Never give a pet as a gift. Choosing a faithful companion is a personal matter, not one left to others. Give a gift certificate instead. Two problems I see at this time of year are Holiday Gut and Tinsel Gut. Don't feed your pet table scraps.
Cats love tinsel, so keep it out of reach.
It can cause serious damage to the feline intestinal tract. December is a very busy month, with celebrating, visiting and buying presents. Set aside time each day to make sure your pet is doing well. It is extremely upsetting to have to euthanize a family member on Christmas Day for something that could have been successfully treated days or weeks earlier. The kids are back in school.