Cats and Christmas Trees

[aprilmayjune]

I'm curious to know what tricks the cat owners have come up with to prevent their cats from destroying the christmas tree. So far we have used only non-breakable ornaments, tethered the tree to the wall, and used a small narrow tree that won't support the cats' weights, making it impossible to climb. But, the string of lights were hanging down at their eye level and now we have a chewed up string of lights that don't work. We have also tried a cat repellent that only works for about 5 minutes and makes the house smell horribly. Any other ideas?

[Jonthefishguy]

I dont know about christmas trees, but I pour cayanne pepper on my lawn to keep dogs and cats from visiting my lawn. When they sniff, they wish they didnt.

[cpreefguy]

No ornaments?
My little puppy likes to take all of the ornaments within his reach off, so this year the bottom part of the tree is undecorated lol

[MKCindy]

I have used small jingle bells hung from the lower branches. No, it doesn't keep them out, but it warns you when they are under the tree, and gives them something else to play with instead of your bulbs and lights.

One year we put the tree in the play pen to keep it safe from the kids. LOL

[alton]

Mine out grew it, good luck

[aprilmayjune]

The bells are a good idea, I will have to try that out. So far we have had a cat dive into the tree, get stuck and tangled in the string of beads, another chew through the lights (thankfully they were off), and a third who keeps stealing the ornaments off the tree and carrying them around the house. Right now the tree is behind a barrier, it seems to be working. At least until they get smart enough to figure that one out!

[CoryDude]

Our cats would leave our tree alone, but they'd pee on the presents. No better way to tell a family member you love them then by handing them a pee stained gift.

[Beverly]

Our cats would leave our tree alone, but they'd pee on the presents. No better way to tell a family member you love them then by handing them a pee stained gift.

Oh...that's funny!!!

[Kristy]

Our cat rarely tries to climb the tree anymore (at 5 years old) but still thinks the lower hanging ornaments are there for her to play with. We don't put any breakable ornaments on the lower couple of feet of tree, learned the hard way. It doesn't help that our artificial tree has a setting that rotates the tree, so the tempting ornaments keep moving around in slow circles.

She will not outgrow her fascination with the presents however. The bows are on those packages just to torment her and they must be attacked. It is important to sneak up on the bows, pounce on them, and then shred like crazy.

[Bigun]

I put several Penny's in a coke can and taped the top up so the coins will not come out. Every time the cat comes near the tree I would shake the can and the cat would run for cover. After about a week the cat left the tree along. My mom tried it on her cat and it worked for her as well.