How do you keep a cat from playing on the xmas tree?

Question

We just got a 3 mth old kitty. I am not sure what to do next month when we put up a tree. Any good solutions ?

Answer 1

Kitty will probably see the tree as her very own huge toy! My kitties are so old now they don't bother the tree, just like to curl under it to sleep.

One trick I read and have used was to put a large jingle bell on one of the lower branches. The least movement of kitty messing with the tree will alert you. You can then clap your hands or use a squirt bottle to shoo kitty away.

For this year, I would only use unbreakable ornaments. Make sure the cords to the lights are well secured on the branches, especially on the lower branches where kitty may want to pull or bite them. Avoid tinsel, the strung or the icicles. Kitty will love to chew on this and it will not be good for her tummy.

If you use the wire ornament hangers, give them an extra pinch to close around the ornament and around the branch. This will make it harder for kitty to knock the ornaments off.

Get as large a tree stand as possible. It will give the tree more stability. There are some nice wide plastic, wrought iron and metal tree holders. Cover the opening to the water well so kitty can't drink from there, too.

Also other dangers to watch for are candles, plants (mistletoe and poinsettias), winter greenery arrangements (juniper, holly, etc) and lots of candies and sweets around.

Hope all this doesn't discourage you! Just a little precaution, the same as if you had a small child in the home. Kitty will be just as awed with the tree as a child and you will see the magic in her eyes as she watches all the sparkles and lights.

I have also attached some links for kitty safe Christmas ideas.

Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

There's not much you can really do.

The spray bottle is a good idea, but it only works when you're there to catch the cat in the act!

You can try putting tinfoil under and around the bottom of the tree to try to scare the kitty away. They hate the noise the foil makes when they step on it, but that will only work until you put presents under the tree. After that, the cat will just use the gifts to walk on. Haha.

The only other thing I can think of is this stuff they sell at PetCo or PetsMart and other pet stores... It's these sheets of double sided tape. I'm not sure what it's called, but the cats don't like getting stuck to it obviously, so you just lay the sheets where you don't want them to go. It's supposed to work pretty well.

But if the cat can just jump up and on to the tree without having to get close enough to be on the tinfoil or double sided tape, then you're screwed. The only solution then is to not let the cat in the room. There are repelents that you can buy too to keep the cat away from that area and there are ones for indoor use, but honestly, I don't know how well they work.

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The cat will want ot play with things that ove ont he lower branches. (Hope you are not christian because the christmas tree is a pagan symbol) The cat will possibly climb the tree on the inside branches which should do little.

The idea to remember that a cat will go after anything that moves - it is instinct. SO keep the bright, glittery, bouncy stuff aout 3 feet up - OR - Keep kitty out of the room.

DO NOT try to punish kitty for natural behavior - playing with things that move.

DO NOT lite the kitty roam outside. Indoor cats are healthier, live longer and are far more gneteel pets when they are house cats - and, you don't have the tragedy of having kitty killed by a dog or car.

Answer 4

Put the tree up in stages. First just the tree. Then after a few days, put the lights on the top half. In a few more days, ornaments. Keep all ornaments up high too.

Your cat will be curious, but it will be less disastrous for your ornaments to let them get used to everything in stages.

Don't even use tinsel again, and make sure any tinsel from past years is properly disposed of. Your cat will eat the tinsel and you will have a lot of vet bills on your hands. I have always loved tinsel on a tree, but it just gets everywhere and it could definately kill the cats, so no more :(

Also, no more natural trees. You will want to go fake with cats. Not all trees are safe for cats, and they will be tempted to drink the stale tree water.

Answer 5

When my kids were little and just like the cat trying to get at the ornaments and up in the tree I used to put the tree in the "playpin" or those travel pop up beds for toddlers. Yes, it looked a bit odd, but did the trick.

I thought there were sprays that you can put around the tree to repel the cat from wanting to go near it.

Design some cute "fence" to keep cat at a distance. Decorate some boards or something or block it in the corner by the couch and end table or something.

Answer 6

what I did with my two boys is I didnt have a tree the first year I got them. When I did get a tree, I didnt put ornaments on the bottom third of the tree, then the next year just ornaments that I wouldnt mind if they played with (ok well I got them their own ornaments) they both stayed out of the tree. the only problem I had was that they liked to drink the water from the tree stand, so I never put anything but just plain water in it. But a spray bottle of water should work, just spray when the kitty starts to do unwanted attention to the tree.

Answer 7

Good luck with that! When I got my kitty he liked to un-decorate it, take the glass bulbs off and bat them around the house & break them....garland HA.... forget it!

I tried white pepper, I tried that Sour Apple spray nothing worked. So finally I just started decorating the tree at the 1/2 mark & up after he saw he could't get to anything he got bored. Then I could finish decorating. He is now 4 years old & I have to do this every year. Uggh!

Answer 8

The cat will want to examine this new thing. My mom puts inexpensive ornaments on the bottom. She buys them from the dollar store and the pricey ones go on top. Try letting the cat study the tree with you in the room. Once he's done that he should be satisfied. Also I would suggest a fake tree. Fallen pine needles can get lodged into your cat's paws and get infected. AVOID TINSEL!!! Cat will eat it and it can kill your pet!

Answer 9

Someone once told me to get one of those motion-activated, loud, obnoxious singing novelties (like Billy Bass or that fake mounted deer's head) and put it near the tree. When the kitten goes near the tree, she'll set off the motion toy and the sound will scare her away from the tree.

I haven't tried this myself, but I've been told it's a good solution.

Answer 10

Keep the ornaments away from the bottom. Then a spray bottle. Try a fence or just keep it out of the room. If all of that doesn't work take a warm, not hot, bulb to the paw. That's usually stops it.