Kitty vs. Xmas Tree

Anyone have any suggestions to keep my cat from climbing the
Xmas tree? She is destroying everything I put on it by doing so.
Help!

Originally Posted by Prettykitty06

Anyone have any suggestions to keep my cat from climbing the
Xmas tree? She is destroying everything I put on it by doing so.
Help!

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The only way to keep a cat out of a Christmas tree is to take the tree down.

there is a spray deturant that you can spray the tree with, available at local pet stores. Although I have never used it, I have been told that it does work. Just remember that Shiny or dangling things are always a temptation for the little furry critters, So a tree in general is a huge pile of fun in a little kitty mind. Be patient with them. I personally put bells around the bottom of the tree so I know if somone is "playing" in it, or about to make an attempt to scale the tree.
Good Luck

Oh no!

As someone said here recently - many of the things we put on the Christmas tree are similar to the things that we give to kitties as toys. It's difficult to get them to tell the difference.

There are deterrants you can put on or around the tree. Spray a diluted vinegar/water mixture on the lower limbs every few days. That should help until the scent diffuses. You can also hang citrus scented car fresheners (like the ones shaped like trees that smell like pine) on the bottom branches.

Those are the two best suggestions I've seen. I'll move this to Behavior for you.

*sigh* I always loved to decorate my apartment at Christmas, but this year it's to be minimal at best. No tree, lest someone climb it; and very few pieces of bric a brac, because I'm worried they will be knocked over and broken.

I am holding my annual open house this weekend, and perhaps I'll put out a few things for the duration of the party, but I'll be storing them again afterward. LOL

This will be the first time having a tree and all 3 kitties. Clover never bothered the tree except for the water. This year my fiance wants a fake tree (ugh). I'm still convinced they will climb it. I think I'll put in a hanger hook in the ceiling and tie the tree to it.

I'm having the same problem, I came home today and Harley had climbed up it, yes...I was a little upset, but who can really get mad at those big brown eyes?! There were branches (we have a fake tree) all over and no ornaments to be seen, they were all behind the tree, and stuck inside, who knows how that happened, I don't even wanna know!!
But for the most part, he is really good about it, this is the 1st time I have came home and seen branches laying on the ground, he must have been really bored!

I gave up trying to keep the cats away from the tree and rather than not have one at all I compromised. We make sure the tree is attached to the wall to prevent the critters from knocking it down. Nylon fishing line or thin wire works fine and is nearly invisable. I also hang cat toys and cat-safe ornaments on the bottom to keep the girls occupied and at ground level. Buy some of those little fuzzy mice or glittery balls and hang them from the bottom branches with string. My girls will lay under the tree and just bat at them for hours. Of course, if you have die-hard climbers they may still go for a climb ... so any heirloom ornaments might be better on a table top tree or display that the cats can't access.

Happy Holidays !

we just knew that our little girlie seth-chan would probably tear down our tree as soon as we put it up, so we put it up in the bedroom (which is off limits to her). I worry about everything, like the traces of lead in the light wiring or her choking on tinsel, so I think this was the better choice for us.

We will be dealing with this, this year. We have a 5 month old kitten who is stubborn anyway on house rules. Should be interesting. Usually in the past, I let the kittens/cats around the tree before its decorated. They kinda got bored with it. And before we decorated we started using "no" anytime they went near it or used the water bottle and squirted them.

So I'm sure the bottle will get a lot of use this year. We put the unbreakable stuff from middle to bottom and just keep an eye on the kitten. When we can't supervise, she will be in my son's room. Our 14 yr old cat will totally ignore the tree - he's seen many of them.

One thing, make sure you do NOT use any of the string icycles on the tree - the shiny long pieces - they will wrap around the intenstines and kill your kitten if they eat them.

Not sure that my solution will be helpful to anyone, but we get a fresh cut tree every year and have never had any trouble with the cats vs. the tree. Why? I adore blue spruces and that's what we get, and they are the meanest, sharpest, prickliest trees known to man. It takes a good pair of leather gloves to just put them up, and stringing the lights leaves tiny red marks all over my hands (if I don't just keep the gloves on). The cats have tested the trees in prior years and decided they're too prickly to climb.

That said, from about knee level down all of the ornaments are unbreakable (plastic, wood, paper mache) and we use bead garlands and glass icicle ornaments rather than tinsel. The cats play with the low hanging ornaments sometimes but they're more interested in hiding under the tree and sleeping on the treeskirt.

Good luck! I like the idea of wiring the tree to the wall or ceiling.

Linda C.

Cats love Christmas, too!

Tree Solution: If you have a bar or island with post, take a wire clothes hanger and fold it out. Then wire one end around the tree trunk and the other to the post. This more heavy duty than thin wire or string and holds the tree better. This is for those of you who have cats that really like to party. Peter loves to drape himself across the top branches and nap.

Ornaments: Cats, like children, don't understand that Grandma So-And-So's antique blown glass Christmas ornaments are breakable and irreplaceable, but love all the glitter and shine. Don't set them up for trouble. Use those ornaments in safer places. Put pretty plastic or wooden ornaments on the tree. Make it a family affair and include the cats. Their wild personalities are part of why we love them and make a place for them in our lives and our homes.

Make safe choices this holiday season. Watch for cord chewing. Don't leave candles unattended. Abolish tinsel (I hate the stuff; it gets everywhere.). Don't use poisonous plants (poinsettas). Secure those Christmas trees.

Meowrry Christams to all!

One of our members uses a motion detector toy to "protect" her Xmas tree. I believe it plays a Christmas carol that scares the pets off. Most garden marts have animal figures that meow, quack, croak, etc. when approached. Some Halloween decorations are also triggered by motion, and will moan, boo, laugh crazily, or rattle chains. A few of them placed under or around the tree might keep a timid cat at bay.

id maybe try that cat away spray ..they sell for 10 in pet stores ...maybe spray a little on the tree skirt ..my aunt used to use it years ago....theres something ion it that the cats dont like the smell of ....its about 10 $ at pet stores ...however u have to reapply every few days ...also a non chemicial approach ...a new catnip scratching post nearby??? or a basket of stuff for them to play with away from the tree...to distract ...my cats wreck the tree every year too right up the trunk of the tree >..lol ive given up and just out good stuff on top and mount the tree to the wall good luck!!

Originally Posted by jcat

One of our members uses a motion detector toy to "protect" her Xmas tree. I believe it plays a Christmas carol that scares the pets off. Most garden marts have animal figures that meow, quack, croak, etc. when approached. Some Halloween decorations are also triggered by motion, and will moan, boo, laugh crazily, or rattle chains. A few of them placed under or around the tree might keep a timid cat at bay.

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Thats so funny! I'm trying to imagine how Rocket and Mica would react!

I have 5 1/2 month old siamese and she is the craziest cat I hav ever seen. She will stand on our coach which is nest to the tree and dive into from there and take down about half the decorations. Out of no where she will be sitting in my room and then take off and climb in the tree. She doesn't like to listen very well, so I do not know what to do about it.