Alternative to Christmas tree?

[StCharlotte]

As I mentioned on another festive thread, we have a pair of psycho kittens who at nine months are showing no signs of growing up. So a tree is pretty much out of the question this year, not least because we have lots of breakable glass decorations. The mantlepiece is also their domain or I'd make that a feature.

Really stuck for ideas as to how to decorate and as Christmas is going to be fairly low key anyway, I'd like to do something.

Does anyone have any ideas? The only thing I can think of is to decorate the bannisters with a garland and some battery lights and some "safe" decorations. But it would be nice to have something in the living room.

Any ideas would be welcome

We have a metal tree that sits on the coffee table and holds all our Xmas cards.

Ooh Christmas cards might be safer than a glass decoration from a monastery in Florence I could still stick some lights on it. Thank you.

A wall tree??

Put up the tree so they can climb it. Get some cheap wooden or felt decorations.

i would have said a wall tree too seems safest. if you had a small tree on a table but use wooden or felt decorations that wont hurt if the kittys manage to get up there. or knit your own tree and decorations

Just don't have a tree. Do everything else instead.

Have you got a fireplace you could make festive?

One year when my cat was a crazy kitten, we put up a poster of a Christmas tree lol! It wasn't quite the same but coupled with some other decorations it was quite fun!

When dd1 was toddling, i made sure the tree was tied back to about 3 things (eg window handle, radiator, cupboard, and bought plastic/ metal/ fabric decs which couldn’t be smashed. I’m not giving up my tree

Also, you reminded me of one of my favourite cat pics.

What about 1 of these trees with a baby grate around it?
www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Half-Parasol-Christmas-Green/dp/B08128LWT2/ref=asc_df_B08128LWT2/?hvlocphy=1006886&hvlocphy=1006886&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvnetw=g&hvadid=407476751201&hvadid=407476751201&hvpone&hvpone&hvlocint&hvlocint&ref&hvpos&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-861622420309&hvtargid=pla-861622420309&hvrand=13568792329085627304&hvrand=13568792329085627304&adgrpid=90918500367

I couldn't imagine not having a tree. I had 3 cats, 1 of which was just as boisterous as an adult as he was as a kitten. He used to jump on the tree and knock it over. Then when my kids were smaller they've managed to knock it over a few times too. Hoping they're old enough this year for it not to happen. Just don't put any of your expensive or breakable decorations on it and tie the tree to wall if you can.

Thanks all. Actually the only previous trouble I had was with the 23 year old who had a sudden rush of kitten blood to the head and demolished a few low-hanging decorations .

I like the wall hanging one or I could tie it to our bay window. Hopefully they will at least have grown out of chewing through wires by then...

Ahh last year was our forst Christmas with our cats ( they'd have been 18 months so not kittens)
I anticipated FemaleCat would take umbrage (she has form for just throwing things off tables ) .

The tree went up, pre lit , some extra lights . No baubles (all mine are glass) no flashy sparkling , just plain white lights .

It lasted less than four days . She chewed the bulbs and climbed the tree .
Our Male Cat didn't look twice .

We decorate the bannisters on the stairs and the landing.
Over the fireplace (battery operated faux swag)
The arch between the lounge/dining room
On top of the kitchen cupboards .

I did miss the tree but the cats' safety is more important .

Maybe when she's ancient we might have a tree

Pintrest!!

We had kittens in the Christmas tree last year! No glass ornaments.

Alternatives:
Felt tree and decorations on the wall (hobbycraft, or home made)
Twig on wall tree - but I wouldnt put kittens past climbing it!
A friend wound green thread over different sized embroidery hoops, and fixed them to a wall in a tree shape.
Gave a look at non traditional Christmas trees on Google. Something might appeal.

This is your only hope.

This is your only hope bloody Norah , mine would see that as a Challenge and throw down their gaunlets

@Bluewavescrashing

This is your only hope.

They've got one of those in the pub. I might steal it!

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

This is your only hope bloody Norah , mine would see that as a Challenge and throw down their gaunlets

Yep. Boy cat would be "hold my beer".

I'm flattered that anyone would think I can knit or do "homemade"

I did buy some felt decorations last year though so they'll definitely get an outing.

You could copy my lay fil. He used to get a twig and stick it in a garden pot, decorate with a length of tinsel. It was called the xmas twig. ......

Late not lay. Phone is having a field day with auto correct

My cat is an 11 year old, haughty madam who regards us with disdain whilst we attend to her every whim. I've forgotten what mad kittens are like

Took us about 3 years after getting kittens before we chanced an actual tree. We have a conservatory and would put one up in there keeping the door shut so we could look at it at least. Bit crap but they were truly mental and it would have been carnage. Now it's no bother though

I love Christmas decorating so Always had a tree, even when cats were young. I duck tape the tree base to the floor, then have a wicker surround to hid duck tape, and deter cats from climbing the middle. I use gardening wire to attach any breakable ornaments, so that they cannot be knocked off. I now have a very densely packed flocked tree, which would be pretty difficult for any cat to climb due to its design.