The Dreaded Christmas Tree

Only one of our dogs has been exposed to a Christmas tree, the 7 cats and other two dogs have never seen one. We just put one up today and are afraid to put ornaments on it until we see how everyone reacts. So far only Rin has been testing my resolve but she's always like that.

It sounds like you're in for some fun! We put up an artificial tree (less enticing than a real one) the weekend before Christmas at the earliest. All the ornaments are unbreakable, the lights are separate (wireles) "candles", and tinsel is taboo. The tree comes down January 2nd, because by that time I'm worn out from having had to redecorate it every morning. And that's with just one cat in the house!

You might want to wire the tree to the baseboard in your living room. I'm completely serious. Two little hooks in the baseboard. One green wire wrapped around the tree bottom and attached to the hooks. Put the tree skirt over the wiring and you won't even see it. And I am speaking from experience. 

After our furkids knocked the tree down, that's what we've done for the past almost 20 years!

jcat said:

It sounds like you're in for some fun! We put up an artificial tree (less enticing than a real one) the weekend before Christmas at the earliest. All the ornaments are unbreakable, the lights are separate (wireles) "candles", and tinsel is taboo. The tree comes down January 2nd, because by that time I'm worn out from having had to redecorate it every morning. And that's with just one cat in the house!

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I agree, last year with the three newest additions that had never seen a tree. I prepared with shatter proof ornaments, LED lights that are shatter proof and too big to bite. I was so proud of my tree, until I turned my back and seen a little tuxedo peeking out in the middle of the tree.   Then I  could hear ornaments rolling across the floor. All of the heirloom or sentimental ornaments stayed packed away last year.  I think I am going to do this snowman this year with some modifications to the arms and the tree skirt.

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Me...s1600/White+Christmas+Tree+Snowman!.jpg[/img]

What a great idea I love that snow man tree

That snowman tree is awesome!

Love the snowman tree! Very original!

We put up our tree on Thursday--we had to do Thanksmas (Thanksgiving/Christmas) on Friday, as that's the only day we could get DH's family together before January. Fifteen minutes after setting it up, I heard rustling on the side against the wall (it's in a corner).  Exit 2 little feline hooligans, Lucie and Gemma!  Lucie loves to sleep inside of the tree, in the center, burrowed into the trunk area. The first year I had this tree, she scared the heck out of me. I had it near the arm of the sofa. I was reading a book, when I sensed eyes watching me. They were--from the inside of the tree! She had made a tunnel from the other side.

Last year, a few minutes after setting it up, I was sitting at the dining room table, with my back to the tree.  I looked up to see the reflection of a shaking Christmas tree in the living room's bay window. I thought we were having an earthquake, until I heard Lucie jumping down!

I've wired the unbreakable ornaments to the branches, as I hate decorating trees, and also because of the cats.

KittyMomma1122 said:

 
I agree, last year with the three newest additions that had never seen a tree. I prepared with shatter proof ornaments, LED lights that are shatter proof and too big to bite. I was so proud of my tree, until I turned my back and seen a little tuxedo peeking out in the middle of the tree.   Then I  could hear ornaments rolling across the floor. All of the heirloom or sentimental ornaments stayed packed away last year.  I think I am going to do this snowman this year with some modifications to the arms and the tree skirt.

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Me...s1600/White+Christmas+Tree+Snowman!.jpg[/img]

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That is adorable. Where did you find it?

AbbysMom said:

That snowman tree is awesome!

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I think there's going to be a "snowman tree epidemic" around here!

Loving the Snowman decor'!     I don't think I could cope with the several times a day repairs needed for a big tree or any sorts,    even a Snowman as the whole thing would inevitably get pulled / pushed over several times a day and have the greatest respect for those who do have the energy.       This afternoon I went out and bought a  little imitation 2' sapling spruce covered in fake snow because I so want a tree and think this one will look pretty enough with hardly any decorations on and no tinsel.  Now all I need to do is keep Mouse out of the way while I dig through the piles of gorgeous decorations I have to find some he won't be able to completely destroy, and worse end up at the vets afterwards.   It won't get put up for a couple of weeks yet.

MServant said:

 
Loving the Snowman decor'! 

   I don't think I could cope with the several times a day repairs needed for a big tree or any sorts, 

  even a Snowman as the whole thing would inevitably get pulled / pushed over several times a day and have the greatest respect for those who do have the energy.  

    This afternoon I went out and bought a  little imitation 2' sapling spruce covered in fake snow because I so want a tree and think this one will look pretty enough with hardly any decorations on and no tinsel.  Now all I need to do is keep Mouse out of the way while I dig through the piles of gorgeous decorations I have to find some he won't be able to completely destroy, and worse end up at the vets afterwards.   It won't get put up for a couple of weeks yet.

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I agree, I was looking at the mini white trees also.  That way when I leave for work I can just lock it up in a spare room or the laundry room so they can only be with it when supervised.  I tell my vet that my little girl will be the one needing xrays to see what she has ate.  My house is more child proofed for my cat than when my daughter was little.

The first time my cat saw a Christmas tree, he played with the presents under it and climbed up the stem and sat on the branches, since our Christmas tree was fake. Maybe that'll happen to you too.

When M&N were small I couldn't put up our big tree.  I had a small table top one that I would move to my office at night and close the door.  The girls mellowed with age and the small tree is now my DD's.  The big tree is behind me now all lit up and waiting to be decorated.  I let my kids put the unbreakable balls on already.  My DH thinks we should leave the tree like this because of our 2 year old.  I'm torn between not decorating it, decorating it now while the kids are asleep and just leaving off anything valuable.  I love decorating my house and the tree.  It's really hard for me to let go of the decorating!!

We put our tree up yesterday, with 3 kids and 2 kittens I think I'm in for some eventful days. We have an artificial tree though. Last night the older kitten (5 month old max) was just laying under it. Ollie my 8 week old hasn't payed any attention to it, he is more calm than Max and isn't really a climber yet. My 4 yr old son that knows better seems like he can't keep his hands off it though.

So far so good, we put shatter proof ornaments on the tree yesterday and they are all still there! Some of the cats keep trying to get under the tree skirt but that's it.

Also, the snowman tree is super cute!

so far so good. just put it up yesterday and the only thing they like to do is lay on the tree skirt. im still waiting for that one day i come home and the tree is on the floor!

My poor tree. 5 cats and a tree. They haven't touched it. It's my 2 year old son, destroying the tree.

BBDOLL22 said:

My poor tree. 5 cats and a tree. They haven't touched it. It's my 2 year old son, destroying the tree.

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   Sounds like your son is trying to show your cats what to do.  

Do lots of people put their trees up around Thanksgiving?   Begining of December seems pretty early here in the UK, and if they are real trees do they not all shed their needles by the time Christmas comes? 

The first couple of years after we got Matt, we had to have unlit trees...here's why:


The rascal actually managed to take the bulbs out of the light strings!

Last year we got LED indoor/outdoor lights, and they stay in their sockets...so we had a lit tree again

I wonder what this year will be like? lol

kitcatmeow said:

The rascal actually managed to take the bulbs out of the light strings!

Last year we got LED indoor/outdoor lights, and they stay in their sockets...so we had a lit tree again

I wonder what this year will be like? lol

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Cat's really can be like kids!  Mooch has been batting the balls around the room!  I used to hang some bells specifically for the cats to bat when I was growing up.  I'd put them on the underside of the tree.  The cats I had then were gentle with the tree and never climbed.  Eventually I'll get my LED lights.  I've been waiting for them to come down in price and be more like the traditional mini lights in color and bulb style.