Whether that is due to work commitments, a family holiday, or an emergency trip, we know that you will miss your pets and will want the best care for them. Which is why we want you and your kitty to be as prepared as possible during their time without you, be it at a cat hotel or cattery, a cat-sitting service, or with family and friends.

Below are some considerations.

While many cats are very independent and aloof, no cat should ever be left alone for more than 24 hours maximum. Not only do they need human interaction and affection, but they also require practical things like fresh food and water, as well as someone to clean their litter trays. These rules differ for kittens and elderly/sick cats, who will need more care and attention, so they should generally not be left alone for more than 12 hours at a time. Keep this in mind when choosing where your pet will be staying and who will look after them.

Before leaving your pet in anyone else’s care, it is now a legal requirement that they be microchipped and that the details be up to date. Always make sure that your cat has all the required vaccines and that you have completed any deworming and de-fleaing treatments. If needed, schedule a grooming appointment for your pet if they require a claw or fur trim.

Include a few of your own clothes when taking your cat out of the home, so that they have something that reminds them of it while you are away.

If you have chosen a cat-sitting service or asked family or friends to look after your cat in your own home, we recommend that your cat and the sitter meet before you leave for your trip. Hopefully, this will signal to your furry friend that this new person can be trusted.

Before leaving, make sure your home is cat-proofed; the last thing you want is for your cat to get stuck, stressed, or injured. Also, consider leaving a cat-calming diffuser or plugin if you have anxious cats. Install them at least a week before you leave, to give them the time to take effect.

Make sure the people looking after your cat have your vet’s contact information and any other contact information needed to reach you at your new location. In addition, you should also provide the contact details of someone that the cat carer can contact in case of an emergency. This can be a family member or a trusted neighbour. Remember to brief your emergency contact on the situation, and always leave them with a spare key to your home.

Lastly, make sure to stock up on the items that your pet will need for the full duration of your holiday. Most catteries can offer a variety of popular wet and dry cat food brands; however, if your cat is a fussy eater or has special dietary needs, it’s best to ensure you provide the correct food. If your cat is being looked after at home, make sure you have enough of their normal food, milk, treats, and cat litter during your absence.

All that’s left to do is pack your bag, give some see-you-soon cuddles to your kitty, and enjoy your trip.

In fact, some plants can be very toxic to cats while having little to no effect on humans or other pets. Below you can find a list of the indoor house plants that, according to the Cats Protection Charity, could pose a danger to your cat, from mild sickness to even death.

• Agave
• Alocasia
• Aloe vera
• Amaryllis
• Ant plant
• Anthurium
• Arrow Head Vine
• Asparagus Fern
• Bird of Paradise
• Begonia
• Brunfelsia Pauciflora
• Caladium
• Calla Lily
• Castanospermum
• Cheese Plant
• Chinese Evergreen
• Clusia
• Coleus
• Cycad
• Cyclamen
• Dracaena
• Dumb Cane
• English Ivy
• Ficus Benjamina
• Fiddle Leaf Fig
• Fishtail Palm
• Gladioli Bulb
• Homalomena Rubescens
• Hyacinths Bulb
• Iron Cross Begonia
• Jade Plant
• Kalanchoe
• Peace Lily
• Pencil Cactus
• Philodendron
• Poinsettia
• Polyscias Fabian
• Pothos
• Rubber Plant
• Schefflera
• Snake Plant
• Tradescantia
• Yucca
• Zamioculcas Zamiifolia

Please keep in mind that several cut flowers could also be toxic to your cat if brought home in a bouquet. Flowers such as daffodils, lilies, tulips, and lavender all pose different levels of concern. The Cats Protection Charity has created a list, and we have included the cut flowers labelled as the most dangerous below.

• Asiatic lily
• Chrysanthemum
• Convallaria
• Delphinium
• Easter Lily
• Japanese Showy Lily
• Madonna Lily
• RoselilyTM*
• Royal Lily
• Rubrum Lily
• Star of Bethlehem
• Stargazer Lily
• Sweet Pea
• Tiger Lily
• Western or Wood Lily
• Senecio

Several more flower types could still cause some level of harm and/or irritation to your cats, so we urge you to familiarise yourself with the complete list created by the Cats Protection Charity.

We recommend always double-checking before bringing any new plants into your home. If you are still unsure if your new plants or that lovely flower bouquet you received pose a danger to your kitty cat, move them (the plants, not the cats) to a place that is hard to reach or inaccessible by your curious cats.

If you believe your cat has ingested any of the plants mentioned above or is experiencing any of the following poisoning signs, please get in touch with your vet immediately.

Signs of poisoning can include, but are not limited to:

• Salivation
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Twitching
• Fitting
• Breathing difficulties
• Shock
• Collapse
• Coma

We have compiled the list below, including cat-proofing ideas and gentle reminders to ensure your cat’s safety and well-being if it will be alone for extended periods.

• If your cat is not allowed outside, ensure that any doors are locked and cannot be opened by your cat. If your cat is allowed outside, ensure that their cat doors are open and nothing is blocking their path.
• Verify that windows and external doors are fully closed and locked to stop any escape attempts. If you have chosen to leave a window open for ventilation, make sure your cat cannot access it, and remember to let your cat sitter know which windows can stay open and which should be shut.

• For internal doors, it’s best to block them with heavy items, lock them, or hold them open to avoid your cats getting trapped in a room.
• Consider moving any heavy items or home decor that could be easily knocked over or that could fall on your pet.
• Keep toilet lids closed so that your cat doesn’t fall in or drink from the toilet bowl.
• Any blind and curtain cords should be tied up and out of reach to prevent your kitty from getting tangled. All strings, threads, and other such materials should be put away so that your cat cannot play with them.
• Some cats love to chew on household items, and this behaviour can increase when they are stressed. For this reason, you should cover, hide, or unplug electrical cords whenever possible.
• Cats are intelligent and can learn to open cabinets, so please store any household chemicals in a safe out-of-reach location.

• Make sure your houseplants are safe and cat-friendly. If you are unsure, it’s best to move the plants away from your cats’ reach.
• If you have an anxious kitty, consider leaving a cat-calming diffuser or plugin. Install plugins or diffusers at least a few weeks before you leave, to give them time to take effect.

Lastly, please consider the weather when leaving your pet at home. During the hot summer period, make sure your cat has plenty of water available, or consider buying a water fountain. In the cold winter months, consider leaving your heating on as usual to keep your pets comfortable.

• Consider buying a fake Christmas tree, as pine needles can be dangerous if your cat loves to chew on foreign objects. If you do have a real tree, then cover the water so your cats don’t drink from it.
• If, in previous years, your Christmas tree has mysteriously fallen, it may be time to consider a smaller one. This will hopefully reduce any injury to your pets and also reduce the time/effort required to tidy up the mess.
• If you do have a big or heavy tree, make sure it has a solid base and consider securing the top of the tree to the ceiling with wire to prevent it from falling over.

• Try to keep your tree away from any furniture that your acrobatic cat may use to climb and subsequently use to pounce on the tree.
• Set up your Christmas tree a few days before decorating so that your cat has a chance to get used to the tree. Hopefully, this may minimise their curiosity and reduce unprovoked attacks on the tree, once it’s fully decorated.
• Choose your ornaments carefully. Glass baubles may look pretty, but wave goodbye to them if they fall on the floor, and be on the lookout for any curious kitty who thinks walking or chewing on broken glass is a good idea. Tinsel and fake snow can also be a serious hazard to cats, who often can’t resist eating it. The tinsel can pose a choking hazard to pets as well as the possibility of getting it stuck in their intestines if ingested, while the fake snow may contain harmful chemicals.

• When decorating your tree, it’s best to avoid delicate ornaments on the lower branches, as these are the most likely to be knocked off by your cat’s tiny paws. Place your ornaments towards the top and the centre of the tree, where it will be harder for your cat to reach.
• Make sure ornaments are tied securely to the tree, ideally without any metal hooks, which may cause injury if your cats chew on them.
• Place any lights toward the centre of the tree so that your cat is less tempted to chew on the wires, and cover the end of the wire that plugs into the wall with a cord protector. If your cat tries to chew the wires, it’s better to take the lights off the tree than risk your little fur babies getting a nasty shock. Always unplug the lights or any electric decorations when you’re not able to supervise your pets.
• You may consider putting a fire guard or an extendable baby gate around the Christmas tree, as this may help if you have young children or dogs. Unfortunately, we know cats are secret ninjas in training, so we can’t guarantee this will keep them out for long.

Finally, don’t stress, you may have to accept that your cat disagrees with your decorating style or that they are looking for a new climbing challenge and see the tree as their personal Mount Everest. All you can do is try to minimise the damage and hope that your cats behave enough so they don’t get on Santa Paw’s Naughty list.

We hope you and your pets have a pawsitively purrfect Christmas.

We have searched and found what we believe to be five of the best cat-themed stockings sold in the UK, so that Father Christmas can fill them up with cat treats. We have listed the cream-de-la-cream stocking options below in no particular order.

• Cartoon Cats Christmas Stocking – Novelty Xmas Gift – B&Q £13.99

This pretty linen-style stocking features an adorable cartoon cat design, wearing winter scarves and festive Christmas hats, making it a playful addition to your own Christmas décor!

• Tartan Pet Stockings – Cats/Dogs – The Olde Christmas Shoppe £9.99

A festive and rustic red tartan pet stocking for your cat or dog. Available with either a fish decoration for your kitty or a bone decoration for your dog. This will fit right in with any traditional decor.

• Personalised Ginger Cat Christmas Stocking – Not On The High Street – From £39.95

A luxurious Christmas stocking in a ginger cat print, available in red, pink, green, or navy blue. Best of all, you can personalise the stocking with your cat’s name, so Father Christmas knows exactly where to put the cat treats.

• Red Tartan Paw Print Stocking – Hobby Craft £8.00

With a red tartan design and white faux fur trim, the design is completed with a trio of snowy paw prints on the front. This stocking will look pawfect hanging up in your home.

• PMC Personalised Santa Paws Christmas Stocking – NEXT £16

An adorable personalised stocking. Perfect for cats who still believe in Santa Paws and the magic of Christmas.

We hope you have liked our suggestions, and, most of all, that you and all your pets have a very Merry Christmas.