If your cat or dog swallows something, shows signs of pain, vomits repeatedly or seems unwell after contact with the tree, call your vet. This guide is about prevention, not treatment.
The real risks
Tinsel and ribbon, for cats. This is the one most vets worry about. Cats are drawn to thin, glittering strands, and their tongues make it hard to spit things out. A swallowed strand can become a "linear foreign body", which can bunch up the intestine and usually needs surgery. In a house with a cat, the simplest answer is no tinsel at all.
A falling tree. A climbing cat or an excited dog can tip a tree, bringing glass and lights down with it. Use a heavy, wide stand, and tie the trunk discreetly to a wall or ceiling hook with fishing line.
Glass ornaments. Broken glass cuts paws and mouths. Keep glass on the upper branches and use shatterproof ornaments on the bottom third.
Ornament hooks. Metal hooks are small, sharp and easy to swallow along with the ornament. Ribbon loops or tied string are safer.
Cables. Puppies and some cats chew cables. Run them up the back of the tree, cover the floor run with a cable protector, and unplug the lights when nobody is home.
Edible ornaments. Chocolate decorations, salt-dough ornaments and popcorn strings are attractive to dogs. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and salt dough can cause dangerous salt poisoning. Keep them off a tree a dog can reach.
The smaller risks
Tree water. Water in the stand of a real tree can collect bacteria, and any additives or preservatives may upset a pet's stomach. Cover the reservoir with a tree skirt or a stand with a lid.
Pine needles. Fir and pine needles can cause mild stomach upset if eaten in quantity, and sharp needles may irritate the mouth. Sweep fallen needles regularly.
Poinsettias. Often listed as dangerous, they are usually only mildly irritating to the mouth and stomach. Lilies, which sometimes appear in winter arrangements, are far more serious for cats and should be kept out of the house entirely.
Setting up a tree pets leave alone
- Put the tree up and leave it undecorated for a day or two. The novelty wears off before the ornaments arrive.
- Place it away from furniture a cat can launch from.
- Decorate the bottom third sparsely, with unbreakable ornaments, or not at all.
- Consider a smaller tree on a table, or a wall-mounted tree.
- Offer something better: a cat tree or a new toy elsewhere in the room.
- Never leave a young or curious pet alone with the tree until you know how they react.
Or skip the risk entirely
For homes with a determined climber, a tree on the television is a reasonable compromise. The family still gets to decorate it together and switch off the lights to watch it glow, and the cat can sit in front of it without bringing it down.