Kitten and Christmas tree

[MadeForThis]

We have just adopted a kitten and I’ve no idea what to do about a Christmas tree this year. We have young DC who love everything about Christmas including decorating the tree. We have an artificial tree but I assume the kitten will just try to climb it. Lights and decoration seem dangerous too. What does everyone do about a Christmas tree? Unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to set up a tree in a room the kitten couldn’t access.

My kitten was constantly in the tree! She is 1 and a half now! Hope she doesn't this year but I dont have much faith!!

Our cats were kittens last year and showed no interest in climbing the tree. They loved smelling it (real tree) and batting at low hanging baubles but never jumped into it. But they never tried climbing the curtains either. Some cats are just more experimental climbers.

While you don’t know, just make sure you have a really secure base and avoid breakable ornaments (we put ours on after a few days when it became clear the cats were not going up the tree)

I’ve found they climb fake trees but don’t bother with real ones with needles on the trunk.
make sure all baubles are shatter proof and be careful with lights.
my parents last cat always climbed the fake tree multiple times a year. It was very cute but quite a large cat

We put up the tree the year we got the cats -they were adults about 18 months by then.
Female climbed it
Tried next year
Male climbed it

Gave up.
Its a pre lit , we had on non flashing , no baubles .
Cats are 7 now , but I bet they'd think "Oh toy"

It can only go in the corner near the TV. I can foresee a domino effect

I didn't have a tree two Christmas's due to having kittens. One we had was a menace and destroyed the tree before it was decorated

We have always had an eye on the wall we attached the tree too

I’m 67 and have had cats since I was 5, and maybe Ive been really lucky but I’ve never had one try to climb a christmas tree. When we got our current cat, I tied the Christmas tree to a door handle so that he couldn’t pull it over, but he just sits and looks as the lights each year.

I had fosters who barely noticed the (small) tree & others who were so interested that it had to go in a cupboard - you never know.

Hi @stormsandsunshine! How are the girls getting on with their catflap?

The last four cats I had never bothered with the Christmas tree, other than to stare at the lights or sit underneath it, but….. This Christmas we’ll have a kitten and this little chap is into EVERYTHING. There is no doubt in my mind that my tree will be divebombed from height. 🤣

I see you said it can’t go anywhere the kitten can’t access, but can you at least shut that room off when everyone’s out?

Big guy giddycat is 6 and has always been very chilled and never bothered with the tree or anything else even as a kitten. Little girl giddykitten will be 5 months come the beginning of December and I'm fully anticipating complete tree based carnage with her. She's a menace in general. Planning to just leave off any breakable or sentimental items that I'd be upset if they were to get broken and embrace her craziness.

My old boy cat used to attack the tree at night. I have never bought a glass bauble since. My new boy cats are not remotely interested. I think you can buy guards, but I might just wait and see.

Oh, and one of my new boys is a great climber and used to enthusiastically hang from the curtain poles and parkour over the bannisters, but absolutely left the tree alone.

When my cats were small they were very attracted to the tree. The only thing that stopped them constantly knocking it over was a very large plant pot and a lot of pebbles!!! After the first year they ignored it ☺️