For pet parents, the fun of holiday decorating and feasting comes with one notable downside – pets can like holiday decor a little too much. That can often lead to decorations getting clawed, pawed, chewed or outright eaten.
That's frustrating for you, not healthy for dogs and cats, and could lead to pricey holiday disasters. So we spoke to veterinarians and found out the best ways to help your pets live with your holiday favorites without causing problems or raising hackles.
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Start with pet barriers and strategic placement
Pet barriers like this can form entryway walls, large playpens and table fortifications.
The best way to stop exuberant pets from tackling your beloved holiday items is to keep them from getting near at all. Ivana Crnec, DMV vet expert at pet tech brand Petcube, recommends putting all ornaments and other delicates out of your pet's reach, setting them at higher levels or on counters, walls and tables that pets like overly energetic puppies can't easily access.
"If your pet is acrobatic and knows how to overcome your pet-proofing attempts, install a pet gate or barrier," Crnec advises. Putting up a barrier around your tree, for example, is a low-cost and effective way to discourage pet meddling while still enjoying your decorations. Or you can install a gate like this convertible Frisco model ($75) to the room with all the festivities to help prevent temptations.
For small or young pets with destructive urges, you can also choose to crate them during big events so they don't get overexcited and start doing damage.
Apply a bitter spray
Bitter sprays help keep the most curious pets off holiday decorations.
Physical barriers can't deter all pets, but pet owners do have another option: Applying a nontoxic bitter spray to decor. These bitter sprays create a foul taste that pets are especially sensitive too, so they'll inspect holiday items and then stay away.
My favorite bitter spray is Bitter Yuck! By NaturVet ($14), which is plant-safe, doesn't stain, won't hurt pets at all and has a water-based formula that can linger outdoors as well. However, it is strong, so you'll want to avoid spraying it in too much locations or using it in an area where the spray could get tracked around (also, keep it very far away from holiday foods).
Avoid edible or toy-like holiday decorations
Beagle sits at a Christmas table.
Crnec also mentioned that some holiday decorations are more tempting to pets than others. "Another helpful tip is to avoid edible and breakable decorations and trinkets that resemble pet toys, which are, therefore, tempting to mess with," she suggests. If ornaments look too much like pet toys, they're more likely to cause problems. Also, avoid ornaments and lights that blink or glow, which could remind cats of playtime.
On that note, try to avoid using any decor that smells like food or has an attractive scent. That's not the easiest thing to do around the holidays, but remember that pets are often led by their nose, especially when getting into trouble.
Choose a cat-friendly holiday tree
You can add many features to a holiday tree to make it surprisingly cat friendly.
Did you know they made holiday trees specifically for cats that can't keep their claws off trees? The FeastiviTREE from Fancy Feast is one of the most notable examples and is currently part of a Fancy Feast giveaway until Dec. 3.
The tree embraces indoor cat antics with a large tree base that cats can lounge in and explore without threatening the tree. It also comes with tree-based perches so cats can sit up high without being tempted to leap into the branches and a bunch of cat-proof ornaments that won't break if batted by an inquisitive paw or two.
Of course, not everyone can get a FeastiviTREE, but you can borrow many of the ideas for your own holiday tree, especially if you're willing to add a protective tree base that gives cats room to safely explore. Take a few pointers and your holiday decorating can be much smoother.
Use an indoor-friendly training collar
Mild indoor shock collars may solve the worst pet and decoration collisions.
Obviously, a shock collar should be a last resort for any pet training experience. But if you have an uncontainable dog that has ruined holiday feasts and destroyed large, expensive decorations, you may want to consider a mild shock collar until the holidays are over.
One of the most effective options is the PetSafe Pawz Away indoor collar ($75). It uses a placeable sensor you can set up on a dining table, kitchen counter, Christmas tree or centerpiece. If the collar (designed for pet necks up to 28 inches, please don't use on children) gets too close, it gives a modifiable static shock. The collar runs on AAA batteries and is easy to set up, but only if nothing else is working.
Bonus tip: Keep an eye on pets while you're away from home
You can't scoot pets away from your holiday setup if you aren't at home. But you can keep an eye on them with our expert-tested smart pet cams from brands like Petcube, Eufy and Furbo.
Today's pet cams have algorithms that can recognize pets and only send you alerts when they're spotted. Some can even try to provide alerts when pets are doing specific actions, like jumping on a sofa or chewing on something. They aren't perfect, but you'll get the information you need about what pets are doing.
Most pet cameras have two-way audio so you can tap in and gently encourage a pet to leave holiday decorations alone. They might also include a treat thrower to distract pets at the right times.
To round off your pet care sessions, check out this new Petcube collar tracker, find more helpful gadgets to take care of your pet and learn how to protect your pet from overheating.