I grew up with a well - behaved cat who in my memory sat very demurely under the Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , but bask in the glow of the white Light . But when the time come to erect my own tree in the company of two 6 - calendar month - honest-to-god kittens , visual sensation of shatter decoration and ululate cats clinging to the torso danced in my capitulum . So , for Cosmo and Stella ’s first Christmas , my married man and I still bring home a real tree but hang a individual wooden ornament on it — Danny DeVito .
Between the exhaustion of navigating Christmas during the first twelvemonth of the Covid-19 pandemic and the hilarity of this “ Danny DeVito tree , ” we left it as is that season . And in the end , our kittens could manage less that the tree diagram was there ; go figure .
But that is far from the usual circumstance between cats and Christmas trees . For many feline , a tree suddenly appearing for a few weeks each year is an undeniable febricity ambition . “ Not all cats can be around Christmas trees safely , ” Jennifer Van de Kieft , a New York City - based cat behaviourist , tells us . “ Cats are part of our families , and their unparalleled needs should be make into account . Some will manducate on the tree diagram , brightness , or palm , which can be toxic or dangerous . To help prevent that , attempt to fit your cat ’s want in an substitute way . ”
So how do you protect your pussy and your sanity during the most wonderful metre of year ? We ’ve pile up our top confidential information for a cat proof Christmas tree diagram — even if your kitties are determined to land on Santa ’s naughty listing .
Why Do Cats Like Christmas Trees?
Even if your fur baby is as domesticate as they amount , most cats have keep on some wild inherent aptitude and that includes climbing tree diagram . Felines have a innate list to perch from a eminent vantage detail and the top of a tree definitely meets that legal brief . uncalled-for to say , bringing a live Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree — or even a fake replica — into your quat ’s arena and then bedeck it with shiny , swinging objects is a temptation that ’s nearly out of the question to resist . After all , peculiarity is a computerized axial tomography ’s most notable trait .
Of of course , every Arabian tea is unlike ( and you do it them good ) , so if your feline friend is particularly sensible to smack , then possibly an artificial Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree could help boil down the urge to inquire . Along the same communication channel , if you have a kitty who is highly motivated by toys , then oculus - catching ornaments might be their particular Christmastime kryptonite . The thing about Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is there are potentially many intriguing rationality why cats might need to whiff around or scale them , which can make vacation decorate a flake unsafe for your favorite .
no matter of the reason that your kitty-cat is infatuate with your festive evergreen ( and who could blame them ) , it ’s lively to know how to keep cats out of a Christmas tree diagram — and we ’re here to help . take on for important information about Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and cat safety .
8 Tips for a Cat Proof Christmas Tree
Leave your tree bare for a few days
Before you essentially aim a Ne sign at your tree that tells Whiskers to “ climb up This manner ! ” you might want to rent them acclimate to the tree au natural . Especially if this is your ducky ’s first experience with our harebrained human custom of bringing the outside inside , you should take it slow . get your cat align to the melodic theme of the new objective and its boundary in your home before throwing twinkling lights , enticing wires , and irresistible bangle into the mixing .
Be selective about your ornaments — and their placement
If you are the type of person who amass keepsake decorations , then hang sagely . Have a khat who can typically be found just beneath the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ? Consider placing more valuable decoration on higher branches . On the other hand , if your kitty has a known course record of escape to the top of Tree Mountain , then you might not want to risk an heirloom ornament defecate a fall from such expectant heights . Either place these soupy objective on the lowly third of the tree diagram or be creative and exhibit them elsewhere — perhaps in a china storage locker — entirely out of paw ’s range . CatsinChristmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree also pose a heavy risk to their safety because they might criticise it over .
Consider the merits of a fake tree
Some of us ( I ’m sure guilty ) defy to bring home anything other than “ the real matter ” as the crown nimbus of a Christmas tree . But everything that makes a live tree feel authentic — the pine smell , the descend acerate leaf — are the same characteristics that might lure your big cat . If you know that your cat ca n’t handle the allure of a substantial tree , take solace in the knowledge that artificial trees have get quite deceptive , and a pine - sweet standard candle or room spray can clear for your seasonal aromatherapy . Even if you do end up chop down your own tree diagram , a fake tree could serve as a great decoy if you come in it in the same room or nearby .
“ When my cats were vernal , I got a cardboard cutout Christmas tree that I add lights to , ” Van de Kieft says . “ Not only was it good , but it barely took up space . ” If you suspect that your darling is still sniffing too close , employ the use of citrus ( which is one of thesmells cats detest ) . Orange peels are festive for Advent and might do the trick scattered under the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . If the peels lose their scent or are ineffective , you’re able to try a bitter orchard apple tree spray that ’s sold at pet stores as a deterrent .
Just say no to tinsel
Even though the employment of tinsel as a holiday decoration has been largely phased out , if you still incur the shimmery look in trend , conceive your cat . The grass - alike timbre of tinsel piss it invoke to your darling , who might be tempt to drub or ingest it . The stuff is very difficult to tolerate and could easily get caught in their airway orstuck in their bowel . Modern tinsel is mostly made of credit card cake with a slender bed of metal , i.e. not something you want witness its way into your true cat ’s throat or tummy .
Fortify the tree skirt
The tree skirt typically wraps around the tree diagram stand and is where gift are localise expect Christmas cockcrow . In other words , it ’s prize real estate under the Christmas tree . If you are celebrate using a material Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , know that Christmas Tree are not toxic to cats , but pets do demand to be keep forth from the piss in the tree stand . The bacteria that grow in this piss can be toxic to your cats and therefore should be barricaded to the best of your ability . Offer a bowl of fresh water near the tree . Some preferred owners have determine portion discouraging furballs with Al foil under the tree or wrapped around the luggage compartment . Another way to deter curious kitten from beneath the tree is to order presents in another location . The crinkle of wrapping newspaper and the call of those bow and ribbons is just an lend enticement in a place where your hombre should n’t be .
Don’t plug in the bottom strand of lights
Most Christmas tree are illuminated , but to keep your hombre safe you should be sure to keep the lower string of lights unplugged from an electrical outlet . In the event your ducky settle to chew on the conducting wire , this bar could prevent them from being burned or electrocuted . If you sleep together that your four - legged fur baby is prepared to manducate on thing like string or conducting wire , then you might want to take the add footstep of lightly spraying your strands with a cat Christmas tree repellant like that sulfurous apple sprayer .
“ I line up hungry cat like to masticate thing , so ensuring your current feeding design is engorge for your African tea is key , ” Van de Kieft adds .
Secure the tree
We mean this advice in more ways than one . First , you want to void the catastrophe of a tip tree . Secure your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to a bulwark with rope or bungee cord or place weights in or around the tree stand to reduce the risk of it fall . In gain to making indisputable your tree diagram wo n’t tiptoe over , it ’s also an important safety measurement to rate it away from potential “ launch web site ” like couches or other furniture that could provide entree to its arm in one big leap . Then , you might want to cordon off the sphere with baby logic gate or other barriers for relentless pussycats .
Offer a nearby alternative
Much like human babies , cats also react well to electropositive rather than negative reenforcement . Instead of scold them when they get too skinny , extend something else to deflect and bewitch their attention . After all , it ’s the holidays , so deal your kitty to some new miniature but pass around them out over the day and weeks leading up to Christmas so they always have something new and interesting to play with . How do you keep cat away from the Christmas tree ? For the ultimate sweetener and replacement , gift a new cat Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or perch and keep it near the location of your Christmas tree . Be sure to pay back them when they choose the alternative over the tantalizing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
“ If they like climbing , which is a very natural and normal demeanor for cats , ensure they have lots of unspoilt option in the way with the big cat tree , ” Van de Kieft says . “ If they are just obviously bored , play with your Arabian tea at least once a day , but double is good for an fighting computed tomography . It might be a good time to add other enrichment such as food for thought puzzles , tunnels , and some new toys so they do n’t view the Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as their new toy . ”
Cats and Christmas Trees: The Verdict
So , can cats and Christmas trees coexist ? Is there such a affair as a computed tomography - friendly Christmas tree ? There ’s no perfect answer because your cat ’s reaction to “ O Tannenbaum ” will depend on your single computed axial tomography . For some , the chemical reaction is akin tocatnipwhile others remain shockingly neutral to this genuine outsider in your living room . recall : You do n’t have a big kitty on your hands , just a naturally inquisitive one . If you have your heart coiffure on a grand and gleaming Christmas tree each year , just seek to be flexible with the final ware and manage expectations when your otherwise calm cat beelines for this one-year outside invasion .
