keeping cat away from xmas tree?

Question

I have two cats who are determined to wreck my xmas tree!! I left a layer at the bottom of the tree baubel free and yet they just climb higher to pull the tinsel off! Anyone have any good tips for deterring them? I realise it is a huge tempatation for them, but the kids just want the tree to look nice!

Answer 1

small electric fence

Answer 2

There are the usual kitty training tricks. When they approach the tree, squirt them with a spray from a water bottle. Or clap your hands and shout "No!"

Consider removing tinsel, since it's clearly the big temptation. A tree can look great without it.

Anchor the tree with fishing line or wire attached to a firm point in the wall--an eye-bolt in the window frame, a curtain rod attachment point, whatever you've got. A cat can bring down a tree--and be badly injured in the process.

Last, I've read that citrus peel all around the base of the tree repels some cats. They don't care for the smell.

Answer 3

Oh, a First Christmas cat! I have had many First Christmas cats. They think you have brought a new toy into the house for them. They love it. The tree can be real or artificial. It is still a new toy. A few hints...First, no breakable ornaments. There are a lot out there. It took years for me to get the non-breakable ones. You can use ribbons, metal, plastic or what ever you can make to decorate the tree. Do not put tensile on the tree as it can kill cats if they eat it. Watch out what christmas flowers you get as they can poison cats when eaten. Most of my cats have climbed up the inside of the tree. You can squirt them with the water bottle. That can help, but I expect it every year. You have to work-out how to keep the bulbs on the tree. I wind the wires onto the limbs. As I said, bows help too. I keep an eye out all year long for things to make unbreakable ornaments with. The hobby & craft stores have many items and ideas. Good luck!

Answer 4

We had this problem a few years ago! My ex and I had 4 cats and every single morning over the Xmas period we came down to find the tree on the floor and all the decorations stripped off it!!

Two things - first, tie your Xmas tree to something. We used to tie it to the stairposts in our old house. In the house where I live now I'm going to tie it to the heating pipes (we have a one year old son who is very grabby and inquisitive as well as a 6 month old kitten who will try to climb the tree and both of them will attempt to pull the tree over!)

Secondly, cats hate the smell of citrus. I made loads of little decorations by slicing up an orange and putting the slices in the airing cupboard to dry. when dry I tied a cinnamon stick on the top of each and attached them to the tree. they looked nice and really smelt festive (Pomanders made with oranges and cloves work well, your kids will enjoy making these with you) - the cats wouldn't go near the tree as they hated the smell!

Or you could just get some essential oil (orange/lemon), dilute it in a spray bottle and spray it all over the tree. Same thing - the smell of citrus will put them off.

I'm going to do that this year to deter my kitten (Merlin) from destroying the tree!

Answer 5

LOL cats will be cats i am afraid,my two were little ratbags there was one gold satin ball and they would not leave the damn thing alone,in the end i gave up and gave it to them ,they just found another ball they wanted grrr!! the only thing is if possible keep them out of the room the tree is in and make sure they are never left alone in there.The only thing i can think of that may work is spraying the lower branches with lemon oil as cats hate the smell of lemon ,but this could make them just jump higher up the tree ,and cause more havoc :¬(

Answer 6

One year our cats kept climbing in to the tree and knocking it over so my husband attached the top of the tree to the ceiling with heavy test fishing line. As for the tinsel thing --yipes-- good luck. There is a spray available at pet stores that deters cats from the area, it has no real discernible odor so you might try spraying the target area with it--- I doubt it could harm your tree. Good luck and merry catmus.

Answer 7

I always bow to the inevitable - put a hook in the ceiling and tie the top of the tree to that. That way adverturous, tree-climbing puss cats can't pull the tree over.
Don't use any breakable baubles, then, if they dislodge them and bat them around the room a bit, they've had a lot of fun but no damage.
I get more fun out of watching the cats enjoy the tree than I get from the tree itself.

Answer 8

at the petstore where I work there's different things you can use, though I'm not sure if the big pet stores (petsmart and petco) carry them.

One is a motion detector that, if a cat get's too close, it will spray them with a harmless, odorless liquid.

Second there is spray called "Stay Out" made by Four Paws. It says it keeps them from leaving the yard and such, but it does work outside. If you get that, test a small area near the cats where they might go to see how effective the product would be

Answer 9

Well there is not a lot to do but you could put something your cat is scared of near the Xmas tree so it might prevent the cat from going near the tree!

Answer 10

1. Get a tin can and put some coins in it and then cover the top.

2. Whenever the cats get near the tree, shake it really hard and scare them. They'll be too afraid to get near the tree after a few times.

OR

Squirt them with a little water when they get near it.

Answer 11

oh dear lol my cats when they were younger used to take off the bauballs and we used to find them all over the kitchen. they thought they were footballs.lol. erm if you can put the tree on a table away from anywhere that the cats can climb that might be ok. but i am not sure if its possible to keep them away from it completely unless they are not alowed in the room where the tree is.