Here at Straight Outta Kanto it's not just Pokémon we care about – it's all little monsters, pocket or pet! Here's a few extra bonus tips and tricks I discovered while writing my “Pets Love Christmas” features for Ireland’s Christmas FM radio station in 2019.
Deck The Paws:
When decking those halls, check first what's on the naughty list! Items such as poinsettia plants, tinsel, and sharp pointy baubles should be kept away from curious little paws.
However, Christmas roses, traditional paper chains and shatter proof ornaments are animal friendly alternatives!
And while you may not want to see Mommy kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe, artificial mistletoe is kinder to the environment and less hazardous to your pets for when you get merry this Christmas.
Holiday Hams:
Don't know what to get your hamster for the holidays?
An environmentally friendly gift for all small animals are cardboard tubes and boxes filled with sugar free yoghurt drops and light tissue. Build a small sand bath out of lollipop sticks and some card or string some unwanted festive socks as hanging hammocks in their cage!
This ensures no one gets left out of unwrapping presents this Christmas
Festive Fatties:
Christmas may be a time for giving – but careful not to give too much to the cat and dog when they come begging for a share in the pudding and mince pies! Light snacks made from animal safe ingredients baked in festive moulds and shapes mean your pet can join in the feasting – but not need to join a gym!
Rover Roasting on an Open Fire...
Make sure the heat's not too hot to handle for your pets this Yuletide!
When roasting chestnuts on an open fire always ensure a fire guard is in place on any holiday hearth and animals are not left unsupervised.
The same applies for candles! A classic centrepiece for festive displays – pet friendly alternatives are synthetic battery operated candles.
And while fairy-lights add a twinkling magic to any Christmas tree, those little bulbs and wires should be banished to the naughty list when tiny teeth are around!
Animal Advent:
Advent Calendars are a great excuse for a sneaky bit of chocolate – I mean CHEER, in the mornings! A purrfect way to include your pet in a nibble this Nollaig is to make your own animal friendly advent calendar.
Take an old cereal box and cut out 24 little windows. Fill the box with soft tissue then place a healthy, animal safe treat behind each window.
This is ideal for animals with a restricted diet or fussy tastes.
Encourage your pet to open the Advent Calendar windows with their paws – let them entertain themselves – and the family.
Hoppin' Around The Christmas Wheek:
Do you prefer rabbits to reindeer? Guinea Pigs over the Grinch?
One way to keep your family fur-balls hoppin' around the Christmas tree this year is with some home-made presents that are kind to your pocket – and the planet.
Cut out the bottom of an old cylindrical pop-up laundry basket, lay it on its side – and you've got a DIY bunny tunnel for hours of fun.
Old card board tubes stuffed with hay provide environmentally friendly feeders and boredom breakers.
Want to feed your pets and entertain your guests at the dinner table? A small twine washing line between table legs with fresh lettuce leaves pegged on make for an unforgettable dining experience!
Chilly Willy:
The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn't mean winter can't be delightful! Wrapping up like a Christmas present isn't just for humans – your pets need to stay warm too!
Keep all beds, cages and tanks out of cold, draughty areas. Animal safe heat pads and lamps in and around your pet's sleeping area is a hot idea for chilly nights!
And, if you want to keep your pets as cosy as a pair of fluffy socks on a snowy day, cutting up and re-purposing old Christmas jumpers and pyjamas is a cost-effective, and fashionable, way to provide extra blankets and bedding for your four-legged loved ones.
Winter Wildlife:
Want to ensure we can all keep walking in a winter wonderland? Helping out your local wildlife in a few small ways this season can ensure that everyone big and small can have a Merry Christmas.
Leave undisturbed wild areas in your garden. Piles of leaves and grass can make the perfect nest for animals to hibernate, hide and rest in.
Food for birds is scarce in winter so providing a range of seeds, fresh unsalted peanuts and table scraps such as apples, pears and cheese, dried meal worms and wax worms will really spread good cheer to our feathered friends!
Clean water and food will encourage any local hedgehogs to return regularly. Minced meat, fresh liver, tinned dog food and scrambled eggs are all a little hoggy's holiday favourite
Paupers can Pamper Too:
Being brilliant on a budget can be a challenge at Christmas! However, home made DIY presents mean you can pamper your pets without being a pauper.
For cats and dogs, old clean socks filled with either their favourite cat nip or squeaky toy can be a handy stocking filler. Some strong rope wrapped around a small plank of wood can be a low-budget cat scratcher while a hollowed out tennis ball filled with treats can make any doggie smile.
For heart felt festive ornaments, take an imprint of your pet's paw in some non-toxic air-dry modelling clay and then decorate the imprint with glitter and ribbons once it's dried. Another crafty family favourite is to take an old photograph of you and your pet and create a decorative frame out of card!
Binge Babies:
Twas' the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... except maybe... the dog!?
The festive season is the perfect excuse for scrapping the usual day-to-day life and indulging in long, lazy nights in front of the T.V. with a good old box set – but try telling that to your pets!
While we may enjoy a break from the norm, it's still important to ensure your pet maintains its daily routine to prevent any seasonal anxiety or stress. Turn walking the dog into a fun family activity. Make sure meal times stay the same.
And, if your home is about to filled with returning friends and family from afar, ensure your pet has a quiet safe space to relax away from the hustle and bustle while introducing them to any new guests one at a time at the pet's pace.
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