Top tips for Christmas trees with cats

[Stokey]

Hi wise MNetters,

It's our first Christmas with cats - well 10 month old kittens.

We're getting our tree this weekend, what should I expect? Will they destroy it? Any top tips? We normally have quite a tall one.

We usually have a real tree, and madam is always fascinated by it, but has never really interfered with it. This year we have an artificial one, and it has been over once already, and one of the lower branches is hanging sadly like a broken arm (fortunately at the back). She got a real fright when she pulled it over and spent the night sulking in our bedroom, but must have forgotten about that now as I caught her sitting underneath it earlier. Currently snoozing next to me looking utterly angelic, the wee devil!

After 2 years with cats, I am putting my (fake) tree up later this year to save having to redo it. Normally do it on the first weekend of December, but I just did ceiling decs and putting the tree up on Thursday.

I have mine in a recess and have drilled holes either side which aren't too noticeable but I screw in a couple of sturdy hooks and wire the tree in. No breakable baubles, and I will bend back the tips or use a twist of fuse wire to make sure they stay put. I do use tinsel but it's the really fat stuff that they couldn't easily chew a chunk off and they've never shown any interest.

It's fine if the tiny cat goes for a climb but her sister is an 8.5lb fluff monster who makes holes in the tree where the branches bend under her weight.

Am going to try some discreetly placed citrus slices this year.

It doesn't get any better

We gave up on trees as one of our cats treated it as a playground and we got fed up having to put it back upright every morning. Part of the problem is that we have a small house so the tree had to sit next to furniture which gave her access higher up the tree. Last year I made a flat tree that hangs from the wall which both cats have completely ignored.

Over the years I have built up a large collection of cat proof tree decorations, mostly felt animals.
If you have a real tree, I'd recommend getting a really sturdy base, just in case - Krinner ones are excellent.
She was very keen the first year, as a kitten - now only shows a fleeting interest when the tree arrives, and helping with putting decorations on, then pretty much leaves it alone.

My cat generally leaves our tree alone now (plastic) although last year she did occasionally swat the baubles, and sometimes hid out underneath it. When she was a kitten, I sprayed around the bottom with a little citrus essential oil and she stayed away.
We haven't even got our tree up yet this year...

I wont say what Col did to the felt decoration I bought of him...a little ginger cat. Its now got no ear and I find it all around the house

Though Ern did try to eat the china ornaments

Well so far they're a bit bemused and have only hidden under it. It's early days though!

Mine is an absolute nightmare with the tree he's only 15 weeks though so hoping next year we may get a nice tree he's destroyed one (snapped two branches off) so I've ended up putting my older smaller tree up which now looks pretty much the same

I was beginning to feel smug about my lot. I had to eat my words today as I spent about 2 hours repeatedly sweeping up pine needles because the little feckers were chasing each other around and through the tree.

I've had several cats who climbed the Xmas tree. I generally put unbreakable bauble at the bottom. My current cat has never had the opportunity, I have a 2ft fibre optic tree with a heavy base because if it isn't nailed down or heavy she knocks it over. I cant even have any flowers, cut or potted.