How to Keep Your Cats Out of the Christmas Tree

Cats and Christmas trees are a recipe for disaster. Not only can your cat damage your Christmas tree, but lights and decorations pose a serious risk to your cats. Learn how to keep your cat away from the tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bitter Apple
• Spray Bottle
• Self Discipline

1. 
   Cats and Christmas Trees

   PREPARE YOUR CAT FOR CHRISTMAS. Trees naturally seduce cats. They love to climb and play, and if your cat spends all or most of its time indoors, helping them resist their primal urges will be tricky. Prepare your cat by bringing the tree in early and displaying the tree, undecorated, until your cat comes to terms with the rules. When your cat starts climbing, whip out a spray bottle of warm water and give a little squirt in their direction. Most cats will get the message that the Christmas tree is not a playground. NOTE: it is important, for your safety and that of your cat, to establish the rules before adding lights and decorations to your Christmas tree.

2. 
   Cats and Christmas Trees

   SPRAY YOUR TREE. Apple Bitter is a spray designed to disgust animals. It is applied to objects and areas pets should be restricted from. Spray your tree with Apple Bitter, or a similar product. Do this prior to decorating your tree. Apple Bitter will not cause odors.

3. 
   Cats and Christmas Trees

   DECORATING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE. Cats are naturally attracted to garland, lights, and other ornaments. You are naturally attracted to fun and games with your cat. However, if you teach your cat that the Christmas tree and it's decorations are toys, your cat will never leave the tree alone. Force yourself to resist the urge to taunt your cat with Christmas Tree garland and other decorations. If you can't control yourself, you can't control your cat around the Christmas tree.

4. 
   Cats and Christmas Trees

   SKIP ORNAMENTS THAT ATTRACT CATS. Christmas trees don't have to be so attractive to cats. You can decorate a beautiful tree and skip all the seductive cat toys. Instead of using strings of garland, try using dry Baby's Breath to fill empty spaces. Wrap lights tightly around the trunk of the tree, rather than perching lights on branches. Avoid dangly ornaments and balls that can be knocked down and chased.

Tips & Warnings

• NEVER spray water in the direction of a Christmas Tree with lights. Serious injury or fire could occur.
• Use fire safety guidelines when decorating your tree.

[Kathymcbain]

on 12/19/2008 Never knew about the apple bitter...I used to have a cat that climbed my tree and knocked it over nightly!

[slphilbrick]

on 12/8/2008 I skip garland and tinsel for this very purpose. I'll have to try the apple bitter ! 5*

[showpup]

on 12/6/2008 Great advice. Many a cat over the years have tormented my Christmas trees, broken ornaments and even knocked them down.