Christmas is coming...

... anyone have any ideas on how to prevent your tree/presents from getting wrecked?? I refuse to NOT have a real tree just because of my boys. I heard somewhere that tying fishing wire to the top of the tree and the tying the other end to a wall or window or some other stationary object will help in preventing it from tipping over. Anyone try this and does it work?

This will be our first Christmas with Mittens and I have been thinking about what I am going to do with our tree. We always get a real tree. I am not worried about the presents, but I think he will be so intrigued by the scent he will want to climb it And I really don't want to have him locked up in his room all day...yes...any suggestions would be great!?!?!

If you subscribe to KittyBytes, the newsletter here, there will be an article covering this in December. The article will be available on site then as well.

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I have never had a problem with Max and he is three years old (adopted him when he was 3 mo). He just loves laying under the tree, but he has never tried to climb it or knock it over.

BTW, it doesn't have to be a real tree to interest them! We always use artificial because of allergies, fire hazard in mobile home, etc, but that doesn't keep them from enjoying it ! Last year we got a new one that revolves, they love to sit and watch it go round and round !

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We've given up on the xmas tree idea. 16 cats+ 1 tree= disaster waiting to happen.

Originally posted by hissy
If you go to the Care Section of the website and scroll down, there is a box to click on to subscribe to our newsletter.

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I subscribed to the CatSiteforums newsletter, is that it? Is that the same as KittyBytes?

Yep- that's it. We just bought kittybytes.com (domain name), the newsletters will soon be available on that site off a link on this site as well.

What about using something that is supposed to keep cats away such as No Stay? Last year I didn't have trouble with Peaches climbing the tree or knocking it down but I did have trouble with her playing with ornaments on the bottom of the tree. I had to put only unbreakables on the bottom!

We've got an artificial one, and besides re-learning how to decorate the tree (i.e. no garland on the bottom half, nothing breakable on the bottom half, anything that MAY be enticing to kitties where they can't see it...), we haven't had any problems. They do like laying under the tree, but otherwise haven't ever really disturbed it.

Nine cats is the smallest amount of cats we have had for awhile and our cats have NEVER paid any attention to the tree.

When we got the boys it was about two weeks before Christmas and they were pretty good then about the tree. However, they were also 5 months old and in a new home and were still getting accustomed to their environment. Now, a year later, I am afraid of the mayhem that will ensue!

Oh believe me, my orange tabby GUS can't wait for the x-mas to come out. He gets excited and starts pawing the long x-max tree box the minute we bring it into the living room. Gus likes to take the loose branches and carry them around the house in his mouth !

Last year we used the water gun approach and it worked well.

Last year, I bought a broad-based, tip-proof stand at Walgreen's. They are readily available, most places. I also saw them at WalMart and Kmart.

None of my ornaments are breakable. Good thing, too. When I rearranged the furniture, last March, I found 27 ornaments, under the couch and coffee table. (I really should move the furniture and vacuum under it, more often).

We tried citrus spray and hanging citrus car air fresheners, to keep Rowdy our of the tree. Needless to say, these did not work. She seems to be impervious to the usual kitty deterrents. Short of building a cage, around the tree, I'll just have to keep retrieving ornaments.

patches is actually pretty good around the tree,sometimes she
knocks down an ornament or two but most of the time she
likes to curl up in a ball and sleep under it

Like valnhb,mzjazz2u,katl8e and chelle, I have no problem with my cats and the tree. The ornaments are the targets, so mine are unbreakable. I do spend a lot of time during Christmas retrieving ornaments and I am used to it now. My cats watch me do this and I know they are laughing at me all the time!

Problem is that A LOT of my ornaments are breakable as well as sentimental. Last year the wrecked one of my favorites. I'm hoping this year proves uneventful. HA! Fat chance.

Originally posted by TONIM68

I heard somewhere that tying fishing wire to the top of the tree and the tying the other end to a wall or window or some other stationary object will help in preventing it from tipping over. Anyone try this and does it work?

Click to expand...

Well, when I was really small...
My parents always did this just as a general safety precaution, and yes it does work!!!!