Written by Mary Anne Miller & Anne Moss
Some technical tips on how to have a kitty proof stable Christmas Tree:
One-way is to take four boards 2x4's or similar. If your tree is three feet in diameter then you
want to make the base 4 feet across. You want to make the base wider than the tree is in
diameter. If the diameter of the trunk is 4 inches (the trunk not the tree or the limbs), you want to
end up with a hole where the four boards will overlap and you want the hole to be 4 inches in
diameter.
Place Board #1 on a flat surface. Take Board #2 place the end of Board #2 against the side
of Board #1 so it overlaps 4 inches. In other words one board will stick out 4 inches then the other
board. Take Board #3 place the end of Board #3 against the side of Board #2 approx. 4 inches
from board #1. Now take Board #4 and place the end of it against the side of board #3 and
resting it against board #1 (are you getting board yet?)
Fasten these together with screws or nails. Now you should have four boards sticking out with
a 4-inch hole in the middle. The hole in the middle is where the trunk of the tree goes, and that gets
fastened with screws or nails. Cover the four boards with a decorative cloth. Now this is a system
that can't be used if you have a tree stand with water in it. If you have a tree stand, you need to
figure out how to angle the boards to allow for the stand. Someone who is crafty in your life can
help you there.
Another (easier) alternative is to hang a swag hook on the ceiling over the tree. Take fishing
line and wrap the top of the branch securely with the line, then run it up to the hook and tie if off
tightly. The fishing line stays virtually invisible and does not detract from the beauty of the tree. The
tree stays snug in one place and if kitty crawls up, the tree will sway but not topple.
Mary Anne Miller is a free-lance writer, and member of the Cat
Writers' Association. She is a web copy writer, and passionate about
feral cats/kittens and bottle babies. You can read more by Mary Anne
at her Feral
Cat Behavior Blog.
Anne Moss is the founder and owner of TheCatSite.com. She is a cat
behaviorist and a member of the Cats Writers Association.
Cats and Christmas - Tips For Cat Owners 1
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