How to protect the Christmas tree?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I’ve been a SAHM for 15yrs so have always been here to supervise and chase the cats out of the tree when they get in it. They’re only 3 and still very playful and curious, one of them in particular likes to get in the tree at least once a day.

But I work full time now and I’m concerned about them getting wrapped up in the lights! I’m not too bothered about the decorations, I’m used to putting them back on the tree. I’m just worried about the lights 😬

Buying a new tree that’s pre lit is not an option, neither is keeping the cats out of the living room because that’s where their big cat tree is. And we can’t really close any doors to keep them out of rooms because we have the fire lit 24/7 to keep the house warm.

Any ideas? I’m at a loss 😅

I put a whole bunch of bell baubles on the lower branches so I can hear them and also one cat is terrified of bell noises because his nemesis cat wears a bell collar. But the most effective thing is a Scentsicle- the pine scented one is so disgusting it makes their eyes water, so we hang one in the tree and they avoid it.

Ooh Scentsicles sound promising! Is it the spiced pine cone one or white winter fir? I’ll give the bell baubles a try too!

I think it's the pine cone. Extreme public toilet kind of smell. It usually lasts 24 hours before a human complains about it giving them a headache and it goes back in the loft - long enough to make the tree smell nasty enough for a cat for a few weeks though.

Hopefully they’ll do the trick! The first year we had them as kittens, I dehydrated orange slices and hung those in the tree but they had no effect 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

Last year my cat brought the tree down within 10 mins of it being decorated - he climbed into it quite high up from a shelf, and it toppled over, and he got tangled in the lights as it went down. I was there so able to rescue him (and the tree, but not some of the best decorations 🥲).

Anyway it scared him so much he avoided the tree completely for the rest of the season, and he’s normally a complete pain where pretty things are available to be batted around. So a sort of success. Not sure I really recommend it as a plan, nor how you manage to instigate it 🤣.

I just looked into this but they can be toxic to cats. My two cats jump in the tree, pull all the decorations off etc, it’s exhausting.

Our tree sits right in front of the french doors so I use a length of rope to tie it to the handles so they can’t pull it over 🤣 They did once, before I started tying it up. Thankfully it was before it was decorated. However, my cats are both partially ginger and they seem to have inherited the ‘All orange cats share one braincell’ trait so any scares they have goes in one ear and out the other!

If you look closely, you can see not a single thought going on behind those eyes…

We have one older, bored cat but my friends put fireguards round theirs when they had kittens. It worked... A bit.

Since the worry is them getting tangled while you're out, the simplest option may be to leave the lights off the tree altogether this year and enjoy the decorations without them. Switching lights off wouldn't prevent tangling, so if you do use them I'd put them on only while you can supervise and remove them when you leave. Your existing tie helps with tipping, but I'd avoid relying on a scent deterrent to keep them away.

Could you use something like these individual wireless lights?
30 PCS Mini LED Round Light, Wireless Small White Fairy Lamp, Decorative | Tiny non-flashing, for wedding birthday Christmas, centrepieces, paper lantern, battery operated, portable, long-lasting : Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

I use old chandelier crystals instead of baubles so if they fall they do not break- see my much loved Breadcat in the past. We have Micia this year- not sure what she will do!

I used to stress over the tree and the cats, not anymore. I just can’t have glass baubles because they will break. I put tiny baubles at the bottom of the tree for them to pick and play with 🤣 every morning i pick about 5 baubles off the floor but they are just having some harmless fun