forget about the tree, what about the gifts!!!

I was worried about the girls getting into the tree.NOT anymore!!! Now, they've decided that the gifts under it are MUCH more exciting to check out.Of course we have to do the claw test. Make sure it's safe for their skin brothers and sister.
I've been able to keep them out of the tree by using the Mango airfreshener.....I spray it on the branches and around the base.But, how do I get them to leave the gifts alone?As it is, the kids will know what they got BEFORE Christmas
BTW, NOT putting gifts under it right now..........is NOT an option!!! It is tradition in our family to place gifts under there, where they stay until Christmas day.

I have taken my presents out from under the tree they were just getting ruined... It might be an idea if you just put them back on Christmas eve. I know its tradition but like you say you don't want the kiddywinks knowing what they have before christmas. Why don't you put some fake presents under the tree? Empty boxes wrapped up nice?

I had a cat once who decided for whatewver reason to PEE all over the gifts under the tree. He had never done anything like that before. It was the year my sister decided to give everyone books and then she wrapped them in bright coloured tissue paper! Yes, the books were not only wet but streaked with red and blue and orange dye. Just a warning.

Originally Posted by crittermom

how do I get them to leave the gifts alone?

Click to expand...

Cats love boxes and stuff. It is near impossible to keep gifts off them. My cats have learned not to shred them but I let them sleep on/among the gifts. It's a good compromise.

Originally Posted by crittermom

It is tradition in our family to place gifts under there, where they stay until Christmas day.

Click to expand...

Your kitties are part of your family. Unfortunately, they don't understand "tradition". Perhaps it is time to reconsider some leniency.

Santa Paws visited the girls early.They each got a couple new toys that are more interesting than the skin kids gifts.

I had a cat once who decided for whatewver reason to PEE all over the gifts under the tree.

Click to expand...

So far, we've gotten lucky and that hasn't happened.

Why don't you put some fake presents under the tree? Empty boxes wrapped up nice?

Click to expand...

GREAT idea!!!! I'm going to do that incase the girls loose interest in their new toys.

Your kitties are part of your family.

Click to expand...

YEP!!!! This is our first year with kitty's.So, this was all new to us.The girls are 100% part of the family.....we couldn't love them any more than what we already do.

Oh God these posts made me laugh so hard!

I have two girls who think Christmas is just the cat's pyjamas. They have jumped into the tree and knocked it flying 3 times, broken expensive and sentimental christmas ornaments and last year shredded most of the christmas presents.

I too received a book but not only was it wet (not from wee but from drool) but the cover was shredded and it was full of bite marks. I still laugh every time I see it, since I can hardly read it since parts of pages were bitten off.

On Christmas morning last year I woke up to the house covered (and I mean covered) in tinsel, the tree knocked over, ornaments all over the place and all the presents in varying stages of being unwrapped. The two of them were sitting amongst the rubble looking like two sweet little angels.

This year only the top half of the tree is decorated (it is a funny sight!), the tree is free of tinsel and all the sentimental ornaments are stored away. The presents are in the cupboard away from feline eyes.

Merry Christmas all.

Originally Posted by Pombina

Why don't you put some fake presents under the tree? Empty boxes wrapped up nice?

Click to expand...

LOL! I know your pain

We've found its best to use fake presents under the tree and when decorating, put all the nice/sentimental ornaments on top and decorate the bottom three feet of the tree with cheap, easily replaceable ornaments like the ones you pick up from walmart at 200 for $1 or something

Also, if you only put presents under the front part of the tree and leave the back part present free, we've found our cats will sleep in the present free section, which cuts down on the present shredding.

HTH!

What you can do as well is go to an appliance store and ask for a large empty cardboard box (one for a small appliance) then cut holes in the sides of it off the floor. Take some gift wrapping, crumple it up into paper balls and toss it into the box. The cats will distract themselves playing with these gift balls instead of your christmas gifts

also warning tinsel is dangerous for kitties and cats. please do not put tinsel on your tree if you have cats in the house.

Toby and Tedy truly believ that I put this Christmas tree up for them....so I`m not even thinking of putting the presents under the tree til they are in their bed in their own room on Christmas Eve! The gifts are all in a closet that they can`t get open!!! Traditional or not!
Linda

well my younest cat thinks its fun to try and take a balbule of the tree and run of with it and i never put pressies under the tre cause my 2 kods are only young and think its great fun to TRY and un wrap them

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem
I took all the gifts from under the tree and placed the smaller ones on the table---which the tree is on, to keep the kitty's out of it.I got up this morning to find the gifts that I put on the table, were decorativley all over the floor at the front of the tree.It's so nice of the girls to decorate for me Thankfully none of those are anything that can be broken.The porcelin doll that I got our 15 year old daughter will NOT be put out until very early Christmas morning.

I'll try the empty box with paper in it for the girls next.