How to Trim A Christmas Tree in a House With Curious Cats

This is a how to article based on owning cats. If you had one of those types of cats that likes to play with items on the Christmas tree, this article is for you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chrsitmas decorations, the tree, lights, etc.
• Might need Pet No! or type of fencing to put around tree.

1. Make sure whatever type of tree you have is placed in a secure area where it is hard to tip. Level the stand if yoy have to with wedges of material such as cardboard or wood. If you need to, make it sturdier by securing it with barely noticeable wire to a curtain rod or put it against a wall in the home. If it is a tabletop type, make sure the table you set it on is not wobbly and make sure the base is properly weighted down so the tree won't tip.

2. Put the lights on carefully and securely. you may put them on in the traditional manner but don't leave wires loosely sticking outward. Do not use lights that are tempting for the cat to play with and don't place too many on the lowest part of the tree that the cat could get at.

3. When placing ornaments on the tree, consider non-breakable types as cats like to bat ornaments around like cat toys and some cats have been known to knock over trees. Any ornmaents place near the bottom of the tree should be ones that you don't mind getting wrecked by the cat or of some material that the cat can't destroy. If you must place breakable ornmaents on the tree, place them near the top as that is the place the cat will least likely be able to destroy any of them.

4. You may now put on the garland, if desired. The cat may still play with it, so it is optional with a house with cats in it. You might prefer to use beaded garland rather than tinsel or types made of food.
   Never use icicles. They are pretty, but the cats have a tendency to go after shiny strands of it and eat it--instead you might like long shiny beaded ornaments.

5. Put on the tree top now, if it is the tradition to do so last at your house. Make sure the top you pick isn't too top heavy which could tip the tree. (I realize some may have already put it on after step 2 if it was a lighted top).

6. If you are still having problems with the cat bothering the tree, try using a bit of infant fencing--like the type put on the top of stairs-- around the bottom of the tree or spray the tree with "Pet No!" Also, if you can, move the tree away from surfaces the cat can jump on to get to it such as window ledges or tabletops.

7. If all else fails, keep the cat out of the room the tree is in until you take it down.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use lighted candles as lights in a household with cats or most any type of pet that has free range of the house. In fact, this very old traditional way of decorating a tree is highly unrecommended for any household.
• Leave the antique ornaments off the tree.

[Triune]

on 7/10/2008 Clever topic, nice article. I will make sure to refer to it when it's that time of the year again!

[grouch]

on 12/20/2007 When we decorated the tree this year we used nonbreakables on the bottom two layers and breakable bulbs on the top of the tree. Manufactures have got so good at making them you can't tell they are different. Thanks.