What to do about cats and Christmas trees?

Question

Was talking to my girlfriend the other day and we were not sure what to do about our Christmas tree this year. I know my Maine Coon will just knaw on the needles where she can reach, but the other one scares me. I'm afraid he's going to have a field day with th ornements. He's generally not destructive, he just likes to get into things. So any ideas?

Awesome ideas. I like the idea of using non breakable ornaments on the bottom part of the tree. That will let my girlfriend put her crystal ornaments on the top part. Also the fishing line to the ceiling is an outstanding idea. I have water bottles in almost every room already. The problem with is my trouble cat never associates things he isn't supposed to do with getting sprayed. Also, boarding is out of the question, how will they get to their stockings on Christmas morning. Thank you for the responses so far.

Answer 1

I have cats and yes, some are fascinated with the Christmas tree. So we always put only plastic or non-breakable ornaments on the bottom 1/3 of the tree, and be prepared to hunt them from under your other furniture after the holiday. Also, keep a spray bottle of just plain tap water on hand. Keep it out of sight, but watch your cats. When they go near the tree, squirt them with the water. The water will freak them out, and they will associate it with the tree, not YOU. Because they don't like the water, they will stay away from the tree! You have to be persistant with it for a couple of days, and if possible, lock them in the bedroom at night away from the tree so you can be consistent with your training.

Answer 2

I gave this solution to someone else too...

It won't be the best idea. I used this for my old cat that wouldn't stop pawing at the bedroom door in the morning.

Put your vacuum cleaner next to the Christmas tree. Plug the vacuum into a surge protector. Turn on the vacuum but turn off the surge protector. Plug the surge protector into a extension cord and put the surge protector next to where you sit most often.

Whenever the cat begins to climb the tree flip the switch to the surge protector and scare the cat. After about a week the cat will start to avoid the vacuum (The devowerer of bad kitties!). Unplug the vacuum but still leave it out. Eventually the cat will leave the tree alone.

Hope it helps.

Answer 3

I do not know if you have children but if you do, make it fun and by making Christmas's decorations, I had to do this with our newest cat, the first year she destroyed our tree. She had a blast. The next year we decided to get a blue spruce which is a little rougher too the touch, and did work better to keep her out of it. I was determined not to loose any more decorations to her so I packed up my daughter and went to the local craft store. We picked up a lot of different things to make decorations out of. We painted already cut wooden ornaments, and used glue and glitter. We had a blast. It is now 10 years later and we still use them, my daughter is now 15 and looks for the decoration we made in the boxes first. Her favorites are the wooden stocking we painted and glittered our pets names on. It is just an idea but it was a really fun one for us. Now if I could get our newest addition (a very sweet pit-bull) to not pick them off the tree and chew them up I would be doing something. (O:

Answer 4

We attempt to keep the cat out by having a small tree on top of the table. However, we still have to shoo the cat off the table from time to time. I've one friend who puts a decorative fence around the base of her tree to keep her critters out of it. Another friend has one of those noisemaker horns and squirtguns near the tree and squirts her cats if they get too close. The noisemaker is only for her male cat (because he doesn't like the loud noise) when he's snuck into the tree, this seems to happen once a year and a yearly reminder suffices.

Answer 5

When I was a kid, my cat climbed up the Christmas tree...and knocked it over.

So, the next year, my parents hung it from the ceiling, with fishing line (because it's invisible), to a hook from the hardware store. It was about a foot off the ground, so the cat left it alone. I guess it was too much trouble for the cat to find a way to jump up into the tree.

Answer 6

I've learned to buy ornaments that won't break like plastic bulbs. No matter what I do the cats will still remove every ornament from the tree while I'm away at work.

Answer 7

Do NOT use tinsel on the tree. If the cat eats the tinsel it can cause cuts in the cat's intestines. We run a piece of monofilament (fishing line) from the middle of the tree up to the ceiling directly above the tree...keeps the tree from tipping if the cats climb through it.

Answer 8

the only problem we had was the cat climbing into the tree. We were told to get a spray bottle and fill it with water.whenthe cat goes into the tree to spritz her but not let her see that it is us spraying her. after a few time they will stop because they thnk its the tree spraying them. It worked. she is now 17 and has not paid anyattention to the tree since she was a kitten.its not mean and it didnt hurt her. we only had to do it a few times and she got the hint

Answer 9

our cats are huge about 15-20 pounds each and one year they knocked our christmas tree over and broke a lot of glass and stuff but after that year about 9-10 years ago they havent done anything like it again!

Answer 10

you can put a fence or a gate around the christmas tree..... my friend just doesn't put ornaments on the bottom, or she puts the homemade cloth ones down there!! Good Luck, and Merry early Christmas!!