Decorate With Us!

Creating a Safe, Cozy Holiday Home for Pets

By Pecan Pie & Blueberry Biscuit (with a little help from Meowmie, Dr. Azure Holland)

Hello, friends! It’s us — Pecan Pie and Blueberry Biscuit.
We are the official holiday decorating supervisors in our house. The holidays begin the moment the storage boxes appear… and so do we.

We know your pets are probably just as curious as we are. So we wanted to share a few tips — from a pet’s-eye view — on how to decorate for da holidays in a way that feels safe, calm, and cozy for everyone.

1. Begin With a Calm, Cozy Environment

Before you hang even one ornament, your pets are already taking it all in. Boxes. Tape. Furniture moving. New smells. It’s a lot.

For cats like us:

We love a designated perch nearby — a soft blanket, window seat, or cat tree where we can watch the action unfold..
A favorite toy or scratcher helps us redirect our zoomies away from the tree.
Let us supervise from a safe distance; we’re very good at su-purr-vision.

For dogs:

A long-lasting chew or snuffle mat keeps them happily busy while you rearrange things.
Let them stay where they can see you but not be underfoot (or under-tree).
Senior or anxious pups may appreciate a quiet, cozy corner.

A calm setup helps us feel safe before the big, sparkly tree even arrives.

2. Bringing the Tree Inside — Without Pets Sneaking Out

When the tree comes through the door? That’s chaos… and we love it. But it’s also the perfect moment for a cat or dog to slip outside.

Here’s how to keep us safe:

Create a Pet “Holding Zone”
Before opening the door, tuck us into a comfy room with:

A favorite bed or blanket
A familiar toy
Maybe a treat puzzle or chew
Soft background music

Use Barriers Wisely
A baby gate or exercise pen adds an extra layer of security between us and the open door.

Give Us a Job (Enrichment) Before Tree Time

Dogs: snuffle mat, frozen Kong, or chew
Cats: a quick play session, lick mat, or our favorite a Churu snack

Tired brains = less interest in door-dashing.

Teamwork Helps
If one human carries the tree and another keeps an eye on us, everyone wins.

Keep ID & Microchips Updated
More visitors, more deliveries, more open doors — updated tags and microchips are an important backup.

When the tree is finally inside and the door is closed, don’t forget to tell us we’ve been dis very good helpers. Treats appreciated.

3. Christmas Tree Safety Once It’s Inside

The tree is up. The room smells different. Everything is new. We notice.

For cats:

Please anchor the tree so it doesn’t tip if we investigate.
Avoid putting chairs or tables right next to the tree — they become perfect launch pads.
If you have a live tree, cover the water or skip additives; we shouldn’t be drinking from it.

For dogs:

Many dogs love to sneak sips of tree water — a secure cover is best.
Tuck away dangling cords so they’re not chew toys.
Sweep up fallen needles often so they don’t get stuck in paws or tummies.

Whether the tree is real or artificial, stability + supervision = happy, safe holidays.

4. Ornament Safety: What to Use & What to Skip

We admit it: shiny, dangly, jingly things are… irresistible and sometimes our paws can’t help but play.

Safer Choices:
✔️ Shatterproof ornaments on lower branches
✔️ Lightweight decorations that won’t hurt if they fall
✔️ Secure hooks that don’t pop off easily

Best to Avoid at Pet Height:
✖️ Tinsel (especially dangerous for cats if swallowed)
✖️ Fragile glass ornaments at tail-level
✖️ Edible ornaments like salt dough or popcorn garlands

Put heirloom and delicate ornaments higher on the tree, where they can sparkle safely out of paw’s reach.

️ 5. General Holiday Décor Safety

Once the tree is done, the rest of the house starts to sparkle too — and we notice all of it.

Flameless Candles, or Real Candles Out of Reach
Real flames are scary (and dangerous around tails, whiskers, and curious noses). Flameless candles give the same cozy glow.

Hide or Secure Electrical Cords
Especially if you live with a puppy or a cat who likes to chew, tucking cords away keeps everyone safe.

Go Easy on Strong Scents
Potpourri, simmer pots, and some essential oils can bother our airways or make us feel sick.

Place Tabletop Décor Out of Reach
If it’s glittery, chewable, or breakable, assume we will investigate. Higher shelves and secure placements help us all enjoy the décor without accidents.

From our paws to yours:
Decorating doesn’t just make things beautiful — it makes your home feel like a purr-fect nest. With a little planning, you can keep it festive and safe… so we can all curl up together and enjoy the glow.

Love,
Pecan Pie & Blueberry Biscuit

Loss and Grief with Dr. Holland

The loss of your dog or cat is one of the hardest things that a pet parent has to navigate.

Throughout this journey of the final life stage, there are an array of emotions that can come up. I have had to say goodbye to beloved fur babies and the grief has been intense. Here are some things that have come up in me as I have traveled along the path of grief and loss and to finally finding happiness again.

Is it crazy for this to hurt so much?

No. The grief that I have felt for a beloved pet passing surpasses anything that I have felt for another human in their passing. Pets are often the center of the home and the focus of our love and attention. They comfort us and they know us fully, including our habits and secrets. They are often our “mini-me’s” and it’s only natural that with a relationship that strong and meaningful that we could have a powerful amount of grief.

Here are the 6 stages of grief and how they may show up in the process of losing a pet:

Shock and disbelief- the first responses to the loss of a beloved pet. This can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Anger, alienation and distancing- anger can come up in many forms. Often there is anger about the disease that took your baby, or at the Dr. that wasn’t able to save them. Anger when carried to an extreme level can keep you from moving through the healing process and fully experiencing grief.
Denial- having trouble accepting that your fur baby is really gone. Typically this stage is very quick and is rooted in fantasy.
Guilt- the more that you loved your baby, the more likely you are to experience guilt. Experiencing guilt on some level is very natural as we rethink the final life stage of your fur baby and the decisions made for care at the end.
Depression- It is normal to feel depression with intense mourning. With the loss of all my babies and in particular my kitty Mantis, the depression was pretty marked. I would wake up in the morning and ask myself, “Will I ever be happy again?”. I was already in therapy at the time Mantis passed and I used sessions to process this incredible loss. *If the depression becomes too intense or prolonged than one should seek help from a trained professional
Resolution- a time for spiritual healing. In this final stage, we move through the grief and are able to hold onto the memories and the love of our beloved while moving forward with life’s activities.

How can I process my feelings?

The most therapeutic thing we can do is lean into our emotions and pain. In order to get through the other side of grief, we have to feel deeply and sit with the heartbreak and anguish of the loss. Bottling it up and pretending we are ok will only delay the healing process. I have found it especially helpful to speak with my trusted therapist or friends that are pet people. Getting the feelings out is the most important part of the healing process. Crying is one of the most cleansing and cathartic things that we can do for the soul. Other ways to process and move grief through your body: exercise, dance, meditation, journaling, etc. Express yourself and try not to hold it in.

I have been lucky to be surrounded by other pet people during my grieving process. If you don’t have pet people in your inner circle, seek them out. This type of understanding can be so very helpful in your healing journey.

Some practical suggestions:

Find other sympathetic and supportive people to lean on to get your feelings out in a safe environment.

Allow emotions to flow, don’t bottle them up.

It’s never too late to say something to your beloved deceased pet. Write a letter to them sharing how much you love recounting the special memories that you have.

Dedicate or donate something in your pet’s name. Knowing that they are helping other fur babies is a way for them to continue on.

Establish new routines at home. Pets, more than anything in our lives, are rooted in our living patterns. Don’t be scared to shake things up!

Hold some sort of private service or memorial for your pet. This can be as simple or as involved as you wish.

Attend a pet loss or bereavement support group. Allow yourself to share fully and experience the grief in a safe space.

If/When you are ready to bring a new fur baby into your life, tell them stories of your beloved one who passed.

Pecan Pie’s Tips for Surviving the Holidays. Literally.

This time of the year more than most I hear a lot of my friends having to make unnecessary trips to the Vet’s office which is not a fun place most of the time, however, since my Mom works there, I don’t mind visiting.

The tree is a lot of fun and many friends have had trouble with those light cords. I have asked my mom and Dad to unplug the cord just to be safe while they are out.

My Mom tells me that during the holidays she sees more ingested items such as ornaments, parts of presents and other decorations which can lead to expensive surgeries, so get your pet parents to look out for small items like this and put the breakable smaller ornaments up higher on the tree.

I love this time of the year the most for new food items to sample, but I am told they are not good for me and that I need to stick to my cat food. Human food can be high in sugar and carbohydrates that are bad for me and can lead to long term health conditions that are no fun.

So stay safe out there, and resist all efforts to be put in a costume! As you can see I have not been successful.

By Pecan Pie (with assistance from Dr. Holland)