Stopping a christmas tree from falling over?

lonelocust · Nov 13, 2015

I plan on getting a tree this year, and it will be the first year with a 6-month-old kitten who loves to climb on everything. I have no intention of trying to deter him from climbing, and think I can handle making sure I only decorate things that won't poison him and he won't break. But I would like the tree to not fall over. Any recommendations for anchoring a tree so that a cat can't easily tip it over?

catsallaround · Nov 13, 2015

Cheap way I did a few years ago was to tie it to a few 35-40lb scoopable cat litter pails. Did not come close to tipping. We put blanket over tubs and it worked to lure the cats to that vs tree.

Winchester · Nov 13, 2015

I mentioned this in another thread; it bears repeating.

Screw two eyelets to your floorboard at the bottom of your wall (about 2 or more feet apart, depending on how wide your tree is). Put your tree up, but do not decorate. Take green garden wire and wrap one end into one of the eyelets. Wrap the wire around the lower part of the trunk of your tree, and then wrap the other end into the other eyelet on the floorboard. Your tree is now fastened to the wall and it's not going anywhere.

The wire is low enough that you can put your tree skirt over it and people will never know the tree is wired. You might be able to see the wire from the very back of the tree, but really, nobody will be looking that closely anyway. And that's why we use the green wire....it blends in better.

We started doing this 19 years ago when our RugCats were very active RugKittens.

lonelocust · Nov 13, 2015

Thanks catsallaround and Winchester! Those both seem like serviceable plans.

swampwitch · Nov 13, 2015

Be extremely careful because the kitten can get tangled up in the string of lights. I was at the emergency hospital one day and a kitten was brought in where that had happened and it was very sad.

kittycort · Nov 13, 2015

catsallaround said:
Cheap way I did a few years ago was to tie it to a few 35-40lb scoopable cat litter pails. Did not come close to tipping. We put blanket over tubs and it worked to lure the cats to that vs tree.

This cracks me up! The things we do because we have pets!

fyllis · Nov 14, 2015

When your cats says

:View media item 311491
You have to be the brighter star! LOL

View media item 311490

mani · Nov 14, 2015

Oh my goodness... this could work for the family dog, but cats? My two would think that was the ultimate Christmas challenge! I can just seem them launching themselves from the back of the chair or the piano

Winchester · Nov 14, 2015

I can't see anything!!! Fyllis! Oh, Fhyllis!

kittens mom · Nov 14, 2015

Call a structural engineer and explain you have cats.

fyllis · Nov 14, 2015

Kittens Mom said:
Call a structural engineer and explain you have cats.

LOL! I said in a different post somewhere that I wasn't putting up a tree this year because of the fiasco I had last year with my two boys and the tree! I am just going to wrap all my artwork in gift wrap and bows and hang them back on the walls and be done with it!

kittens mom · Nov 14, 2015

Fyllis said:
LOL! I said in a different post somewhere that I wasn't putting up a tree this year because of the fiasco I had last year with my two boys and the tree! I am just going to wrap all my artwork in gift wrap and bows and hang them back on the walls and be done with it!

Instead of garland I suggest crime scene tape.

lonelocust · Nov 14, 2015

Kittens Mom said:
Call a structural engineer and explain you have cats.

My husband and I are both engineers, but neither structural.

kittens mom · Nov 14, 2015

Lonelocust said:
My husband and I are both engineers, but neither structural.

I'm one of those people that once I opened my home to what amounts to climbing toddlers I feel like it's wrong to deny them the right to play with something so tempting. Being honest you must admit most ornaments look like cat toys. Their giddy delight is better than the most perfect tree. We were hanging a wreath but someone was using it as a trapeze. Not pretty.

lonelocust · Nov 17, 2015

Kittens Mom said:
I'm one of those people that once I opened my home to what amounts to climbing toddlers I feel like it's wrong to deny them the right to play with something so tempting. Being honest you must admit most ornaments look like cat toys. Their giddy delight is better than the most perfect tree. We were hanging a wreath but someone was using it as a trapeze. Not pretty.

I agree, which is why I mentioned in my first post:

Lonelocust said:
I have no intention of trying to deter him from climbing, and think I can handle making sure I only decorate things that won't poison him and he won't break.

and thus why I am planning on how to keep the tree from tipping over rather than planning on how to keep the cat from climbing the tree.

kittens mom · Nov 17, 2015

Lonelocust said:
I agree, which is why I mentioned in my first post:

and thus why I am planning on how to keep the tree from tipping over rather than planning on how to keep the cat from climbing the tree.

I would suggest a tree with a hollow core dropped down over a floor to ceiling stripper pole.

Stopping a christmas tree from falling over?

lonelocust

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catsallaround

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Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies

lonelocust

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swampwitch

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kittycort

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fyllis

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mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.

fyllis

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kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.

lonelocust

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Thread starter

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.

lonelocust

TCS Member

Thread starter

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.

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