| The Holiday Pixie |
By Raven Simons
Autumn is here and the trees are clad in leaves of changing color. Pumpkins are on people's doorstep and the little children are getting
ready for Halloween. What costumes will they choose? Soon we will be seeing tiny ghosts, diminutive witches, and pint sized Supermen
ringing doorbells and yelling "Trick or Treat".
The darker side of Halloween and the other upcoming holidays are the dangers that lurk in the flurry of decorations, plant gifts,
parties and feasts with friends and family. This is a cautionary tale designed to help us be mindful of the special safety precautions that
we need to take when it comes to all the celebrating, socializing, and the flurry of human activity.
Keeping your Pixie-Bob safe at Halloween means keeping him, her, or them indoors. Sadly some mean humans do really awful things
to cats this holiday. Outdoor cats are always in danger from mean humans. Some people hate cats and will abuse any that they find.
Sometimes a neighbor will resent cats that use their well-tended gardens as personal litter boxes. Other humans can be sick and twisted
and might torture a cat. Children can be cruel, too. Halloween also brings out some sickos who want to maim and kill a cat for some
weird ritual in a graveyard. Traffic, dogs, and even other cats pose additional dangers to the cat that goes outside. I do not judge people
who let their cats out. Just be mindful of the extra danger on this holiday.
In the USA Halloween brings the trick or treaters. It is wise to put your Pixies in a room and shut the door so that the cat will not bolt
out when you answer the doorbell. Halloween parties can be a danger if your cat ingests decorations, eats some food that they
shouldn't, or gets into the Halloween candy. Visiting grandchildren may upset a cat that is not used to little children. We put our Pixies
in a nice room with cat furniture whenever we have visitors. Our boys are grown and our cats have limited experience with small ones.
Candles are a danger at most of the holidays. The active and curious Pixie has a real possibility of upsetting a lit candle and burning
themselves or the house down. Holiday plants and flowers can also be problematic. Poinsettias, evergreens, Easter lilies, and many
houseplants and flowers are toxic. Wreaths made of dried plant material can also be fatal if they are made from toxic plants. Even fake
wreaths can be problematic if the cat ingests part of them and gets a blockage.
Thanksgiving and Christmas bring the problems of health issues caused by the eating of food a Pixie-Bob shouldn't. Those roasting
bags that people use for turkeys and roast are a tempting treat to a breed of cat that in our house has the nickname of "piggy bob"!
Roasting bags can and will cause intestinal blockages if eaten. Cooked poultry bones can splinter and severely damage or kill your cat.
Handing out helpings of turkey, gravy and other holiday treats to your Pixie may cause an explosion of diarrhea or other intestinal
distress that will make you wish that you had not given in to the begging Bob! "But he looks so hungry and cute", you might be tempted
to think. If that is what you are thinking, think about cleaning up the mess.
Christmas trees and all the other accompanying ornaments and decorations are tempting toys to the ever playful and curious
Pixie-Bob. You'll find out that many Pixies are gleeful ball breakers, tree destroyers, and eaters of sparkly, glittery, tinselly toys. Be
prepared to see your Pixie gleefully scale your beautiful Christmas tree with your heirloom ornaments only to see it all crash to the
floor. They'll even tackle trees in the fun loving spirit of the season. Garlands, swags, and other decorations may see a similar fate.
Ribbon, wrapping paper, plastic, bows, and other gift trimmings are pretty irresistible to all cats. Not every Pixie will destroy
decorations, but many think that these are special toys just for them. A breeder friend of mine decorates her house with a gorgeous
display that all the neighbors enjoy. I asked about her indoor Christmas decore and she laughed and said, "You've got to be kidding?"
She went on to explain the experience of having multiple adults and litters of kittens underfoot and how the decorations would get
trashed. This isn't even talking about the potential health issues.
The holiday season can be a wonderful time for you and your Pixie if you are mindful of the many possibilities of accidental injuries
and try and minimize them. Here is a link to a couple of webpages that have links to many articles on health issues, toxic plants and
ways to keep your beloved companions safe. Many veterinarians will tell you that the holidays are a busy time for them and they get
visits from people who have fed their pet too much of the wrong food, or has been injured because of proximity to items or people that
prove dangerous. If you have further questions or concerns it is best to check with your veterinarian. Happy holidays to you and your
Pixies!
ready for Halloween. What costumes will they choose? Soon we will be seeing tiny ghosts, diminutive witches, and pint sized Supermen
ringing doorbells and yelling "Trick or Treat".
The darker side of Halloween and the other upcoming holidays are the dangers that lurk in the flurry of decorations, plant gifts,
parties and feasts with friends and family. This is a cautionary tale designed to help us be mindful of the special safety precautions that
we need to take when it comes to all the celebrating, socializing, and the flurry of human activity.
Keeping your Pixie-Bob safe at Halloween means keeping him, her, or them indoors. Sadly some mean humans do really awful things
to cats this holiday. Outdoor cats are always in danger from mean humans. Some people hate cats and will abuse any that they find.
Sometimes a neighbor will resent cats that use their well-tended gardens as personal litter boxes. Other humans can be sick and twisted
and might torture a cat. Children can be cruel, too. Halloween also brings out some sickos who want to maim and kill a cat for some
weird ritual in a graveyard. Traffic, dogs, and even other cats pose additional dangers to the cat that goes outside. I do not judge people
who let their cats out. Just be mindful of the extra danger on this holiday.
In the USA Halloween brings the trick or treaters. It is wise to put your Pixies in a room and shut the door so that the cat will not bolt
out when you answer the doorbell. Halloween parties can be a danger if your cat ingests decorations, eats some food that they
shouldn't, or gets into the Halloween candy. Visiting grandchildren may upset a cat that is not used to little children. We put our Pixies
in a nice room with cat furniture whenever we have visitors. Our boys are grown and our cats have limited experience with small ones.
Candles are a danger at most of the holidays. The active and curious Pixie has a real possibility of upsetting a lit candle and burning
themselves or the house down. Holiday plants and flowers can also be problematic. Poinsettias, evergreens, Easter lilies, and many
houseplants and flowers are toxic. Wreaths made of dried plant material can also be fatal if they are made from toxic plants. Even fake
wreaths can be problematic if the cat ingests part of them and gets a blockage.
Thanksgiving and Christmas bring the problems of health issues caused by the eating of food a Pixie-Bob shouldn't. Those roasting
bags that people use for turkeys and roast are a tempting treat to a breed of cat that in our house has the nickname of "piggy bob"!
Roasting bags can and will cause intestinal blockages if eaten. Cooked poultry bones can splinter and severely damage or kill your cat.
Handing out helpings of turkey, gravy and other holiday treats to your Pixie may cause an explosion of diarrhea or other intestinal
distress that will make you wish that you had not given in to the begging Bob! "But he looks so hungry and cute", you might be tempted
to think. If that is what you are thinking, think about cleaning up the mess.
Christmas trees and all the other accompanying ornaments and decorations are tempting toys to the ever playful and curious
Pixie-Bob. You'll find out that many Pixies are gleeful ball breakers, tree destroyers, and eaters of sparkly, glittery, tinselly toys. Be
prepared to see your Pixie gleefully scale your beautiful Christmas tree with your heirloom ornaments only to see it all crash to the
floor. They'll even tackle trees in the fun loving spirit of the season. Garlands, swags, and other decorations may see a similar fate.
Ribbon, wrapping paper, plastic, bows, and other gift trimmings are pretty irresistible to all cats. Not every Pixie will destroy
decorations, but many think that these are special toys just for them. A breeder friend of mine decorates her house with a gorgeous
display that all the neighbors enjoy. I asked about her indoor Christmas decore and she laughed and said, "You've got to be kidding?"
She went on to explain the experience of having multiple adults and litters of kittens underfoot and how the decorations would get
trashed. This isn't even talking about the potential health issues.
The holiday season can be a wonderful time for you and your Pixie if you are mindful of the many possibilities of accidental injuries
and try and minimize them. Here is a link to a couple of webpages that have links to many articles on health issues, toxic plants and
ways to keep your beloved companions safe. Many veterinarians will tell you that the holidays are a busy time for them and they get
visits from people who have fed their pet too much of the wrong food, or has been injured because of proximity to items or people that
prove dangerous. If you have further questions or concerns it is best to check with your veterinarian. Happy holidays to you and your
Pixies!
| Photo: Rosie, owned by Brenda Miller of Alpine Legends Pixie Bobs |
