How to protect the Christmas tree from the cat and save the holiday

Brenda Martin’s cat named Max once dropped a tree while trying to jump on it.

Max has been gone for a long time, but Brenda and her husband John Myers have learned their lesson: at the sight of a Christmas tree, a pet can become a real destroyer. Therefore, in order to secure the festive tree, they began to fasten it to the wall.

The cats that live with them today, Sugar and Spice, like to climb up the Christmas tree and perch on its branches to watch the lights. One Christmas holiday, John walked in and found that Spice had climbed to the very top of a three-meter tree.

“He was sitting there, shining like a star,” says Brenda.

It is unlikely that owners will be able to completely protect a cat or kitten from the troubles associated with a decorated Christmas tree, but it is worth trying to smooth out a number of problems that the curiosity of an ubiquitous furry friend can lead to.

Cat and tree: how to make a tree safe for animals

How to save a Christmas tree from a cat? Cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett offers several ways to keep animals safe and keep Christmas trees safe this holiday season. According to her, it is better to put a festive tree in a room that can be closed for a time when no one is looking after the pet. Thus, you can simply close the door when you are away so that you do not find any surprises when you return.

But if that’s not possible, Pam suggests doing the same thing that Brenda and John do: 

● Fix the Christmas tree. If you fix the tree to the wall or ceiling with fishing line and an eye bolt, it will be much more difficult for a cat to drop it.

● Buy a solid stand. You should find a base for the tree that can support the weight and height of the tree, even if a cat climbs on it.

● Remove furniture around the Christmas tree. A cat can use a nearby table, sofa, or bookshelf to jump straight up into a tree.

The cat eats the Christmas tree: how to wean it

Although Brenda and John have never had a pet that loves to nibble on Christmas tree needles, some cats are not averse to chewing on a tree. Pam Johnson-Bennett advises spraying the branches with a bitter spray to keep the animal from chewing on them. This spray can be purchased at the store, or you can make your own by mixing citrus oil or fresh lemon juice with water and spraying the wood with the resulting mixture. 

The cat may be ambivalent about the smell of the spray you have chosen, so you need to make sure by experience how effectively it scares the pet away from the Christmas tree. If not, you can try a different brand of spray or other ingredients. 

Pam Johnson-Bennett points out that if a cat nibbles on a Christmas tree, this is not just an annoying inconvenience, but also a health risk for the pet.

“The needles of coniferous trees are toxic if ingested. Plus, you can’t be sure the tree wasn’t sprayed with some kind of flame retardant, preservative or pesticide,” she writes.

According to cat behavior expert Marilyn Krieger, eating pine needles can cause liver damage or even be fatal. She told Petcha that the needles can pierce the intestines of the animal, and the needles of artificial wood can cause intestinal obstruction.

Live Christmas tree needles are not the only problem. On holidays, New Year’s plants that are poisonous to cats can get into the house. In addition, it is important to ensure that the cat does not drink from the tank in which the tree stands. Pam Johnson-Bennett points out that it’s not just the tree sap that’s dangerous, but most of the preservatives that are added to water, such as aspirin.

To protect the animal from danger, you can cover the tank with mesh or electrical tape with the sticky side up so that the cat cannot reach the water in which the tree is standing.

The cat gnaws a garland: how to stop it

Christmas tree garlands can be sprayed with a repellent spray or completely refrained from using them so that the cat does not think of chewing them. To keep your Christmas tree shining and protect your pet, you should follow a number of recommendations:

● The wires of the garland should be wrapped tightly around the branches, because the dangling loose parts will be a tempting target for the cat.

● Choose lights that are just on, but don’t flash or flicker, so your pet doesn’t want to play with them.

● Cover all wires leading from the tree to the socket. To protect them from a frisky kitten, you can put empty paper towel or toilet paper sleeves on them.

● Regularly check both the cat and the tree for damage. If the pet has access to the Christmas tree when no one is home, be sure to check the wires for damage from teeth or claws. In addition, you should always turn off the garland from the outlet if the tree is left unattended. If there is a possibility that the cat could gnaw on a live wire, you need to check its mouth and muzzle for burns, singed fur and whiskers. If it is suspected that the cat may have been injured when chewing on the garland, you should immediately call your veterinarian.

Cat and Christmas tree: what to do with decorations

You can’t blame a cat for loving Christmas decorations. These swaying shiny objects are just begging to be played with, and the furry pet is unlikely to know that these decorations are a family heirloom in the third generation. How to distract her from this precious decoration? Brenda thinks it all depends on where the toys are hung.

“In the bottom third of the tree, I hang unbreakable or cheap toys that I don’t mind breaking,” says Brenda. As for the most valuable and fragile specimens, it is better to leave them in the box at all until you understand how the cat reacts to Christmas tree decorations.

In order for animals to live in harmony with the Christmas tree, Pam Johnson-Bennett suggests approaching the choice of decorations as follows:

● Choose unbreakable toys. Otherwise, the cat may swallow or step on a sharp piece, and it will have to be taken to the veterinarian.

● Place ornaments close to the center of the tree and not on lower or outer branches where they are too accessible to a curious pet.

● Use green string, which can be found in the vegetable section of the nearest grocery store, to hang decorations on the Christmas tree. In this way, you can firmly fix the decorations on the branches, and it will be much more difficult for the cat to knock them down.

● Choose a retro style. If the cat does not want to leave the Christmas tree alone, you can hang simple paper decorations and garlands on it to protect the pet and Christmas decorations dear to your heart.

Whatever measures you have to resort to, it is important not to lose the New Year’s mood. Brenda will confirm: it is cats, along with Christmas trees, that create holiday memories.

“The cats come up with something new every year, including tricks around the tree that always make us laugh,” she says. “It has already become part of our family tradition.”

See also: 

• Holiday plants that can be dangerous for cats
• How to scare cats off your yard
• Is it possible to give pets fruits and berries?
• How to choose a safe cat house