Just out of college, I adopted a barn cat. They say a tiger never changes his stripes, and this tiger certainly has held on to his roots. When it's just us at home, he's a pretty normal cat. But when company comes over -- especially noisy company -- he becomes loud and frightened. The words "devil cat" have been used in his presence more than once. Though he doesn't always appreciate it, we usually create a safe haven for him in an upstairs bedroom until our home is quiet again.

If your holidays are hectic, they can be hard on your pet. People coming and going, loud celebrations, tiny tinsel for them to chew on -- it's all new and interesting to your pet. But as with children, taking a minute to make sure their environment is safe is a good way to prevent your pet from getting into trouble.

If you're a pet owner, here are 12 ways you can protect your pet this holiday season.