People are not wrong when they say your pet becomes part of your family. Owning a pet can create some of the most magical times in our lives, and we cherish them dearly. We spend hours cuddling with them, paying extortionate fees for the vets and pet food- but the reward is that they are so pure in their love and dependency on us humans. Having an animal in your home is like having an extra sibling or child, and like most children, when they are young, they are mischievous.
However, there is one slight difference between children and pets (Without entering a rabbit hole). For some reason, pets, particularly cats and dogs, seem to be fascinated with Christmas decorations. To be more specific, they have a fascination with ruining them. And try as we might show them that the trees and baubles are not toys for them to play with it. They are relentless.
Although you may find it funny at first, this notion can not only cause extreme irritation in pet owners- as you will have spent hours trying to assemble your decorations, but it can be hazardous for your pets too. Here at We Buy Any House, we have compiled our top tips to help stop your pet from ruining your Christmas decorations.
Buying an Artificial Tree:
Although real Christmas trees look beautiful and are traditional, they can also be a lost cause if you have a naughty pet sniffing around them all the time. Investing in an artificial tree can be a lot more beneficial for yourself and your pet- and here are a few reasons why:
- Artificial trees are harder to damage than natural trees, so hopefully, your pet will get bored and move away after a while.
- Natural trees have needles, which can be a hazard if your pet swallows them as they can get stuck in their intestines or throat.
- Many real trees are sprayed with preservatives to make them last longer, which can potentially poison your animal.
Properly Secure Your Tree:
There is nothing more frustrating than when your dog knocks over the tree as it runs past or if your cat decides to jump onto the top of it and cling on for dear life. The tree falls, baubles are smashed and then suddenly, your calm, festive Sunday evening has turned into a clean-up session. A great way to avoid this is by securing your tree and baubles to stop it from being knocked over so easily. You can consider assembling the tree to a wall with something strong such as a fishing line, or ensuring that the base is weighed down with something heavy.
Avoid Putting Presents Under the Tree:
Unfortunately, putting presents under the tree is like putting a big green light for your pets to come and use as their playground. Most pups love to chew paper, which is an obvious problem unless you want to expose gifts way before the 25th of December. Cats typically love anything shiny, so they will be attracted to the gifts and make themselves at home right on top.
Spray Deterrent on the Tree:
If you have tried absolutely everything and anything, and your pets are still not getting the hint, then it might be time to try and spray the tree with a deterrent. Without using chemicals, as you can use household and pet-friendly items such as lemon juice, you can spray the tree with it- which will deter your pet from going and causing havoc to your Christmas decorations.
Set Up an Alarm System:
If you have a sneaky pet who will try to creep up on your decorations with a surprise attack in mind, then you might think about putting an alarm system in place. We’re not talking about laser beams or trip tape, but perhaps putting bells at the bottom of the tree will help you like it an easy way to be alerted to sneaky pets trying to get around the tree.
Final Thoughts:
A quick house sale company wrote this article, and We Buy Any House. If you’re wondering, “how can I sell my house fast?” or “how can I get someone to buy my house?” head to the, We Buy Any House website for more information relating to all property-related inquiries.
