Cats and Christmas trees

**jlxian** · 11-17-2005, 09:43 AM

It occurred to me yesterday that our newest cat came to us after Christmas last year, so she has not experienced a tree. She's not quite a year old and totally curous about everything --- nosey nosey, nosey, --- so I'm pretty sure she will think she has to climb the Christmas tree or fiddle with the decorations. I read somewhere about putting dryer sheets under the tree as a cat "repellant", and I will try that. In case it doesn't work on this cat, does anyone have any other ideas? I usually put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving --- it could be a llloooonnngggg month til Christmas!

If this is not the right place for this thread, sorry!

**Sara Noel** · 11-17-2005, 10:22 AM

Our cat knocked ours down twice last yr, but our tree wasn't completely stable anyway. We ended up having to tie the tree to keep him from knocking it down. lol

**SewCrafty** · 11-17-2005, 10:34 AM

I don't think we are putting up a tree at all this year, well maybe my very small table top one. From personal experience, I haven't found anything that will deter a curious kitty, and this year I have 10 kittens in the house!

I don't feel like picking up the tree a few hundred times off the floor. LOL

When we do put ours up, even our older cats still climb it or are constantly under it either sleeping or hiding to pounce on someone going by. LOL So we place it in a corner and wire it to the wall!

Remember though if you are new to cats and Christmas trees, tinsel is DEADLY to them! Please use garland only.

**Nada.Leona** · 11-17-2005, 10:34 AM

My cat hates strong smells, like mint or vinegar. Maybe hang something minty on the lower branches and around the base of the tree?

**Scattymum** · 11-17-2005, 10:41 AM

we have 3 kitties this year, the last few years we have had the one and it wasnt really the tree that interested her it was the ornaments hanging down. What we end up doing is only putting the ornaments halfway down the tree so there is little temptatuion for them, mind you these 3 could well destroy the tree this year!

**jlxian** · 11-17-2005, 03:50 PM

Wow! 10 kitties! I believe I'd pass on a tree, too.

Our Old Cat is not interested in the tree at all. We do hang the least "precious" ornaments on the bottom branches because our dog, a corgi, knocks everything off when she walks around underneath.

I think I'll just put the tree up, naked, for a few days and see how Young Cat handles it. Then we may decorate it or not.

Thanks for the suggestions!

**favesis37** · 11-17-2005, 03:54 PM

it's the ornaments that got my kitty last year, hopefully this year she has outgrown it

**HOMEDEPOTDIVA** · 11-18-2005, 12:49 AM

In years past I have used bread ties or thin gage wire to tie my ornaments onto the tree. I put colored PLASTIC balls and ornaments that can not be broken close to the bottom. I have also read somewhere that cats do not like the smell of orange. So this year I plan on sticking whole cloves into fresh oranges and hanging them close to the bottom of the tree also. Makes a nice smelling decoration and hopefully will keep my curious kitties away.
Before tying the bulbs on with wire, cleaning up broken glass bulbs was a daily thing and I was worried that my kitties could get cut from trying to play with the broken glass.
Good luck with your tree.

**djs** · 11-18-2005, 11:48 AM

I started using silk flowers to decorate the tree when one of mine started to sleep in it. Last year I added garland and a few tassles and they pretty much left them alone, of course one still slept in it and all still played around it. This year I'll try a few balls etc. and see how it goes.

**momof42003** · 11-19-2005, 04:01 AM

When we had curious cats, we would use fishing line and secure the tree to the wall.. Then it is not as noticable.. We also used plastic ornaments and silks during these times.. Most people did not even know that we had secured the tree to the wall... Just a thought. Tree never did come down that year.. Did have to keep readjusting it so it was straight though

...

**prariewildflower** · 11-19-2005, 11:12 AM

Cats don't like citrus so you may want to decorate the tree with oranges

We always tie our tree to the wall with fishing line as well. Our cats like to sleep in the tree. We have learned not to put glass bulbs on the tree. remember not to use tinsel on the tree. Cats love the sparkle and can get it caught in their digestive tracks.

We have also learned through the years not to leave packages that contain beeswax or candies under the tree if you have a dog. They love this stuff and will open and eat them. We learned this the hard way when my dd was 6 and hand made some beautiful beeswax candles in brownies and wrapped and put them under the tree. We went out for a couple hours and came back and the dog had torn the paper to shreds and eaten them.

prarie