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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!

120 replies

JMSA · 03/12/2025 00:46

Recent rescue cat, so this is her first Christmas with us.
I don’t mind really, but I’m worried that I might never be able to switch the tree lights on again 😆 And I’m concerned that it could topple while I’m at work.

Peek-a-boo!

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
OP posts:
Thread gallery
35
TokyoSushi · 03/12/2025 07:12

Nope, no stopping them, cat gonna cat 🤩

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
TokyoSushi · 03/12/2025 07:14

Agree about age, our darling girl is only 4 months so the whole house is pretty much like a soft play centre.

Our lovely old boy did grow out of it about 4/5

WonderingWanda · 03/12/2025 07:16

Mine did this when younger until he toppled the tree and smashed some baubles, that seemed to scare him enough to stop. I also read him Mogs Christmas every year and there's a scary tree in that. Now he just deposits live mice at the base of the tree with all the other gift wrapped gifts.

Emma330912 · 03/12/2025 07:20

I didn't even think of our cat doing this! I think he definitely will be a little Christmas tree climber, I'm even more excited to put the tree up now!

Donotgogentle · 03/12/2025 07:23

They make the best baubles ever 😍

Here for the pics.

MsGinaLinetti · 03/12/2025 07:24

Loving these cat pics

Iknowdino · 03/12/2025 07:40

I'm super gutted that neither of mine have climbed it this year. I thought our rescue boy would be a nightmare but he just eats the bottom branches! Adding pics from previous years. Love all the pics of cats in their trees. Last year my little tinks used to sleep under it in her gingerbread house, we sadly lost her this year.

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
Horrace · 03/12/2025 07:45

This was my Gérard as a kitten. He still tries it now. He's so naughty but I love him.
I have no advice

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
shellyleppard · 03/12/2025 07:50

Scented tea lights around the tree. Unlit but the smell is very strong deterrent for cats

AuntyAngela · 03/12/2025 07:50

My older cats were never interested (I've long suspect they skipped several chapters in the Cat Handbook). I’ve been minding/fostering a very young, very sick orphaned kitten for the last few weeks. She started off so quiet and still that I thought she might actually be part blanket.

But now that she’s feeling better? Turns out she’s an absolute adorable menace. A tiny, chaos-powered gremlin. I fear for every item in the house — and the Christmas tree doesn’t stand a chance in the home of whoever adopts her*.

*Whoever = me. There’s no point pretending anymore.

TroysMammy · 03/12/2025 07:51

I'm a horrible cat mother. I got rid of my Christmas tree in 2010 when Troy was a kitten. He died in 2015 and I never bothered to get another tree. Poor Haribo who is now 6 has never had the pleasure of a Christmas tree.

StruggleFlourish · 03/12/2025 07:56

Your recent rescue cat looks very young. It is possible that even if you do nothing this year that she wouldn't be interested in climbing the tree next year.
Cats are curious and agile especially when they're young and the world is new to them as yours is to her because she's a recent rescue. She's not sure about her new surroundings, and how does she know that having a tree pop into the house isn't a regular thing?
I would avoid trying to scare her or dissuade her, and just make sure that the tree is as safe as possible. This year you might just want to decorate with a black cat, and take off any decorations that are fragile, could possibly hurt her in any way, even the lights... Just like if you had a toddler in the house and it was the first year that your baby was crawling and grabbing things, and you would baby proof the house? Your beautiful beautiful little panther is your baby this year. So you might have to make some concessions

MsGinaLinetti · 03/12/2025 08:13

Adorable @Horrace

Ghostlyfeet · 03/12/2025 08:19

My cat is now three. He now climbs the tree in the morning and knocks off all the baubles but ignores the tree for the rest of the day…
Redressing the tree every morning is my least favourite time of day. Good thing he’s cute.

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!
MsGinaLinetti · 03/12/2025 08:22

He is cute

Horrace · 03/12/2025 08:31

TokyoSushi · 03/12/2025 07:12

Nope, no stopping them, cat gonna cat 🤩

Scrumptious

Mudflaps · 03/12/2025 11:04

If you're afraid of the tree falling do what my father did 30+ years ago when he was terrified that my ds would pull the tree down on top of himself (my mother pointed out that he never worried about his own children ending up under the tree but first grandchild had to be protected at all costs). He screwed a ring into the wall (don't know what its called, its a circle with a screw attached) and used really strong fishing line which was almost invisible to tie the tree in place. Grandchild showed very little interest in the tree, think my father was a little disappointed.

StripedPillowcase · 03/12/2025 18:26

Mudflaps · 03/12/2025 11:04

If you're afraid of the tree falling do what my father did 30+ years ago when he was terrified that my ds would pull the tree down on top of himself (my mother pointed out that he never worried about his own children ending up under the tree but first grandchild had to be protected at all costs). He screwed a ring into the wall (don't know what its called, its a circle with a screw attached) and used really strong fishing line which was almost invisible to tie the tree in place. Grandchild showed very little interest in the tree, think my father was a little disappointed.

A screw- eye

RedBulb · 03/12/2025 19:42

Make up a spray of minty or citrus essential oils and spray on the tree. They hate those smells so should naturally be deterred without having to chase the cat around.

FlibbertyGibbitt · 03/12/2025 20:05

No.

when I moved in with my ex my parents donated their old tree which we’d had forever. We had two very manic kittens at the time. I lovingly purchased all sorts of different items to adorn said inherited tree.

I put the bloody thing up about 15 times that year and regularly came home to broken ornaments. Bless them cats.

unsync · 03/12/2025 20:09

It is now the cat's Christmas tree.

PerkingFaintly · 03/12/2025 20:15

IchiNiSanShiGo · 03/12/2025 02:49

No advice, just here for the cat pics 😹

+1

Original poster
JMSA · 04/12/2025 06:32

Thank you all for your replies. I can see how selfish, stupid and unrealistic I have been, in expecting my new mistress to cease this behaviour 😁

OP posts:
SkankingWombat · 04/12/2025 07:52

Can you add weights to the base? Buggy weights or dumbbells straddling the legs of the stand?
I don't think you can stop them, short of building a cage around it, if they want to climb. Our boy and elderly girl never has, but the young girl did last year and I expect the same this year. We have a pre-lit tree and I'll only put out the non-breakable ornaments, so it will be pretty but not disastrous if it topples. She's only 1.5yo, so hopefully she'll grow out of it eventually!

Oxo01 · 04/12/2025 15:42

Pic from a few years ago, ( sadley she died Sept this year ) she done it once but then took to laying under the tree and play with lower baubles for a few hours.

Is there a way to deter my cat from climbing and lying in my Christmas tree?!