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It wouldn't be Christmas without getting all the family together and that of course includes any furry members too!

But not everything we love at this time of year is safe for animals.

Here are some tops tips from animal charities the RSPCA and PDSA on how to look after your pets this festive season:

Part of the fun at Christmas is eating and drinking and while it's tempting to share those tasty treats, some of them can be toxic for pets.

It might be hard to imagine a life, let alone Christmas without chocolate, but it can be really poisonous for animals, including dogs (even if they have a real knack for sniffing it out!).

Anything containing raisins, sultanas and dates can also be really dangerous. This includes mince pies, Christmas cake and Panettone. So make sure Santa's mince pie is kept out of reach (we're sure he'd be really disappointed if he missed out when he visits anyway).

The advice is to keep your pets eating their usual food which you know is safe for them.

But if you can't resist, skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is ok for dogs and cats (make sure it's not covered in fat, salt or gravy).

A treat is alright but to avoid your pet becoming ill or overweight don't forget they still need regular exercise and don't give them too much food!

There are lots of festive decorations which can cause problems for pets.

Trees covered in dangling baubles, tinsel and flashing fairy lights can be really tempting for cats and dogs to play with, but they could end up swallowing something.

This can be really serious if they need an emergency operation.

The advice is to try and make sure any tree decorations are out of reach on higher branches.

Never leave them on their own near the tree or in a decorated room. We know how mischievous they can be when no-one's looking!

Christmas plants, such as holly, ivy and mistletoe can also be dangerous for dogs, cats and rabbits so make sure you keep then away from these too.

It's fun opening presents on Christmas day and your pets might want to join in by playing with any wrapping paper and ribbons.

These can be dangerous for them though if they try and eat them or swallow them.

Likewise children's toys and gadgets aren't designed for pets so make sure they can't get their paws on them!

Just like us, pets might find Christmas a bit overwhelming.

It can be a really busy time with more people coming and going than usual.

Some pets might like the extra attention from visitors but others might find it tough to cope with the noise and disruption.

To help them de-stress make sure there's somewhere safe and quiet for them to escape to.

Cats can feel safest when they're high up so maybe an adult can help pick a spot for them to curl up on top of a secure shelf or cupboard.

For little furries such as mice, gerbils and hamsters, their enclosures can be moved to a quiet room.