If you share your home with cats, you’ll know that Christmas tree season is… an adventure.
Every year, it’s the same story: you unpack the decorations, untangle the fairy lights, and stand back to admire your beautiful tree — only to find a pair of glowing eyes peering out from the branches five minutes later.
Cats and Christmas trees have a complicated relationship. To a cat, a tree isn’t a festive centrepiece. It’s a climbing challenge, a shiny toy shop, and an irresistible fortress of crinkly fun. But don’t worry — with a little patience (and some clever tricks), it *is* possible to keep your feline friends from turning your tree into their playground.
Here are a few tips to help keep the peace (and the baubles intact) this Christmas:
1. Secure the Tree
Before anything else, make sure your tree is firmly anchored. A sturdy base or stand is essential — especially if your cat fancies themselves a bit of an acrobat. If you can, position the tree in a corner or away from furniture that makes for an easy launch pad.
2. Start with a Bare Tree
When you first put the tree up, leave it undecorated for a couple of days. This helps curious cats get used to it — the new smell, the branches, the space it takes up. Once the novelty wears off, you can add decorations more safely.
3. Choose Cat-Safe Decorations
Avoid fragile glass ornaments and anything with string, feathers, or tinsel (which can be dangerous if swallowed). Opt for soft fabric decorations, wooden ornaments, or paper garlands higher up the tree. Cats tend to lose interest when there’s nothing shiny or dangly to chase.
4. Protect the Lower Branches
Keep tempting ornaments out of paw’s reach — anything fragile or special should live near the top. You can even decorate the lower branches with larger, less interesting baubles or small bells that alert you to feline mischief!
5. Distract and Redirect
Give your cats their own holiday distractions — a new scratching post, catnip toy, or cosy blanket nearby. If they have their own “special” spot, they’re less likely to go exploring in yours.
6. Try Citrus or Pine Scents
Most cats dislike the smell of citrus. A light misting of orange or lemon-scented spray (safe for pets) around the tree base can act as a gentle deterrent. Some people even use pine cones sprayed with citrus oil around the base as a natural barrier.
7. Keep the Water Covered
If you’re using a real tree, make sure the water in the stand is covered — it can contain sap and additives that aren’t safe for pets.
8. Accept That Curiosity Happens
No matter what you do, there’s always the possibility of a little chaos. A paw swat here, a branch wiggle there — it’s all part of life with cats. Sometimes, the best approach is a deep breath, a laugh, and maybe a photo for the memory box.
Living with cats at Christmas means accepting a little unpredictability — but it also means extra warmth, a few good stories, and probably a glittery pawprint or two by the end of the season.
So this year, may your tree stay upright, your ornaments stay mostly intact, and your cats stay (mostly) out of trouble.
After all, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a little sparkle — or a curious feline trying to climb it.
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