The holidays will soon be upon us, inspiring many homeowners to decorate with lights or other electrical devices as the season arrives. Keeping safe is important, and this includes every member of your family – even the furry ones. Pet-proofing your house is essential year-round, not just when installing holiday lighting. But with trees, lights, electric candles, and more – it is essential to keep pets from interfering with your electrical system. This year, try these tips to keep your holidays stress-free.
Restrict Access To Holiday Lighting, Wiring, or Electrical Devices
The best way to prevent your pet from damaging themselves or your house through an electrical accident is by limiting their ability to interact with anything connected to electricity. Extensive wiring can be hidden behind furniture or held down by masking tape running along the wall, preventing your pet from using them as a chew toy. Dangling lights or holiday fixtures should also be positioned far outside the reach of a leaping cat or dog. A determined pet might see a low-hanging light fixture as a challenge to aim for. If your pet (primarily cats) has access to a table or countertop, take this into consideration when placing hanging holiday lighting or decorations.
Apply Pet Proofing Products
Many products available on the market can safely cover wires in a thin layer of bitter or foul-smelling material, discouraging your pet from chewing if they get curious. By discouraging this practice early on in life, you might find that this behavior is carried forward by your pet to future years, completely eliminating their interest in chewing on or messing with electrical wiring in future holiday seasons.
Space Out Your Wiring
If your design options leave you limited in your ability to hide wires, you should aim to space them out as much as possible. Overloading a single outlet with a large collection of cables and connections can lead to dangerous shorts or circuit overloads if your pet messes with them. By not spacing out your decorations or lights, you will leave an extensive collection of excess wires in one place, allowing more opportunities for your pet to get stuck or wrapped around in dangerous wires.
Distract Your Pet Away from Holiday Lighting
Let’s face it; it feels like sometimes your pet just wants to create mischief. A bright Christmas tree or a dancing turkey toy might be enticing to your pet, but you should still make an effort to provide them with alternative ways to chew and play. A dog or cat is much less likely to chew on your wires or paw at holiday lighting if they are tuckered out from playing with toys.
Remember: Disconnect Devices When Not Needed
Especially during the holiday season, it is common to travel for extended periods of time for vacations or family visits. Getting in the habit of disconnecting your electronics and decorations will ensure your pet is not met with a nasty shock without you home to notice. This practice will keep your pet safer and cut down on your electric bill; a win-win!
Your and your family’s safety is paramount, and electrical systems are not something to be lax about. This holiday season, protect everyone you love by employing these tips and keeping your pet away from a dangerous situation. For more general advice about pet safety, check out this guide from the National Fire Protection Association.
If you have any additional concerns about your home’s electrical components, reach out to Promise Electric, a trusted provider of residential electrical services to Sarasota and Bradenton homeowners.
