probably isn't where you want to be spending your holiday so go tinsel-free this year.

 Chocolate -- although our (superior) feline friends don't tend to succumb to the sweet enchantments of chocolate like their more indiscriminate canine chums, it's still important to keep holiday goodies well out of reach. They may not want the chocolate but you'd be surprised how many kitties are powerless to the charms of those glittery, crackly wrappers.

 Tree water -- nothing like a bowl of water with the hint of fresh pine! Many kitties find the novelty of the tree reservoir to be too much to resist. Unfortunately many real trees have been treated with chemicals to preserve freshness -- these can leach into the water at the base of the tree. Also, avoid any additional 'stay-fresh' water additives as they are also potentially harmful to your curious kitty.

 Gift wrap/ribbon -- truly, there's nothing more delightful to your playful cat than mounds of crumpled up wrapping paper and balls of twirly ribbon and let's face it -- it's super fun to watch their antics. But once the fun is over and the video is posted to YouTube, be sure to tidy up all the remnants of wrapping and unwrapping so your kitty isn't tempted to snack on them.

 Novelty treats -- admit it, you bought the snowman-shaped cat cookies. While we all love to buy special things for our kitties on the holidays, be cautious when introducing any unfamiliar treats/food which may cause gastrointestinal upset. Instead, why not pick up a few toys or perhaps a plush new bed for your feline friend?

 When all is said and done, common sense must prevail. You know your kitty best so take that knowledge and cater accordingly. You know, like everything else where your cat is concerned!

Your veterinary team at the Cat Hospital of Burlington wishes all of our patients and their families, the very happiest (and safest) of holiday seasons!

 For more information on the safe care of cats and about the Cat Hospital of Burlington visit their website website: http://www.cathospitalofburlington.com/  

 905-631-6552

552 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario