December 23, 2024, 8:37 am | Read time: 4 minutes
At Christmas time, there are many exciting things that people seem to bring into their homes just so that curious cats can play with them or break them. These include Advent wreaths, angel figurines, and various decorations for the Christmas tree. However, tinsel and garlands, in particular, can be very dangerous for cats.
If the word “tinsel” doesn’t inevitably bring to mind Loriot’s classic Christmas at the Hoppenstedts and the cult phrase “There used to be more tinsel,” then you certainly need another explanation. This is because tinsel used to be more common as a Christmas tree decoration than it is today. The glittering strips are made of stanol, an alloy of zinc and lead. Or, if you were celebrating in the GDR, aluminum was intended to imitate glittering icicles and, for a long time, was an indispensable decorative item.
In some families, the tinsel was even carefully collected from the tree, ironed, and hung over the branches again the following year, slightly singed and dark in some places. Today, tinsel is more likely to be found in the form of garlands wrapped around the tree – where it can still be dangerous for our cats.
More Tinsel Used to be Life-Threatening for Cats
It’s easy to explain why tinsel is so popular with cats. It shines, moves, and flutters: a perfect toy that appeals to many senses and the hunting instinct of curious animals. It also hangs on the Christmas tree, which is exciting for cats anyway and usually forbidden. If the animal is scolded or shooed away from the tree, it gets (negative) attention and usually tries to reach it even more often.
But this can actually be very dangerous. This is because the metals contained in the strips – especially lead – are poisonous. It causes visual disturbances and even blindness in cats. Other symptoms include restlessness and compulsive movements, apathy, convulsions, and paralysis. Metabolic symptoms such as increased salivation, vomiting, or diarrhea also occur if the animal has come into contact with lead. 1 Although this metal is no longer used, caution is advised with old tree decorations!
Tinsel Garlands Are Not for Cats
However, if a cat has eaten tinsel, there is an even greater danger. “If the glittering threads get into the gastrointestinal tract, they can become knotted, which is life-threatening,” warns vet Tina Hölscher from Aktion Tier.
Today, tinsel is no longer particularly common in the form of long angel hair but rather in the form of a garland that is wrapped around the entire tree. Although the individual strings are much shorter, they also pose a danger to cats. This is because the short metal or plastic threads are sharp-edged and can cause internal injuries in the animal’s stomach and intestinal tract.
A first step in an emergency is to offer cats grass. As this is indigestible for cats, it can cause them to regurgitate it – along with the tinsel. “If the tinsel strands are vomited up, this is the quickest and safest way to remove the ingested material,” Hölscher clarifies.
Further Measures for Swallowed Tinsel
If cat grass does not help, there are other ways to help the animal. A tried and tested household remedy is a teaspoon of mineral oil mixed with the cat’s food. However, this should never be administered without consulting a vet!
“The oil lubricates the intestinal contents, helping the clumped tinsel strands to pass through more easily,” explains Hölscher. Cat owners should monitor the excrement in the litter tray to ensure that the tinsel leaves the body.
If the kerosene oil doesn’t help either, sauerkraut can be an alternative. It is mixed with wet food and has a double effect: the cabbage is swallowed with the tinsel and has a laxative effect at the same time. This accelerates the elimination process, Hölscher further explains.
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Can’t get the Tinsel out of the cat? Emergency Operation!
If all these measures are unsuccessful, the swallowed tinsel must be surgically removed to save the cat’s life. Not only can it obstruct the animal’s gastrointestinal system, but the obstruction can also cause gas buildup and swelling in the abdominal cavity, known as megacolon. In these cases, there is a risk of intestinal rupture.
To avoid such dangers from the outset, Tina Hölscher advises avoiding tinsel altogether. Instead, there are safe alternatives such as straw stars or wooden tree decorations. These are not only decorative but also safe for curious cats.
With material from dpa