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Safety
To keep cats and dogs safe around the Christmas tree, anchor the tree so it can’t tip, cover the water, skip the tinsel, keep breakable ornaments up high and keep cords out of reach. The two main worries are a tree that tips over and something chewed or swallowed, and a few small changes make both much less likely.
Anchor the tree
Climbing cats and curious dogs can knock a tree over. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) suggests tying the tree to the ceiling or a doorframe with fishing line, and Cornell’s Feline Health Center suggests a cup hook in the ceiling with wire or string. Pet Poison Helpline says to secure it at the top and the bottom.
Where the tree stands helps too. Put it somewhere your pets can’t reach easily, and when you can’t watch them, a veterinary behaviorist at Ohio State suggests a flexible pen around the tree and the presents.
Keep the tree water to the tree
Cover the stand or block it off. The ASPCA says tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause nausea, diarrhea or an upset stomach. The AVMA says water additives can be hazardous if swallowed, so if you have pets, add nothing to the water. Sources differ on how harmful additives are, so plain water and a covered stand are the simplest choice.
A covered stand still needs filling: the National Fire Protection Association says to add water every day.
Pine needles
Chewing needles can irritate the mouth and stomach and cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhea. Pet Poison Helpline says large amounts could block or puncture the gut, because needles don’t digest well. Sweep up fallen needles, and don’t let pets chew on the branches.
Real trees need a little more care with cats. Pet Poison Helpline says cats are very sensitive to pine oils and suggests an artificial tree for a cat who chews. That helps, but no tree is fully pet-proof: Cornell notes a determined cat may chew an artificial tree anyway, and Pet Poison Helpline says swallowed artificial tree material can also upset the stomach, or cause a blockage if enough is swallowed.
Skip the tinsel, and pick up the ribbon
For cats, tinsel, ribbon and string are among the most common things swallowed, and among the most dangerous. International Cat Care says string-like things can make the intestines bunch up, and usually need surgery to remove. Dogs can have the same problem: Cornell’s canine health center says tinsel, garland and ornaments can cause a blockage in dogs too.
The ASPCA’s advice is simple: leave the tinsel off. Collect ribbons and string as soon as gifts are opened, and keep long ribbon off the presents under the tree.
If you see your pet swallow string, tinsel or ribbon, call your veterinarian, even if they seem fine. The FDA says signs can take hours or days to show up, and include vomiting, diarrhea, not eating and less energy. If you see string hanging from your pet’s mouth, don’t pull it. A veterinary reference warns that pulling can cause more damage, so call your veterinarian instead.
Ornaments
Breakable ornaments can cut mouths and paws, and swallowed ornaments can cause a blockage. Hang the glass ones up high. On the lower branches, use cloth, wood or straw ornaments, and Cornell suggests tying them on with cloth loops instead of hooks.
Keep salt dough ornaments out of reach entirely. The ASPCA says they can cause life-threatening problems even once they’re dry, because of the salt. The same goes for ornaments made of food, like popcorn strings or candy canes.
Lights and cords
Pets who chew electrical cords can get burns or an electric shock. Tie cords up or run them through a sturdy cord cover, and unplug the lights when you’re not home, as the AVMA suggests. A veterinary behaviorist at Ohio State adds that unplugging is safer than just switching them off.
Pet Poison Helpline says a cat who has chewed a light strand may have trouble breathing and burns in the mouth. If you find a chewed cord, unplug it before you touch your pet, then take your pet to your veterinarian right away.
Candles
The AVMA says never to leave a pet alone with a lit candle. Cornell says cats can knock candles over however far back from the edge you put them, which can burn the cat and start a fire. And the National Fire Protection Association says never to use lit candles on the tree itself.
Presents under the tree
Pets can smell what you can’t see. The ASPCA says to keep wrapped food and candy off the floor. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and chewed batteries can burn the mouth and throat. Our list of holiday foods that aren’t safe for dogs and cats covers the rest of the kitchen.
Holiday plants
Lilies are the plant to worry about most with cats, and that same post covers them. Pet Poison Helpline calls it a myth that poinsettias are highly toxic, though they can still upset a stomach. The AVMA lists amaryllis, mistletoe and holly among holiday plants that can be harmful, so keep them where your pets can’t reach them.
Keeping a cat out of the tree
Give your cat somewhere better to climb. Ohio State’s veterinary behaviorist suggests the holidays are a good time for an extra cat tree or shelf. Keep lights and anything that dangles off the bottom branches, and block off the tree when you can’t watch.
Some guides suggest spraying peppermint or citrus on the branches. We’d skip it: Pet Poison Helpline lists peppermint and citrus oils among the essential oils that can poison cats.
If something gets swallowed
Call your veterinarian right away. If what was swallowed might be poisonous, a pet poison line can help too. Don’t wait to see whether it passes: International Cat Care says swallowed objects often don’t pass in cats.
ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
Both are open 24 hours a day. The ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply, and Pet Poison Helpline charges a fee for each case.
A tree tied in place, unbreakable ornaments on the low branches and cords out of reach cover most of what can go wrong.
This article shares general safety information from veterinary sources. It isn’t a substitute for advice from your own veterinarian.
Sources
We’re arranging a veterinary review of this article. Until it’s done, here are the sources behind it. Poison line details were checked on each service’s own page on November 10, 2026.
American Veterinary Medical Association: Winter holiday pet safety
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Holiday advice for pet owners
Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Holiday hazards for dogs
Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Take the “Oh No!” Out of Your and Your Pets’ Holiday
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holidays
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine: Important Tips to Keep Pets Safe This Holiday Season
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