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Pet Parenting Tips Around the Holidays

(NewsUSA) - Pet parenting can be as crazy as it is fun, especially around the holidays. Add the stress of hosting family and friends, and many pet parents end up ignoring Fido or Fluffy in favor of cooking a feast or wrapping last-minute gifts. So, how do you find balance between preparing for the holidays and tending to your pet?
Rose Hamilton -- Chief Marketing Officer at Pet360.com, the ultimate pet-parenting destination -- offers the following tips to keep your pet top of mind during the holiday season.

• Keep Plants and Goodies Out of Reach: Many traditional holiday plants, like poinsettias and mistletoe, can be harmful to your pet's health, so be sure to keep these out of reach. Also, refrain from sharing specific holiday treats with your tail-wagger, particularly fruitcake and sugar-free goods, which contain dog-toxic ingredients.
• Decorate Wisely: Holiday decor can be dangerous for pets, so it's important to take certain precautions when decorating. Place fresh trees in discreet corners, and keep lights, ornaments and tinsel off the lower branches. Deter your pet from electrical cords by spraying the cords with lemon peel or bitter orange tea.
• Mind Your Pet's Manners: Heightened activity at home can affect your pet's behavior, so it's important to prepare. Hosting small gatherings prior to the holiday can help reinforce good manners. If you know your pet won't hold back his excitement, set aside a safe room with a bed, water, toys and some treats where he can stay during your event.
• Get the Right Travel Gear: Crates are useful for all forms of travel, but if flying, be certain to use an airline-approved shipping crate. Take all health records with you, and ensure that your pet is wearing a collar and tag with appropriate contact information.
• Give Back with Gifts: While toys and treats are always welcomed by our furry relatives, consider a comfortable bed or deluxe grooming session to pamper your pet instead. Older pets may especially benefit from a therapeutic bed or massage.

For more tips on pet parenting around the holidays, visit www.Pet360.com.

December is National Cat Lovers Month! This celebration of our feline friends was created in 2014 by Catster Magazine.

Cats have been companions to humans for quite some time. It was originally thought that African wildcats were first domesticated in Egypt some 3600 years ago. But a 2004 archeological dig in Cyprus challenged this theory when scientists found a human and cat skeleton next to each other in a burial ground thought to be at least 9500 years old! Since cats were not native to that island it is thought that the animal was brought there by it's owner from his mainland in the Middle East.

To this day, cats enrich our lives by providing us comfort, warmth, affection, love, purrs and endless amusement and fascination. In fact, it has been shown that cat owners often have better psychological health than those without pets. Interaction with cats can help promote positive feelings for adults and children alike. Studies have even shown that a the frequency of cat's purring (20-140 Hertz) can have healing effects for humans including lowering stress and blood pressure.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Cat Lovers Month:

• Donate to a local shelter or cat cause
• Buy your cat some new toys or a cat tree for Christmas
• Schedule a holiday photo shoot with your kitty to create some great memories
• Read a cat-themed book or watch a cat-themed movie
• Treat yourself to a new cat mug

And, of course, you can always give your fur friends the gift of your time by spending a few extra minutes each day playing with them. While cats have the ability to entertain themselves with their toys, always remember that your cat's favorite toy is the one with you on the other end of it!