Curious how to keep your pets safe this holiday season?
Every year, hundreds of pet owners find themselves asking the same question. How can they enjoy Christmas without tearing apart their decorations?
The problem seems inevitable. Set up that tree and suddenly your cat is exploring a jungle gym and your dog is surrounded by tempting chew toys.
Here’s the good news:
Pets and Christmas trees can coexist peacefully. But you’ve got to know which Christmas trees to avoid, which products to use, and which strategies to implement.
You’re about to discover:
- Why Pet-Friendly Trees Matter More Than Ever
- The Best Pet-Safe Tree Options Available
- 6 Decoration Strategies That Actually Work
- How To Create A Damage-Free Holiday Setup
Why Pet-Friendly Trees Matter More Than Ever
Pet-friendly Christmas trees are quickly becoming a necessity for dog and cat owners.
According to ValuePenguin, 72% of pet owners have had their pets tip over their Christmas tree or knock off ornaments. That’s almost 3 out of 4 pet owners dealing with holiday chaos directly caused by their dogs or cats.
And it’s getting worse…
Close to half of all pet owners had property damage.
This is why investing in pet-proof decorations has become a top priority for pet parents before the holidays. If you set up your Christmas tree the right way, it can eliminate most of these pet-related problems.
Here’s what you’d have to look forward to:
- No shards of broken ornaments all over the floor
- No frantic trips to the emergency vet because your pet ate tinsel
- No toppled trees burying your gift wrapping efforts in their branches
Christmas trees, like most things in our homes, were never built with our pets in mind. But that’s not stopping pet-safe options from emerging.
The Best Pet-Safe Tree Options Available
If you’re ready to choose a pet-friendly Christmas tree, you have plenty of great options available.
Here are a few to consider:
Artificial Trees
Artificial Christmas trees are always a safer bet for pets than real ones. Some of the reasons are:
- Pine needles can irritate your pet’s mouth and intestines
- The tree water reservoir attracts bacteria that could make your pet sick
- Pine sap can upset their stomachs
But make sure you don’t choose an artificial tree with flocking, glitter, or small detachable parts. Inquisitive pets may find them enticing to eat.
Real Trees With Blunt Needles
If you can’t stand artificial trees, you can still choose real Christmas trees. But it’s imperative you choose the right one. Your best option would be tree varieties with blunter needles like the Nordmann Fir.
Also, don’t forget to cover your tree water reservoir at all times. If your pets can get into the stagnant water, they can swallow tree preservatives that are toxic to pets.
Half Trees and Wall-Mounted Options
These are some of the less common tree options. But they work. Half trees (aka flat-back trees) directly mount against the wall. This design makes it nearly impossible for your pets to tip them over. Wall-mounted Christmas trees take the concept a step further. The entire Christmas tree and decorations are placed out of your pet’s reach.
You might be surprised how easy it is to find these pet-safe Christmas trees now.
6 Decoration Strategies That Actually Work
What you choose to decorate your Christmas tree with makes all the difference.
1. Ditch The Tinsel Completely
Tinsel is not only beautiful. It can be deadly if your pet decides to ingest it. Eating tinsel will lead to an intestinal blockage that only a veterinarian can resolve.
Solution? Don’t use it at all. Instead, try a pet-safe garland or fabric ribbons.
2. Go Shatterproof With Ornaments
While fragile and beautiful glass ornaments can look great, they can also be hazardous. According to CNN, about 22% of holiday-decor-related emergency visits involved a laceration injury from a sharp object.
Your best bet? Avoid using glass ornaments and stick to shatterproof plastic or wooden alternatives.
3. Strategic Ornament Placement
Simple but works like a charm.
Place the more fragile and valuable ornaments near the top half of the Christmas tree. Keep the bottom branches bare or decorate them with only pet-safe objects.
Your pets can explore the lower half without causing extensive damage.
4. Secure Everything Properly
Throw those ornament hooks out. Instead, use wire ties or ribbons to secure the ornaments to the tree branches. This method keeps ornaments in place when pawed or nudged by a pet.
5. Skip The Edible Decorations
Popcorn strings, candy canes, gingerbread men, and other edible ornaments are virtually an open invitation for your pet to climb that tree.
The solution? Keep food away from your Christmas tree.
6. Use Natural Deterrents
Place some orange or lemon peels at the tree’s base. You can also spray a citrus scent on the lower tree branches.
Pets hate citrus scents, and it will work wonders for keeping them at bay. Some pet parents also wrap the tree base with aluminium foil.
Most cats hate the texture and will avoid that area.
How To Create A Damage-Free Holiday Setup
Building a pet-proof Christmas tree setup requires more than just the right tree and decorations.
Complete setup checklist:
Anchor Your Tree Properly
Use a fishing line to secure your tree to the wall anchor or ceiling hook. If your pets pull on your tree, it won’t come crashing down.
Manage Your Cords
Many pets see Christmas light cords as delicious chew toys. Ensure you don’t leave any cords dangling. Weave lights inside the tree branches, hiding them from view.
Pro tip: Cover all exposed cords with plastic tubing or bitter apple spray.
Create Physical Barriers
Place the tree in a corner or behind furniture if possible. You can also use decorative pet gates or playpens to surround your tree.
Great option if you have puppies or kittens experiencing their first Christmas.
Never Leave Pets Unsupervised
Most pet parents say this is the best advice they’ve ever received.
Leave pets alone with the tree at your own risk. Close the tree room door when you’re away, or unplug and secure all the lights and decorations when leaving the house.
Choose LED Lights
LED lights have a low heat profile. That means your pets are less likely to get burned playing around your Christmas tree.
LEDs are safer, more energy-efficient, and less likely to create electrical hazards.
Wrapping Things Up
Pet-friendly Christmas trees are fast becoming the new standard in pet households. With 72% of pet owners reporting their pets have damaged their tree or knocked off ornaments, pet-friendly Christmas trees aren’t optional anymore.
Your action plan to a damage-free Christmas:
- Choose an artificial tree or real tree with blunt needles
- Avoid tinsel and glass ornaments
- Anchor your tree to the wall and keep cords hidden
- Use natural deterrents around the tree’s base
- Never leave pets alone with the tree unmonitored
Your holidays should be enjoyable for everyone in your household, including your four-legged family members.
Take action now and set yourself up for a stress-free and damage-free holiday season. Your pets will be safer, your decorations will last the whole season, and you’ll finally get to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
That is a win-win situation for everyone.
