Real Christmas trees safe for cats???

I was wondering since Christmas is quickly approaching. I threw out my old fake Christmas Tree last year, and I was thinking about getting a real tree this year, which will be the first since getting a cat. Are real trees safe for cats, since they like to eat plants? My husband has always wanted a flocked tree (covered in fake snow), but I am not sure if that is safe either. I know its a little early to ask, but I figued that I should know just in case its best to just get a fake one, and I would probably purchase it now instead of christmas time when my spending will go through the roof

I am not sure about the tree itself, I know cats love to jump in them.....

What I do know is that the Water from the tree can cause gastrointestinal issues, and cramps in cats...so you may want to keep an eye on that....

I believe they are completely safe for cats. I get a Virginia Pine everywhere and have never had any problems, other than my cats climbing it and my dogs eating the branches. Most people add asprin to the water to keep the tree alive longer, but with cats you can't do that because they will want to drink the water....

I suppose it depends on the kind of tree, too. Christmas trees are most always pine, fir, or juniper, which are all OK. But if someone happens to use yew, that is a plant that's toxic to cats. And then there's the issue with the water, as mentioned above.

To keep the cats off last year, I tried putting citrusy scented things on it, hoping that would repel it. Sorta worked. I have a fake one. What I did was bring it out not decorated for a week, so the novelty would wear off. Not sure what we do this year!

When I have a real tree, my cats love to play and climb it but I do not put tinsel on the tree. Cats have been known to swallow the tinsel and that can be disasterous.

Completely safe, provided it's a normal spruce, never used anyhing else. The cats are dangerous to the tree though.

hmm never heard of asprin in the water..we use sugar here and keep it covered

Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

hmm never heard of asprin in the water..we use sugar here and keep it covered

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Same here.

Originally Posted by Catkiki

When I have a real tree, my cats love to play and climb it but I do not put tinsel on the tree. Cats have been known to swallow the tinsel and that can be disasterous.

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This reminded me of a funny/not so funny story about Tigger and tinsel. Tigger is my baby because although she is 4 years old she still looks like a kitten. Last year she tore through the house like a maniac and hid under the bed. You'd have thought the Hounds of Hell were on her heels !! She wouldn't come out for anything. I finally moved the mattress and dragged her out from under the bed ... only to find a nugget of poo hanging out of her butt attached to a strand of tinsel. Apparently she was running to escape the poo ! It was sooo funny at the time but I don't use tinsel anymore.