My cats are 9 months old and 1.5 years old.The 3rd one,he is very skittish and runs away from everything.Anyways in 2012,we put up a christmas tree.My 1.5 yr old broke are tree.Now we try everything to keep are cats away from it but it never works!!They make our ornements fall,are lights also.It is really annoying.Any way to make them stop?
We opt not to put up a tree while we have pets. The cats climb it, and the dogs can only think of one reason there would be a tree indoors.
I am a professional Christmas Tree decorator. It is one of my businesses.
Our cat would go into the tree and lay in there. But I wire all of the ornaments to the branches. They may rattle a bit, but do not fall off.
I purchase floral wire and cut it into about 3 inch pieces, I place it through the ornament and twist it once, then twist it right up against the branch.
It actually looks better on the tree and makes it very secure.
If you are worried about the cat knocking the tree over, that means it is not on a strong enough or large enough of a tree stand.
Get a large tree stand. It it came with the tree you can lay full bags of cat litter on the legs. to stabilize it, Just cover it with fabric or a large tree skirt.
Some Cats do like to chew on the lights and electrical cords, because they get that little shock, it feels good to them, but if you will keep a squirt bottle close by, you can spray the cat each time it gets too close to the tree. Also make a loud hissing noise. or stomp your feet.
Get kid and cat proof ornaments. Anything we hang low can tolerate being chewed, batted, arranged, and dismantled. And if it can't, then it goes in the trash and is replaced. Our cats do not climb our fake tree, but before we married, DH had a live tree and anchored it to the floor to prevent the cats from knocking it over. If you can't trust them with a large tree, try a tabletop one. Our younger cat got a case of stupids this year and decided to try chewing on a bulb. I made a loud noise at her and scared her and though she's been under the tree, she's left the lights alone. You can get a noisemaker to shake at them anytime they get stupid about the tree.
Growing up, we had cats, and our solution was to let my brother set up his electric trains all around the base of the tree. The cats were completely freaked out by the trains, and wouldn't cross the rails.
One of my 4 cats climbs my artificial tree every year...... fortunately, she is the smallest of my cats... I hate to think what would happen if my fat cat tried to climb the tree!
I don't really have any suggestions, but just be sure you don't use tinsel.... if cats try to lick it or chew on it, that could really cause intestinal problems.
we've had to wire the tree to the crown molding during kitten years. usually the train garden is enough to keep them off it, but you can't run the train 24/7, can you?
fortunately our kitten (now young cat) is very averse to the spray bottle, and learns quickly to avoid situations that will get her wet.
khairete
S.
Plastic ornaments. Also cats HATE aluminum foil. Maybe put some around the base of the tree? It might even look festive. :) Cats will not step on it. This is how I deterred my cats from clawing the corner of one of my couches- I just wrapped it in foil and the problem stopped.
The tree in our house goes up a few days before Christmas. It sits on a low table with the ornaments off of the lower 1 foot of the tree. Then a large playpen type gate (SuperGate XL) goes around the table and the tree. We have the added security of placing it in a room where we can close the doors. Our cats eat our Christmas Tree and have been known to knock ornaments off and play with them. Presents go around the gate so that it is less likely for the cats to reach the tree. It is definitely tough and not ideal but if we want a tree that's how it's done.
hahaha...im sorry-but i had a big ol fat cat that loved my tree-theres nothing you can do-i tried everything-he thought it was his special toy..good luck on trying to battle 3 cats..
