ive got an artificial christmas tree in my living room. I also have two cats. they both LOVE the christmas tree, enough to bend the bottom four sets of branches down to the floor. one cat is the instigator. she will go real close to the tree and swat at it just enough to get my other cat, who is about three to five times the weight she is, over to the tree. he does the damage. we constantly have to spray them with a water bottle to get them to go away, but it doesn't work. we've also tried that spray that is supposed to make them not want to do it, scratch off or whatever. it doesnt work, not even on the couch. any and all suggestions would be helpful.
2006-11-27 07:25:33 · 11 answers · asked by me 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Dude....trust me. Water bottle. when you see those little buggers even walking toward that tree, squirt them. Pretty soon they'll associate the tree play with having to lick water off their bums. It's the only feasible way of teaching them. ALSO! I bought this stuff called "Bitter Break" it comes in several different names, but it's the same thing...it's a non-toxic sour-bitter spray you can spray on the bottom branches, the lower ornaments, and the trunk. It will taste horrible to your sweeties and they'll remember to stay away. It'll taste horrible to you too, so be careful about your hands. Works on electrical wires too (although wipe it on the wires instead of spraying).
Also: some more things I did. Good to get a fake tree, as the real trees are toxic and the smell is too tempting. NO TINSEL. They're not smart enough to avoid eating it, and it can kill them. Hang nothing on the last branch (dangling is bad), and use the little metal hooks on the ornaments so you can literally wrap the ornament around the treebranch and it won't come off.
Other than that, just be patient and consistent with them. It's only been three days and my kitten is already starting to lose interest in our tree. Good luck!
2006-11-27 07:29:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You Could Try Putting Pepper Corns At The Base Of The Tree Mate Or Take A Lemon Zester And Any Citrus Fruit And Smear Zest And Citrus Oil At The Base Of The Tree? Cats Don't Usually Like Either Of These Strong Smells. Good Luck. Have A Gooday And A Bonza Christmas Mate!
2016-05-23 13:14:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was a spray called bitter-apple that worked really well for dogs - might work for cats too.
If not, try putting a little white picket fence around the tree - might not look great, but either that, or keep the cats out of the room until after christmas - or get a dog to put in front of the tree
2006-11-27 07:28:46 · answer #3 · answered by sms1973 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My aunt once had a problem similar to this. She has a cat that loved their tree. It always got near the tree but never climbed it. She went out and bought a gate to put around the Christmas tree to prevent the cat from climbing it. Maybe this will help.
2006-11-27 07:35:38 · answer #4 · answered by Lauren 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My parents cats used to climb the tree too. They stopped once my dad built them a climbing "tree" of their own. It was just a 2x4 wrapped in some old carpet bracketed to the celiing with two or three shelves bracketed to the 2x4 and the wall. They loved it and left the christmas tree alone.
2006-11-27 07:36:13 · answer #5 · answered by tabithap 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we hang jingle bells around the bottom of the tree, so when the cat tries to play with the ornaments or gets too close trying to climb it.. the bells jingle letting you know, so you can squirt them or yell at em. Kitty alarm!
We also wrap framing wire around teh truck of the tree, about midway up, then secure each end of the framing wire to an eye hook thats screwed into the wall... this keeps the tree from falling over should the cat climb it.
2006-11-27 07:29:43 · answer #6 · answered by grapelady911 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read somewhere that you can cut up lemons and put the slices along the inside of the tree. Cats can't stand citrusy smells.
Or just buy them their own little cat climbing thing, with scratch posts and holes to climb and play in.
2006-11-27 07:43:45 · answer #7 · answered by Snuz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cats see the tree as their Christmas present. You have given them a brand new toy. They are not going to wait for Santa to come down the chimney!
Not very nice of me, I know. Since I don't have Christmas trees I don't have this problem with my cats.
Merry Christmas anyway.
2006-11-27 07:32:52 · answer #8 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try putting double sided tape around the tree skirt or around the bottom of the tree, they get caught in that a few times they will definitely stop going in that area.
2006-11-27 07:43:54 · answer #9 · answered by Michelle Lynn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get something that is motion censored so when they get close to the tree it will turn on and scare them. I'm sure it would have to be loud enough. But it will only have to happen a couple of times before they are too scared to go near it. There are also these mats you can buy to keep your pets off the couch they give a small shock when your pets touch them.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?N=0&Np=1&Ntt=keep%20off&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&Nty=1&pc=1
2006-11-27 07:34:45 · answer #10 · answered by Neev 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋