Keeping Fluffy Out Of The Tree

Happy Holidays! Kitties seem to be at their cutest this time of year. Fluffy is always really cute, but she never looks more adorable than when she’s posing under the tree with the other presents. Of course, our feline pals are also at their most mischievous around the holiday season. It’s probably safe to say that more than one of our furry, meowing little patients have made it onto Santa’s naughty list by wreaking havoc on their humans’ beautifully decorated trees! Is your furball eyeing that pretty tree? Read on! A local vet offers some advice on keeping your cat out of the tree below.

Why Do Cats Like Christmas Trees?

You really can’t blame Fluffy for being attracted to the tree. In a way, that tree is sort of a perfect storm of kitty temptations. Trees serve several purrposes for kitties in the wild. Cats use trees to escape predators. They also climb trees for vantage points, so they can look around and see what’s happening in their vicinity. Our feline overlords really can’t see too much from ground level. Fluffy may also climb a tree to hunt a bird, hop onto a roof or fence she can use as a kitty highway, or sometimes just to take yet another nap. Last but not least, trees are the ultimate kitty nail care station. Cats in the wild rely on their claws for survival, so the instinct to keep them sharp goes pretty deep.

As far as Fluffy is concerned, the tree is a giant cat tower hung with shiny toys. Your pet may very well think it’s there just for her!

How Do I Keep My Cat Away From My Christmas Tree?

As anyone who has ever had a cat can probably tell you, kitties aren’t much for following orders. That isn’t to say cats are bad: Fluffy can be a very sweet and well-behaved pet. However, at the end of the day, even the most lovable furball still has the instincts of her wild cousins. 

Cats are naturally curious and playful. These traits serve them very well in the wild. Our feline pals learned long ago that peeking into nooks and crannies may score them a mouse or a chipmunk for dinner. They also are instinctively driven to practice their hunting skills, and will work on their pouncing, jumping, biting, scratching, and climbing abilities. That’s why play is so fun for Fluffy: it allows her to express her inner predator. (Your pet may practice these things on you, but that’s another topic.) 

You’ll need to work with, not against, your pet’s inner tiger. That means decorating the tree in a way that will make it less appealing to your furry little conqueror.

Don’t put anything sharp or fragile on the lower third of the tree. Anything within paws’ reach is fair game. Put all of those delicate ornaments on the top half. That applies to lights and tinsel as well. That doesn’t mean you need to make your tree look lopsided. Just use safer ornaments, such as a cloth Gingerbread man, on the lower part of the tree. 

We would also suggest opting for ornaments made of nonbreakable material, such as wood or plastic. Twisting the hook around the branch can also help keep it in place. 

Location is also something to consider. Avoid putting the tree right beside a desk or sofa, or anything else that will offer Fluffy easy access. That’s just asking for it! 

How Do I Train My Cat Not To Play With The Christmas Tree?

You don’t want to punish your pet for going near your tree: that will just make her scared of you. Cats don’t see things the same way we do, and they don’t really understand punishment. Yelling at Fluffy will just confuse and frighten her, as she won’t understand what she did wrong. She’s just following those kitty instincts! What you want to do is make her form a negative association with the tree. 

Here are a few things you can try:

• First things first. When Fluffy approaches the tree, just clap your hands and say ‘No!’ in a stern tone of voice. For some kitties, that may be all you need!
• Make a loud noise whenever you see your pet venturing too close to the tree. You can sound a bike horn, set off an alarm on your phone, or even use a canned siren. Banging two pots together may work. You can also rattle a jar of change. The key here isn’t to hurt or scare your pet: it’s simply to annoy her and make her a bit wary of the tree. Chances are, your kitty will retreat to her favorite hiding spot to ponder whether or not the tree is really worth exploring. 
• Squirting your kitty with water can also help.
• Scent deterrents are another option. Many cats hate the smells of citrus and cinnamon. Get a water bottle and put a few drops of essential oil in it, and then lightly spritz the tree and gifts. You can also buy scent deterrents in stores. 
• You may see some people suggesting wrapping the tree bottom in foil, or even spreading foil beneath it. This may do the trick for some cats, but others may try to eat the foil. That could be very dangerous! 

How To Stop A Cat From Eating A Fake Christmas Tree?

One piece of advice you may see batted around on this topic would be the suggestion to get a fake tree. This does make sense. These are harder to climb than real trees. They’re also cheaper and more environmentally friendly in the long run. However, while some cats aren’t as interested in plastic needles, others will still try to eat them. This may make for an amusing story, but the potential risks are anything but humorous. Those fake needles are serious choking risks, and can cause extremely dangerous—and potentially lift-threatening injuries if swallowed. 

If the above methods don’t work, you may need to take a few additional steps. If your cat is pretty good about staying off furniture, get a smaller tree and put it on top of something, such as a small table or entertainment center. You can also try blocking the tree off with a baby gate or something similar.

How Do I Keep My Tree Standing? 

Some kitties are basically adorable, meowing bundles of mischief. If your feline pal falls into that category, you’ll want to shore up your tree a bit. Make sure you have a sturdy stand! You can also try attaching the tree to the wall or ceiling with fishing line. It won’t show, but the extra support may help keep the tree upright. 

Help! My Cat Won’t Stop Attacking My Tree! 

As the saying says, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. If your feline pal is super energetic and frisky, you may need to lean into it. Try tiring Fluffy out with fun play sessions. After a vigorous round of Catch The Red Dot or Pounce On The Feather Toy, Fluffy will probably be ready for a nap. Give your feline pal some of her gifts early! You can also give her some empty boxes or gift bags with the ribbons cut off.

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Seasons Greetings to all of you! Please do not hesitate to reach out if ever you have questions about your cat’s health or care. We are here to help!