christmas tree.

A light-filled tree is not cat friendly. Susan E. Adams, Flickr. Amy D. Shojai, a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Kitten Care," "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog," shares with Paw Nation her advice on creating a cat-safe Christmas tree. The Christmas tree might as well be an early holiday gift to your cat. Kitty can't resist the urge to sniff, cheek rub, claw and scale the branches to reach the highest possible perch. Don't blame your cat. It's normal for a cat to compete for the top spot (literally and figuratively) to secure his place in kitty society. Tree encounters of ...

Flickr/Susan E Adams As you sit back and take in the glory of your illuminated, pine-scented Christmas tree, remember that you're not the only family member captivated by its presence. To your cat, this over-sized scratching post represents the true joy of the holiday season: the opportunity to climb branches, bat around ornaments, and nibble on pine needles. While everyone loves to watch cats play, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant Marilyn Krieger warns that pine is toxic to cats, so it is very important to keep them off the Christmas tree. Oftentimes, these trees are also sprayed with fire retardants that may be toxic to your pet. Krieger notes that in order to prevent your cat from ...