How to Keep a Cat Away From an Xmas Tree
To you, it's a Christmas tree, complete with carefully-placed decorations. To your cat, it's a sensory delight of sparkling ornaments, twinkling lights, and spreading branches, and it's begging to be explored, and even climbed on. According to the Cats International website, your cat feels both more secure and more dominant when up high. Add to that the almost irresistible lure of the dangling ornaments, and it is no surprise that cats are compelled to try to climb up Christmas trees, often with disastrous consequences. With some forethought and some simple techniques, however, you can keep your cat and your Christmas tree safely separated.
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Things You'll Need
- Peppermint oil
- Dried orange peels
- Indoor cat repellent
- Bitter apple spray
- Carpet runner
- Tinfoil
- Motion-activated sensor
- Electrostatic mat, or "scat mat" (optional)
Instructions
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Use an artificial Christmas tree. Although there is still the possibility that it can cause damage if your cat ingests pieces of it, it is somewhat safer than a live tree. Pine needles, if swallowed, can perforate a cat's internal organs, and the water in the tree base can be toxic if your cat drinks it. In addition, the artificial tree may be less attractive to the cat.
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Position the tree in the middle of the room, so it is not near furniture or shelves the cat can use as a launching pad to leap onto it.
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Employ fragrances that are unappealing to your cat to keep it away from the tree. Spray the tree with peppermint oil, which many cats dislike, or place dried orange peels--also unpleasant to many cats--around the base of the tree. Commercial indoor cat repellent may also be effective.
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Spray lower section of the tree with bitter apple spray. The unpleasant taste of this harmless product, as well as the bitter odor, will discourage many cats from nibbling at branches.
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Place upside-down carpet runner or sheets of tinfoil around the tree. Many cats don't like the way these materials feel under their feet.
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Use a motion-activated sensor, available at pet stores, to discourage your cat from climbing on the tree. The item lets off a high-pitched noise, as well as a harmless--but startling--puff of compressed air when approached. Avoid using whistles or water pistols to deter your cat when it attacks your tree. According to the Cats International website, these methods can be confusing and frightening to your cat, and lead to behavioral problems. Remote corrections--in which the cat's actions, not yours, create the negative consequences--are a better choice.
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Use a "scat mat" at the base of the tree if all else fails. The mat emits a safe electrostatic pulse which will probably be enough to deter your cat. If you have used a mat in the past to keep your cat off furniture, just the sight of it may cause the cat to give it a wide berth.
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Tips & Warnings
Never use tinsel on your tree if you own a cat; ingestion can be fatal. Cellophane strands, strings, and ribbons can also be deadly. If you see the end of a swallowed string, do not try to pull it out yourself. Rush the cat to the veterinarian.
Wash your hands well after applying bitter apple spray, and try not to get it near your mouth. Even a tiny bit of this substance can cause an extremely unpleasant taste that persists for hours.
References
- Photo Credit cat image by nutech21 from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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earthsbalance
Oct 19, 2010
Well, I would immediately disregard the water bottle trick when it involves electric Christmas lights! Bitter Apple works for some, but wears off quickly and must be frequently re-applied with the lights unplugged. Some pet owners have stated their cats actually love the taste, while others claim it works for the cat, but the dog loves it! Lastly, Bitter Apple works as a taste deterrent. If your cat is already tasting the tree, isnt it too late already!? Dont be discouraged. There is a solution available that is completely safe for children and pets and has worked for years for our customers. Keep Away works differently by using smell as the deterrent instead of taste. It produces a pleasant mint smell to us, but to cats and dogs it is the equivalent of us taking a deep sniff of horseradish! Keep Away stops them before they are swallowing the tinsel and knocking down all the...
