Christmas changes almost everything in a pet’s home: new objects appear, visitors arrive, routines slip and the house smells different. The RSPCA and PDSA both publish festive guidance for owners. This article focuses on decorations, trees, gifts, visitors and routines, and on small pets; foods are covered in more detail in our guide to human foods that are toxic to dogs and cats. It is general information; a vet should be contacted if a pet has swallowed something unsuitable.
Decorations that need care
PDSA advises keeping small decorations, tinsel and fairy lights away from pets to prevent swallowing hazards, and avoiding chocolate baubles entirely. The RSPCA recommends avoiding breakable baubles, or hanging them higher up if they are used, and keeping tinsel, wrapping paper and edible decorations out of reach. Both charities also list festive plants: the RSPCA names lilies, holly, mistletoe, ivy, poinsettias and potpourri, while PDSA names poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and ivy, and says they should be removed from pets’ reach.
PDSA’s separate article on decorations says tinsel can cause a deadly blockage if swallowed and recommends skipping it, that baubles can lodge in the throat and shatter into injurious glass so unbreakable plastic ones placed higher up are safer, and that higher-voltage lights carry a risk of electric shock.
The tree
The RSPCA suggests anchoring a tree to a wall so that it cannot fall, and clearing up fallen needles around the base. PDSA advises supervising pets near the tree so it is not pulled down, and notes that dropped pine needles can injure paws. Its decorations article adds that the oils of real trees are toxic to pets, so it advises keeping pets away from the tree, vacuuming fallen needles and covering the water pot.
Gifts and wrapping
Not all hazards sit under the tree. The RSPCA advises avoiding gifts and cards that contain silica gel packets, wrapping paper, ribbons, batteries, small choking-hazard toys or glitter, and keeping them away from pets.
Visitors and a safe space
The RSPCA advises introducing new people gradually and letting pets meet visitors at their own pace, encouraging children to stay calm around animals, and keeping visitors’ own pets away from small animals to avoid frightening them. Both charities recommend a safe place to retreat to. The RSPCA describes somewhere cosy and quiet, away from the excitement, with hiding places such as cardboard boxes, wardrobes or spaces under furniture for cats. PDSA suggests building a den, or moving small pets to a quiet room before guests arrive. PDSA also advises against dressing pets in costumes.
Keep the routine
The RSPCA says to stick to routines wherever possible, keeping food, exercise, bed and toilet breaks the same, and to offer toys and feeding puzzles as alternative enrichment. PDSA likewise recommends maintaining regular feeding and walking schedules despite holiday disruption. PDSA’s calm-and-happy guidance adds that pets should be able to retreat to a quiet area where they will not be disturbed, that a pet should never be forced to socialise, and that pheromone plug-ins contain an artificial calming pheromone that can help stressed pets relax. For dogs it suggests brain games and feeding puzzles, and warns that extra attention can overwhelm a dog that prefers solitude. For cats it suggests introducing decorations gradually because cats tend to be wary of new objects, offering a high perch from which to watch events, and keeping guests out of at least one room that has food, water and a litter tray. Our guide to helping pets through fireworks covers many of the same calming ideas.
Festive food: the short list
The RSPCA’s list of toxic festive items includes chocolate, grapes and dried fruit, onions, garlic, leeks, alcohol, bones, fatty foods, blue cheese, xylitol-containing items and mouldy food. PDSA’s list overlaps and adds shallots and mincemeat, with raisins and sultanas named specifically. For treats, the RSPCA suggests boiled vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans and peas, plus plain cooked, boneless, unseasoned turkey or chicken, while PDSA lists plain, unsauced white turkey meat and vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and green beans. Any pet that has eaten something on these lists should be discussed with a vet without delay.
Small pets
PDSA advises keeping electrical wires from fairy lights away from enclosures, decorating small pets’ spaces with hay and vegetables rather than lights, and protecting against nibbling hazards. Moving small pets to a quiet room before a house full of guests arrives reduces the risk of frightening them. See also our guides to rabbits and guinea pigs and hamsters.
Frequently asked questions
Are Christmas plants a concern? Both charities say certain festive plants, including holly, mistletoe, ivy and poinsettia, should be kept out of reach.
Should a pet be dressed up? PDSA advises avoiding costumes.
Should a pet meet guests straight away? The RSPCA advises introducing people gradually and letting the pet approach at its own pace.
The bottom line
Most festive risks come from things pets can chew, swallow or knock over, and from stress caused by change. The RSPCA and PDSA both recommend securing the tree, removing hazardous decorations and plants, giving every pet a quiet retreat and sticking to normal routines for food, walks and rest.