How do you keep your cat away from a Christmas tree?

Question

See, my mom wants to put presents under the tree, but our cats mess them up...How do I stop this?

Answer 1

try a squirt gun

Answer 2

Well, my oldest cat learned the hard way on his first Christmas. He was in critical condition after chewing through a string of lights. The vet didn't think he would make it through the night. He used up about 6 of his lives that year. NEVER leave the tree unattended when plugged in around kitty!!

Anyway...last year we tried a fake tree for the first time and the cats didn't bother it as much...no water to drink under the tree....didn't smell like outside etc.

What I do is...don't put breakable ornaments down low because they WILL be removed from the tree and you will be finding them for several weeks after Christmas.

NO tinsel!

As for the gifts, no ribbons or bows, just a sticker tag works best. I actually turn into Martha Stewart when it comes time for gift wrapping so I put all of my pretty bows and things on early Christmas morning and keep the cats isolated.

Always make sure that the tree will not tip over when kitty makes a run for it and jumps onto the tree knocking it into the wall.

I have heard of people putting things in the tree water to extend the life of the tree...DON'T put anything in the water because the cats will be drinking it.

Good luck

Answer 3

I once read that to keep a cat off your warm car, you can squirt the cat with a water gun. It's completely harmless, but since cats don't like water, they quickly learn that the car isn't where they belong. Perhaps this will work for the Christmas tree, as well. And, if there is another "out of the way" spot in the room where you can place a scratch pad or catnip, that might be another way to steer your precious kitty in a different direction than the tree.

Answer 4

Honestly, there is very little you can do...you cant be 'there' to watch at all times...If possible, after putting the tree up, let the cat investigate (supervised) and then place the cat ---out of bounds --- into the basement, another room, or some area where it or they have their food, water, litter, etc. I have found after some time---- depending on the animal, (cats are smart) they get the idea, and can actually (really) stop 'messing' with the tree, entirely. I have found this to work, extremely well. (after years of picking up broken bulbs, tinsel in the litter box, and lop-sided lights...)

Answer 5

We were never able to keep the cat away, so we just tied the tree to the wall with fishing line. Also, don't put any decortations on the bottom foot or so to entice kitty. Now that our cats are older, they don't bother the tree much; one of them actually loves to sleep under it.

Why are you asking this now? At the end of June? j/w

Answer 6

Put a fence around the tree.

Answer 7

I think that you have to put a odor that your cat does like but does make you sick at the same time or you can put there fav food in a different room to draw him a way

Answer 8

Spray around the tree with a lemon scent.

Answer 9

anything that smells bad to the cat, cheyenne pepper worked great for my dog, but the house smelled kinda funny the rest of the time. maybe some bitter tasting stuff that you can get at a local pet store.

Answer 10

You having Christmas in July??

Answer 11

You make her stay in another room..there's no way you can keep it away from the bright lights that blink in the tree...And they love to climb it too...