How to Keep Your Cat off the Christmas Tree

Cats and Christmas—such a delightful combination . . . wishful cats eying their stockings filled with toy mice and tins of catnip. Exuberant cats running through a sea of wrapping paper. Coy cats hiding in boxes. Worn-out cats snoozing in front of the fire.

But for cats, the holiday season is also filled with hazards—from visitors who leave the front door wide open to ribbons that look inviting but can wreak havoc on the feline digestive system if they are swallowed.

The venerable Christmas tree, adorned with all its trimmings, poses its own set of dangers to cats, and the reverse is also true. Luckily, there are ways to help ensure that your cat and your Christmas tree are not a threat to each other. Let's focus first on keeping your kitty at a safe distance from the tree, mainly for his own protection but also so you can enjoy your holiday without being woken by a big crash in the night.

Let the Novelty Wear Off

You've just picked out a sturdy Balsam Fir that will look magnificent in the living room. Now, put yourself in the frame of mind of your cat, who's having a quiet evening at home when, all of a sudden, an 8-foot tree makes its way through the front door. To your kitty, this is a wonderful thing that is happening; the outdoors is coming inside. Being a cat, he's going to be excited. His very own tree—he must investigate!

Let him get it out of his system. Hold off on decorating the tree for a day or two. Let your inquisitive feline thoroughly check out this most unusual addition to his territory; allow the novelty wear off.

Chewing on Needles Is Unhealthy

Your cat will most likely sniff the tree with great curiosity, which is perfectly acceptable and standard cat practice. However, he's not allowed to bite on the needles. Many types of tree needles are toxic—some more than others.

Shortly after bringing in the tree, spray the needles with anti-chew repellent. The spray is not harmful to trees or animals, but it should repel your kitty.

If your cat persists in munching on or even licking the needles despite them being covered in a bitter-tasting coating, use the tips in the article "How to Keep Your Cat from Chewing on Houseplants," including:

• Make a startling noise such as clapping your hands and saying "No" sharply when your cat puts his mouth on the tree.
• Provide an alternative such as a pot of cat grass for your cat to chew on instead, and use positive reinforcement when he does so.

While the tree is up, water it well to reduce needle loss. After the holidays, take it down before it starts dropping needles.

Note that the risk of your cat nibbling on needles and getting into other kinds of trouble may increase dramatically if he's bored, especially when he's by himself. A cat with nothing to do is much more prone to engage in risky behaviors such as chewing on the Christmas tree in an attempt to alleviate boredom. It's imperative that you provide your cat with sufficient play, stimulation, and safe diversions.

Location, Location, Location

Don't put the tree near a chair or other platform from which your kitty can ambush it and all of its decorations. That's just tempting fate.

Make Sure the Tree Is Steady

Your kitty may get a notion to climb the tree, especially if he's a rambunctious kitten. If you were a cat and a nice tall tree was at your disposal 24 hours a day, you might get the urge to climb it, too. Even if your cat doesn't actually scale the tree, he'll almost definitely rub against it, he might bump into it while playing, and he may decide to use it as a scratching surface (trees are nature's original scratching post, and they work as well as ever).

The concern with each of these activities is that the tree will come tumbling down, potentially injuring your cat. Make sure that you secure the tree firmly in its holder. For extra stability, you can fasten the tree to the top of the wall. One way to do this is to tie one end of a cord around the tree trunk and attach the other end to a hook or picture hanger in the wall.

Use Decoys

Your kitty will be less inclined to hang out on (or in) your Christmas tree if he has his own tree. A cat tree, that is. A tall, multi-level cat tree is the perfect early Christmas present for your cat. If he gets his scratching post around the same time that you set up the real tree, his new furniture will serve as a compelling alternative—a cats-only place for climbing, scratching, and watching the festivities. And sleeping, of course.

Decorate Safely

In general, when decorating your Christmas tree, go for a more subdued look. Above all, don't even think about tinsel! Tinsel, if ingested, can damage your cat's intestines. It's extremely dangerous, even life-threatening. And shimmering, fluttering tinsel may as well have a neon sign attached to it that says "cats—come check me out." To your kitty, strings of silvery tinsel draped over the tree are an irresistible toy. One that could land him and you at the emergency veterinary clinic on Christmas Eve.

Keep the bottom of the tree fairly empty. Low-hanging ornaments are likely to end up on the ground. Try to stick with shatterproof ornaments, or at least restrict breakable items to the top of the tree. Don't use sharp wire to fasten the ornaments to the branches. Instead, use twist ties; if you use green ones, they'll be invisible.

Cover the water in the tree's base so that your cat cannot drink it. Sap from the tree, fertilizers, and any other chemicals that extend the life of the needles, are poisonous.

Spray kitty repellent on the entire length of Christmas light wires. Along the floor, run all wires through plastic conduits, which you can pick up at nearly any office supply or hardware store. Turn the Christmas lights on only when at least one responsible adult is at home.

Be meticulous about cleaning up needles and other things that fall from the tree.

Note that all of the above precautions make the Christmas tree area safer for children and other pets, also.

Use Deterrents if Necessary

Mild deterrents that don't seem to come from you can be helpful in showing your cat the tree isn't a fun thing to mess with.

You can also try a ScatMat. These mats emit a tiny bit of static when a cat steps on them, and this will also deter a cat from bothering a certain area.

Remember: If you use deterrents, you also need to make a nearby spot super fun and welcoming for your cat (see the Decoy section above.

Think Twice About Keeping Presents Under the Tree

Cats are not into delayed gratification. If there are presents under the tree, your kitty will investigate at a minimum but may also rip open the paper and chew on dangerous ribbons and strings. Solution #1: Store presents in an area of your home (or outside your home) that is cat-inaccessible. Solution #2: Forego ribbons and strings when wrapping presents if they will be in the kitty's domain for any length of time. Note: It is recommended that you hide catnip toys well unless you want the celebration to start early.

Artificial Trees May Be a Helpful Solution

Pre-cat, you may have shunned the idea of a "fake" Christmas tree. But cats alter the equation. With an artificial tree, you don't have to worry about needles, water, or sap. Plus, you can reuse the same tree year after year and improve your ecological karma.

However, note that artificial trees are not a complete fix. Your kitty may still be attracted to the needles, perhaps even more so if they are shiny and move in the breeze. There will still be decorations to worry about, and unstable artificial trees can still fall down, causing injury to your cat.

Enjoy the Holidays with Your Cat

Amid all the hustle and bustle of the season, don't neglect the little furry guy waiting patiently for his human to come home from Christmas shopping. As much as possible, try to preserve your cat's normal routine. Keep up your daily playtime and cuddling sessions. Break open the new catnip a little early if you have to. If you have lots of guests (or even one overbearing one), reserve a quiet room for your cat, away from the crowd. You may want to escape there yourself from time to time, for a quick catnap.

You May Also Like These Articles:

Keep Your Cat Safe and Happy During The Holidays

Fire Safety for Cats

5 Holiday Tips for Cats

The Benefits of Having Multiple Cat Scratching Surfaces

Cats and Chocolate: Why is Chocolate Bad for Cats?

Cat Scratching Posts and Maine Coon Cats

What Is a Group of Cats Called?

The Dangers of Strings, Ribbons, and Yarn for Cats