Cat and Christmas Tree

[TuesdayNameChangeArama]

We have a newish, youngish cat (she's just over a year old, was rescued as a stray 5 month old so has a touch of the wild about her, and has been with us for six weeks).

She is a classic teenage cat (very friendly, very confident, as I said; wild) - and isn't going outside yet (will do in a couple more weeks).

We usually have two Christmas trees, this year, we're limiting it to one (because: cat), and we're using our old fake tree as a test run.

How would you keep a young, climby, scratchy, bitey cat from scaling, scratching, and biting the (fake) tree?

With great difficulty! Luckily they usually grow out of the destructive behaviour after a couple of years. Good luck!

This is my thinking - so far there's been a lot of distracting, shaking of treat packets, and banishing from the room - and we haven't even got the decorations on yet...

I won't let her be there when we decorate, it might set the tone that the decorations are toys.

Cat tax (this cat has no regrets):

...

Don’t put lights on if she has access to the tree when you are asleep or out as there is a strangulation risk . Flocked trees can be toxic . Only use non breakable baubles .

Gorgeous cat .

We have 2 cats. 1 doesn't touch Xmas tree but other lives to play with baubles and has jumped onto the tree in the past. Now we put it in the conservatory and look at it through the glass doors. It's cooler out there too so lasts longer without dropping needles.

I've read about the strangulation risk (new fear unlocked) she will be shut out of the tree room overnight.

It's not flocked - nothing that fancy.

We will be using our non breakable decorations - though those include ribbons (and let's face it, ribbons often ARE toys).

Next year the conservatory is a good option because we can see it from the living rooms - BUT this year, it's her 'safe room' and she likes to sleep in it, I guess this year will be a bit of an anomaly, as she's young, and new, and still has the wild in her.

Our Resident Panthers were young adults , ex garden cats .
When they had their first Christmas with us they were about 18 months old .
Within four days , Female Cat was in the tree.
Pre-lit , no extra lights so no wires , no baubles at all, lights on static
Dismantled it , put away
Next year , tree, no baubles etc. MaleCat was in it .

So , since then , no tree. It can only fit by the telly so I can visualise a series of unfortunate events .

Mine haven't got the usually grow out of it memo

Lovely cat '@TuesdayNameChangeArama hope she bring your household years of joy .

In same boat here... 2 stray kittens and a mum cat this year! Think we are going to need to crack the playpen out again but doubt that will deter them...

Um...

Hopefully they grow out of it soon!

(Light wires did not occur to me! I need to edit my tree).

One of mine insists on climbing the tree when it's first brought into the house. After that nothing. He tries to encourage the others to climb with him but they are not bothered. Four years of tabby tree twattery below.

Tin foil round the base helps- cats hate it. Spray lightly with lemon scented something. They hate that too. Our tree has been up untouched fur 24 hrs now!!

Maybe avoid a basket style base? We have a wicker one and our cat lives to hoard baubles and random objects in there.

Thank you for paying the cat tax (cute cat!)

I just let mine in the tree!

Just use unbreakable baubles and be careful with the lights for a couple of years.

My two have grown out of the climbing stage (thankfully) and one has shown no interest at all this year but the other just can't resist chewing the (artificial) tree. He was trying to get in the box with it before I'd even put it up.

We close the door so he can't get in the room when we're not around, and keep a water spray to hand at all times. Hopefully in a few more days he will settle down.

No food on the tree, none of those awful long strands of shiny thin tistlely stuff. Put boring soft unbreakable decorations near the bottom. Put any precious breakable decorations nestled into the tree a bit securely fastened so if the cat gets the tree over they don't hit the floor. My cat is very elderly but still loves Christmas!

Shopping delivery jail is however, the result of tonight's tree climbing escapades!

His sister looks rather smug in the cat tree 🤣

After having our beautiful tuxedo girl who passed aged 20 and showed no interest in the tree for over 15yrs it was a learning curve having young cats again. We had them from 4mths. They were 1 at Christmas last year and we decided not to put up a tree in the lounge. This year the same.
We have a spare room where we have our hamster. It's a no-go for the cats and my DH kindly put up a smaller tree and fairy lights in there. I often sit in there to read.
He isn't fussed about decorations.
We don't have young children so don't have to consider their feelings.
I won't take the risk of them hurting themselves.

Here are the troublesome duo. Sisters Ivy (left) and Cleo.

@pinkksugarmouse they're beautiful cats 😊

I wonder if he's thinking "I want to speak to a lawyer" 😄

🤣 quite possibly!

He's not been near the tree since! Maybe the lack of home comforts this time has convinced him it's not worth it 🤔 They usually get treats, cushions, blankets, and toys for shopping delivery time. Not for "stop going in the fucking tree" time out!

I'm in the same position. My cat is almost one and climbs up curtains the kids tipi tent etc.

So I put our fake tree up in the dining room as a test ahead of the real tree in the living room. Normally only have lights on the dining room one but I put some test baubles on.

You know what? She's not touched it! I'm fairly surprised. 😂