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

[JMSA]

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!

I posted on here about a year ago as I had a young light-biter and one of the suggestions was to put something the cats are scared of beneath the tree, like the hoover or an aerosol? (I do realise that this would look deeply unfestive.) Thankfully mine grew out of the wire-nibbling (I hope.)

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Mine is a light biter too!!
I may try dotting some orange peel in and around the tree, but thankfully the novelty has worn off a little.

Although Christmas Tree frosting can be dangerous and toxic to cats if ingested.

She loves the Christmas tree she curls round the middle of it and clings on for dear life 😂 taking out half the baubles on the dismount !!

She’s so cute! I have a soft spot for tuxies.
We‘ve had our rescue boy over a decade now, he‘s a very competent climber so the first year we sprayed the tree with some nice citrusy stuff and attached the whole thing to a ceiling hook (we stand the tree on a box so it‘s not far from the ceiling once the topper is in place), using a decorative red Christmassy ribbon so it looks less strange than it sounds. And any decs I‘ve bought in the past decade have been non-breakable, just in case.

But the citrus seems to do the trick - he‘s never tried to climb it (at least not in our presence). He likes hiding behind it on the floor, but he‘s welcome to do that.

It works to stop them going to the loo. When I was little the cat used the Christmas tree bucket as her litter box and my Dad found out the hard way when he saw the tree was leaning and put his hand in to straighten it! He was not a happy bunny

I'm not sure about the climbing, but I certainly have experience of their lying. All cats lie. They're just shady bastards and you can't trust a word that comes out their mouths

I received this Christmas card this morning. It seemed apposite to share.

Very early days yet - the tree went up a few hours ago but Marv seems more bemused than anything

Our chilled out older boy has never bothered his bum with the tree. Our little terror kitten on the other hand thinks it's been put there entirely for her amusement. She's not been chewing the wires thankfully but I keep finding my little tree fairy ornaments under the coffee table which is usually her hidey hole for when she steals DD's socks, she's affectionately known as the sock goblin.

The goblin in question.

Tree is up and the kittens are barely interested
so disappointed

Marvin isn't either @MsGinaLinetti - don't know whether to be relieved or sad!

You should both thank your lucky stars. Cats actually damage an artificial tree, I've realised - there are a few sockets on mine that have split and don't hold the branches properly, and it's due to their weight when they've clambered over it!

Scenticles and a load of bell baubles around the bottom branches. Even a few cat collar bells would do as ours are terrified of the sound. Scenticles make my eyes water.

i hear you @Puppylucky

Eek! Patience paid off.

It's a real tree @MsGinaLinetti. As far as the cat is concerned you've just thoughtfully brought part of the garden inside.
My local zoo asks for old Christmas trees to be dropped off in the NY so the lions can amuse themselves with them, so it must cut across all species of cat!

Photo of the tree being ignored

I love that idea @AInightingale
and your tree is beautiful @Puppylucky

Thank you so much @MsGinaLinetti - we went short and fat for the tree this year to ensure stability if he did try and climb it - that was a waste of time!

Catnip topper?

Oh @GiddyDogthats adorable

These photos are fabulous. Our fairly new rescue has been surprisingly good with our tree but she has tried biting the wires now and then. We’ve redirected her to her other favourite chew toy, a tile sample!