How to Keep your Cat out of the Christmas Tree

Decorating for the holidays is a family tradition in most households. As much fun as this can be, it can cause loads of anxiety for cat owners...

Have you heard any of these phrases in your home?

"The toy train is NOT a mouse!"

"What if she chews the cords?"

"AHH! NO! NO TINSEL!"

"Get me the spray bottle."

"That's it...we're not putting any ornaments on the bottom 1/3 of the tree."

​Keeping both your cat and your decorations safe can be a challenge, and there's no single "cure all" that works for every cat (we wish there was!!). That said, we've got some tips that can help relieve some of your holiday stress:

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1. Secure your Christmas Tree

This isn't just for cat owners! Rambunctious dogs can easily topple a tree as they romp around the room.

From the bottom: Using a square piece of plywood roughly the same width as your tree, place the tree stand in the center and mark where the legs rest. Drill holes at these marks(and the legs of the stand, if needed) and secure the stand to the plywood with bolts.

From the top: After the tree is in place, install a wall anchor (molly screw) level with the top 1/3 of the tree. Loop a strand of fishing line around the center of the tree and tie it to the anchor.

*Not keen on putting a hole in your wall? Try finding a spot where you can hang a picture for the remainder of the year. This isn't a good time for Command Strips (we chatted with a 3M representative that expressed concern that while you can tie the fishing line to the hook, a leaning tree may be enough pressure to rip the adhesive - and part of your plaster - off the wall)!

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2. Make the tree "yucky"

There are several methods to make the base of your tree unattractive to your cat, and as mentioned before, not all of these work for every kitty. Here are some starters:

Scents & Sprays:

• Commercial products (like Keep Off!) have mixed reviews, but seem to work for some pet owners.
• Make your own spray with water + orange, lemongrass or citronella oil. Some cats detest these scents and will avoid the area on their own.
• Orange peels placed around the base of the tree may have a similar effect - just replace them every couple of days. Bonus: you'll boost your Vitamin C intake to ward off flu season! ;)

Tactile Deterrents:

• Aluminum foil laid under the tree/wrapped around the base is enough to give some cats the heebie-jeebies when they set foot on it.
• Commercial training mats are available - though we don't recommend these, as they work by discharging a (mild) static shock when your cat steps on them. Sure, it might work, but at the cost of causing your cat distress, fear, and anxiety when he was just exploring his curiosity!

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3. Offer an Alternative

Cats are attracted to trees - it's in their nature to want to climb and observe their surroundings from up high! Ask Santa if he might bring your kitty a early gift: A CAT TREE! There are some very reasonably priced cat trees online, with options to fit any style and budget.

Be sure to reward your cat with praise for choosing her kitty condo over the forbidden Christmas tree!

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"...as you supervise your cat with the newly-raised Christmas tree, keep quiet and watch..."

4. Do Not Punish!!

Remember the old saying, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar?" Well, you train more cats with praise than punishment, too.

If (despite your attempts to deter him) you catch your cat climbing the Christmas tree, resist the urge to yell and scream and yank him out of the branches.

Instead, give a stern, "No" and remove him from the tree. Put him somewhere that you both want him to be: the cat tree, scratching post, etc. Reward him for staying there and interacting with his playthings.

Along the same lines, as you supervise your cat with the newly-raised Christmas tree, keep quiet and watch...if she walks up to the bottom branches and sniffs them, let her go and see what she does.

If she advances or starts batting at ornaments, follow the above method of moving her to a different place.

If she sniffs and turns away, REWARD!

Why does this work? Think like a cat:
"Every time I go away from that (glorious, shiny bit of outdoors in my livingroom) tree, I get told what a good girl I am and get a treat!"

Remember: Honey, not vinegar. :)

Other Important Safety Tips

• DO NOT USE TINSEL! These little foil strips are irresistible to cats. If ingested, they can cause serious harm to your cat's gastrointestinal tract. If you find that your cat has anything string-like hanging out of his throat or anus, DO NOT PULL IT - call us immediately.
• Keep delicate, breakable, and sentimental ornaments high on the tree and out of reach.
• Avoid edible ornaments (especially strings of popcorn...it can pose the same problem as tinsel!).
• If you have a live tree, cover the pot with a piece of cardboard to keep your pets from drinking the water.
• Protect cords for lights and other decorations. Pre-cut cord tubing is available at the hardware store, or you can use duct tape to secure the (tantalizingly dangly) cords from the tree to the base. Unplug decorations when pets are unsupervised.