http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/198390-8165-047.html
Cat got your tree?
Warning device can keep pets out of trouble.
The Washington Post
November 30, 2004
Cats, as many owners will attest, rarely get caught up in the holiday spirit.
They despise those cutesy jingle-bell collars they are forced to wear, do not purr kindly on caroling strangers or sugar-hyped children, and get cranky if their meals are delayed by parties and shopping trips.
Then a live tree shows up in the middle of the living room that they're supposed to ignore. A little rebelliousness is bound to set in.
But this year, there's a product to foil feline defiance.
The new StayAway canister from Contech Electronics combines a battery-operated motion-detection device that senses a pet prowling nearby and activates a burst of compressed air and a one-second warning screech. Animals run for their lives, possibly never to return, according to Karen Schindelhauer, of the Canadian company, whose motto is "promoting harmony between animals and humans." (StayAway sells for $37.99 at www.futurepets.com; for information about other products see www.scatmat.com.)
"Our customers were looking for a way to keep cats off countertops in the kitchen and away from plants or candles on a mantel," says Schindelhauer, a marketing manager. "This can help keep cats safe and prevent them from eating things that are bad for them, swallowing tinsel or burning themselves. We've heard too many stories about cats climbing on trees and causing the whole thing to fall down."
A tiny drawback: Any moving creature -- such as, say, a toddler or a visiting mother-in-law -- can set off StayAway. But, assures Contech, the quick spray of air and blast of noise shouldn't really do any harm, though you might want to turn it off when the family gathers round the tree Christmas morning.
According to California pet therapist Warren Eckstein, the holidays aren't necessarily easy on our four-legged friends.
"This is the most dangerous time of the year for pets. People are cooking turkeys, leaving chocolate around, coming and going all the time, and not spending time with their pets," says Eckstein, a regular on NBC's "Today" show and host of a syndicated radio show who has been dubbed the "Dr. Phil" of the animal world. "They can do destructive things to get attention."
He is not familiar with StayAway, but he has used a homemade solution to keep cats off the tree: He puts a handful of pennies in empty plastic soda bottles and balances them on the bottom branches. If a cat jumps on the tree, the bottles fall with a clatter that spooks them out. He also has tied balloons around the bottom of the tree, which are supposed to pop if a cat lands on them. "Someone always comes up with a technological way of doing these things."
Eckstein has yet more pet-friendly suggestions: Pet owners should not use tinsel or faux- snow spray because ingesting it can be unhealthy for pets. And never leave lights plugged in when your cat or dog is unsupervised, as they may chew on the wires.
And is water in the Christmas tree stand safe for animals to drink? "A lot of people put aspirin in the water because they think it will make the tree last longer," says Eckstein. "Aspirin can be deadly to cats. And a lot of the chemicals sold to add to the tree water are dangerous as well."
Ordinary tap water, however, even if does get laced with sap, should be fine. "I use plain water and refresh it every day, and it's not a problem," says Eckstein. "On the streets, cats drink much dirtier water in puddles. I've yet to encounter a cat that required Perrier."
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