Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
(I do like this picture, I'm glad I was able to capture it.)
Stacey from Orem, UT
Here is my solution. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
Feedback About This Post:
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I was having the same problem with my cats. I tried all of the sprays, the oranges, the can in the tree, apple bitter, etc and I have two cats that loved all of that stuff. They played with the cans, ate the oranges and they seemed to be more attracted to the tree when I sprayed. They even liked moth balls. I then saw Stikr's post and how they built "Fort Knox" around their tree. I showed my husband the pic and BEGGED him to build it for me. He laughed and told me to get rid of the cats. I then took it into my own hands to "build" one and this is what I got. Laugh all you want but my cats have not been able to get to my tree yet.
Post by shandsaker
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I was also having problems with my cats staying out of my tree. I read this site and tried the vinegar and water spray and so far it has worked like a charm.
Post by tbirmingham
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Ohh, the LOL's from reading this forumn. I forgot how mischiveous and playful kittens are since my 22 year old cat passed away last year. I recently rescued a 6 month old kitten, and find myself with the same frustration.
I put my bare fake tree up even before Thanksgiving, hoping the curiosity would subside before the glittery and dangling stuff arrived on the tree. As you all well know, that is what made the tree even more fascinating. I have tried everything except the pink grapefruit body spray. Will let everybody know how it works.
If it doesn't work, all I can do is laugh, and enjoy her while she is young and playful. Just like a child, they grow up way too fast.
Post by tammy59
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hi everyone...
I have a 9 month old kittie. He has no interest in climbing the tree, but loves the ornaments and using them as toys. I called the vet, and they suggested Irish Spring soap, I have put a few bars underneath my tree skirt and it seems to have worked, this along with not decorating the bottom of the tree has seemed to disinterest him. Good luck!
Post by mel_in_ns
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Vinegar! We adopted a little girl kitten named Dexter over the summer and as it is getting closer to Christmas I knew the tree was going to be a challenge. So we put up the tree over the weekend and sure enough she was incapable of leaving it alone. So I remembered a garden trick someone told me...to spray vinegar on your garden to keep stray cats out. It worked so I thought why not the tree! I sprayed the tree skirt and the bottom of the tree with vinegar and she refuses to get anywhere near the tree now. The good thing about vinegar is the smell goes away after an hour or so but the cat can still smell it for weeks after. Its actually kind of funny cause now she sits about a foot away from the tree skirt looking at the tree lol Hope this helps!
Post by Rathadaque
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
My 2 cats are 4 now and the first year I put up a Christmas tree they were only 6 months old. They ate the pine needle off the faux tree and ate all the led light bulbs. Its been 4 years and I tried putting up a tree again yesterday and they went crazy. Running away with the limbs before I could put them up and climbing the tree trunk. Apparently they aren't ready yet....no tree again this year. :(
Post by plamanda
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Okay, the whole citrus thing will NOT work for me. I have three mischievous kitties and mama always goes to ALMOST the top in the artificial tree. I tried aluminum foil last year, but they started eating it and I ended up having to just deal with a cat sitting in my tree. So now I am going to try to put the dryer sheets in there around the base, and put pepper around the tree skirt.
Post by JessaBoo55
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
It's great to finally get some helpful feedback on this situation! I went to PetSmart and bought some of that spray stuff, but it hasn't worked. I just tried the orange rind trick and hopefully that will help.
You can see the chaos I've been dealing with though:
Post by AerykThomas
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
When I used to have cats I would put orange peels underneather the tree apron, Cats hate citrus smells and it made them stay away. Replace with new ones every week when the old ones dry out. I put them in my plant pots too. If you don't often have orange peels, throw them in a baggy and put them in the freezer when you do, so you can use them later. It works very well and makes the house smell good too and its not harmful.
Post by melmarr
That Cat looks exactly like my cat I lost 2 weeks ago.
That cat looks exactly like the cat I lost two weeks ago. (Except for age difference 11 years old)
I haven't had problems like that yet but I hope it doesn't start soon.
Post By Tim (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Here is a picture of my third and final attempt at keeping our cats (5) from destroying my wife's collection of mostly ceramic Peanuts Gang ornaments. This slightly serious solution is working like a charm so far except now "peanut" seems to be depressed even though we provided her, along with her mama and siblings, with their own tree in another room. Go figure. The enclosure consists of six door screens joined with 2 way hinges.
Post by Stikr
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
After much frustration last night with my youngest kitten-Lucy, I set up camp next to my Christmas Tree last night and finally got some sleep. She's literally destroying my tree. Found this site this morning and was reminded-the very reason she is doing this is the very reason she has brought so much joy & laughter to our home. Like she was not going to be fascinated with a christmas tree? Right! I tried the dryer sheets-so far this is working--but I'm also going to set up a small tree she can play with--I think that's only fair. Thank-you all for stories and suggestions. Good luck!
Post By Connie (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I just realized something! I just wrote about my parents' cats NEVER climbing the tree; well, they were all indoor/outdoor cats! Two of my current four cats used to be indoor/outdoor cats. The two that climb the tree have always been indoor cats. I think this is the key (not that it will make a difference, although it does explain the behaviors). Summary - indoor cats climb Christmas trees.
Post By Dianne B. (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I LOVE THIS SITE! There are so many more people out there who are having the same problem as I am having! I've had cats all my life, and while living with my parents for 20 years, we NEVER had a cat want to climb the tree. It was always a real tree - Blue Spruce. These trees have sharp spikes even on the trunk. 7 years ago (I'm 39 now) when my husband and I adopted two sibling 9-month-old-cats, the trouble began.
We don't use a real tree, and I never expected to have any issues. Well, I had to take the tree down that year because it was so trashed. Finally, seven years later, the siblings have lost interest for the most part. I've had the tree up for about 18 days now and they've only vandalized it two or three times, and very mildly! After reading these posts, I'm still going to get some grapefruit body spray though - it would be nice to have no vandalism next year! p.s. this feels like one of those AA groups or something. E.g. "My name is Dianne and I have a problem with my cats ruining my Christmas tree" ;)
Post By Dianne B. (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I have two 1 year old cats, my little girl is quite obedient and will run from tree when we raise our voice, But the little man is another story. he is for ever climbing the tree. we have tried tin foil, he walk over it like it was nothing. We have tried a water squirt bottle, he loves it. The other day I purchased Plant and Shrub Protector from wal mart. I sprayed it all over the tree skirt and around the base and middle of the tree. It was horrible stuff. I was gagging like I had a furball...LOL running to the sink to spit and rinse.
My little man, didn't mind at all, crawled right under and layed down. I am so stressed out. Again this morning he was found half way up the tree. What else can I do?
Post By Robin (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Just had an idea. Maybe wrap large boxes and then cover completely with sticky tape.
Post By amy (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
There are sprays that are made especially for cats. We use "NO SCRATCH" by pet organics. We normally spray it lightly on the couches but it will deter the cats wherever it is sprayed. We just sprayed this all over the (fake) tree and surrounding area. Hope it works!
Post By Amber. (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Here is Lloyd's kitty cat Christmas tree.
She loves it!
Post By Sherry (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hi All
I was having the same problem as you all. My cat was in heaven when we put up our Christmas tree. She would climb the branches, knock the ornaments off and chew the branches. Once my hubby found the Christmas tree knocked over. I like most of you was getting really frustrated and angry and realized the other day. They are our pets, it's want they were born to do! Climb, play and have fun. It's what makes them so adorable to us.
However because I knew my Christmas tree was is serious danager of survival, I came up with a plan after reading this site. I went to the dollar store and purchased cranberry room spray. I took all the decorations off my tree. Re-set the branches and sprayed the tree all along middle of the tree, the base and the bottom branches. I then took my pine cones, put them in a small bin and sprinkled on cloves and cinnamon. I let my cat have a sniff and thank goodness, she didn't like it. She made a face and ran for it. I knew then I had success.
I however took it one step further. I knew my cat loved to play with the tree so I had decided to give her a tree of her own. I purchased from the dollar store plenty of toy mice (2 for $1.00) and gave her her own kitty cat Christmas tree. She will still from time to time bite the branches of her tree and bat at the mice and even thought it's only day 2 my tree is still untouched and standing in one piece. :o)
Post By Sherry (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Tin foil does not work, I put it on the floor around the tree and my cats played with it and one of the kittens was eating it. Plastic bags don't work because my cats just pee and poop on them. I have started putting ornaments higher up but somehow they still seem to be getting them down. I was at wits end until I found this site. Since the pepper and Citrus spray seem to be the best answers I'm going to try it out. Hopefully it works *crosses fingers* thanks for all of your suggestions. I was also told that double sided tape works. Cats don't like things stuck to their paws.
Post By Tiffani (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
This is the little squirt that peed on my tree!
Post By karen (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
How about this one. My cat peed on top of the artificial tree. Don't know what to do about that? Is my tree history?
Post By karen (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Help! I just put red pepper flakes and black pepper all around the bottom of the tree and skirt. My 8 mo kitten just came over to eat the pepper flakes and was not deterred at ALL. I'm on my way to the store to buy the citrus spray ...I hope that works better.
Post By Annoyed Cat Owner (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I am glad to hear all of these great ideas. I have ten cats. All indoor cats, purebred abbies. They are all terrorists! LOL I am going to try a few of these remedies, for this is the first year I have decided to put a tree up. Hopefully I will have some more advise to give after tomorrow. I have a real tree, undecorated at this time, and they want to eat it! This one's name is Osiris. The biggest terrorist of them all, but I love her to death.
Post By jessica (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
We have always taken an empty soda can and put a few pennies in it. Whenever our pet comes near the tree, we shake the can HARD. You never saw an animal hightail it outta there!
This works well if I'm right there, but my cat is obsessed with climbing the tree right now! I just put it up yesterday. I'm hoping he will learn, but he can be bound and determined!
Post By J. (Guest Post)
my cats wont leave the christmas tree alone
My 7 month cats Lilly and Petunia wont leave the Christmas alone. Lilly keeps climbing the tree and Petunia keeps chewing on the light bulbs. What we did was spray red grapefruit body spray on the tree, and around it and they run away.
Post By myah (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I used black pepper around the tree on the rug and it works.
Post By stretchy (Guest Post)
RE: VICKS IS TOXIC TO CATS
To the people who are using Vicks as a cat repellant, DON'T. Vicks vapo rub and other similar products such as Tiger Balm etc are not safe for use on or around cats. Much like essential oils they contain components that are toxic to cats. Menthol contains a toxin to cats and Eucalyptus contain phenols. Some cats have a violent reaction to Vicks and begin to foam at the mouth after contact. I have seen people on the internet suggest using these products as 'cat deterrant' rubs around the home. Not only is this dangerous advice, it is foolish as the smell of menthol actually attracts some cats, regardless of it's dangers!
Post By Cat Lover (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I tried the Vicks rub. It works! The only changes that I did were I used the Vicks with a slight lemon oil smell. It still smells nasty to the cat but not as bad to my nose. We also used face cleaning pads instead of cotton balls. I put an ornament hook through the pad and hung them from the bottom branches of the tree. I have a white artificial tree and you cannot even see the pads hanging. Last night was my first night of peace with the cat, the tree and my husband, who was going crazy with the cat in the tree.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Ok I tried the dryer sheet thing after the whole Lola thing and so far I haven't seen her near the tree but I also spread the gifts out to cover the skirt, So we shall see, I need to go get body spray I think perfume would be over powering. But hey she still hasn't climbed the tree this year!
Post By kristi (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I decorated my tree with polyester ribbon this year and my 6 month old Siamese cat, Princess, somehow got a strip off and ate 4 feet of it! She had to have emergency surgery and is feeling better. The reason I know this is because I found her perched at the top of the tree like a star yesterday. I put aluminum foil around it last night and she played with it for 2 hours. I then tried bitter apple stuff and she just sneezes and keeps on playing. Today I tried my Bath and Body Works Citrus Spray and put pepper all the way around it. She won't go near it now! I think siamese cats are just impervious to things normal cats don't like, but they're my favorite! Make sure to keep all cloth ribbon and curling ribbon hidden! Cats eat some amazing things.
Post By Ciara (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I put my tree up yesterday and this morning I looked and my cat Lola peed YES PEED under my tree now I have to hand wash my tree skirt! Last year it was climbing and sliding down the branches tipping it over, so on....
This year I am doing the body spray thing I just read about I will update on how it goes!
Post By Kristi (Guest Post)
Presto! the Wonder Cat
Ha ha ha....my boyfriend and I have a six month old kitten who owns our apartment. We just put some cat be gone stuff under the tree, but it's in front of a window so he's taken to jumping on the window sill to wreak havoc on the poor tree. We have been spraying him with water, but it's gotten to the point he lays there and it becomes a game. We put bells on the lower branches to hear when he's playing with it to remove and distract him from the tree. We're going to try the body spray today, because the store bought stuff stinks! BTW, Kudos to the person who hooked the vacuum to motion sensors. You've got my boyfriend looking at that stuff for next year. Pretty awesome idea. Presto! is a force of his own (yes there is an exclamation point at the end of his name. That's how it's spelled) and unfortunately I think the tree, is another one of his victims that will eventually be dominated.
Post By Kat (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
We just tried the citrus spray about a half hour ago and we tried 3 times to put our kitten behind, around and under the tree, but all 3 times she just sniffed the air and ran away! Thank you guys so much for the idea! Hope it continues to work just as well!
Post By MarieandKristin (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Okay, I am very happy to know that I am not alone. I went to PetSmart yesterday and told them to give me something or they could HAVE THEM BACK (pound kitties)! They laughed and gave me the kitty repellant...we shall see. If it doesn't work, I shall try the citrus body spray...I know they run out of the bathroom when I use my Bath and Body Works stuff, so it may work!! We will see! Please note Siggy's evilly glowing eyes...He climbs, but the other one (who isn't in this picture due to the fact that he was racing away from the water bottle) has turned it over twice. He is part Maine Coon and is already 16 pounds at a year old. Not very graceful. At all.
Post by Faeriedragon23
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Okay, I am very happy to know that I am not alone. I went to PetSmart yesterday and told them to give me something or they could HAVE THEM BACK (pound kitties)! They laughed and gave me the kitty repellant...we shall see. If it doesn't work, I shall try the citrus body spray...I know they run out of the bathroom when I use my Bath and Body Works stuff, so it may work!! We will see! Please note Siggy's evilly glowing eyes...He climbs, but the other one (who isn't in this picture due to the fact that he was racing away from the water bottle) has turned it over twice. He is part Maine Coon and is already 16 pounds at a year old. Not very graceful. At all.
Post by Faeriedragon23
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
My older cat, Finnigan, has never had a problem with the Christmas tree, but my one-year-old female, Dandelion, has taken to stealing ornaments and stashing them with her toys! At fist, I used the same method which worked when my daughter was crawling and curious: don't decorate the bottom few branches. But obviously that solution doesn't work for climing cats. I found that when I tried citrus perfume, it was not enough of a deterant. My suggestion in this case: try to find pure essential oils (the smell is stronger, and made from the real thing). Orange, grapefruit and lemongrass are all easy to find in any place where aromathereapy products are sold. All these suggestions are very creative. I never would have thought of dryer sheets, or the hidden upsidedown mousetraps.
Post By 'Rinn (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I am so glad I found this site! I have had broken glass ornaments on my floor every day, since I put the tree up. I wasn't sure what to do. As soon as I read some of the posts, I sprayed pink grapefruit body spray on and under my tree. The cat sniffed and ran off. Thanks so much!
Post By Koontzfan1 (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I tried everything to keep my 6 month old siamese out of the tree bitter apple, citrus fruit, perfume you name it but she would just climb right up the tree and proceed to knock the ornaments off and flatten the branches. She does not chew just shreds and swats at everything. She did chew on the aluminum foil though the little monster. Then I tried mouse traps because she quit playing in the tree when I was around she set them off twice and now avoids the tree like the plague. I put newspaper over the traps because the cat stepping on the paper sets them off and scares the cat. I have also heard of setting the trap upside down and covering it. This works well since the cat has no idea where the trap is and will avoid the newspaper. I put the traps under the tree at night or if I am gone for long periods but with kids in the house durring the day there is just newspaper under the tree and the cat is none the wiser.
Post By sue (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I did a search for how to keep my 5 month old kitten away from the tree and I ended up here. The citrus perfume idea is genius! I sprayed it on the tree skirt and the bottom half of the tree including the ornaments and he hates it! He ran once really quickly under the tree, but kept running out the other side. He'll sit a few feet away with eyes squinted sniffing the tree, but he won't go near it. I'M SO HAPPY! I've got a killer headache from the perfume, but it's so worth it! I don't have to redecorate my tree every 30 seconds now!! THANK YOU! :o)
Post By Catt (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
We have 3 cats, 8-year-olds Gizmo & Kuddles and 3-month-old Mittens. My older kitties just want to sleep under the (fake) tree but my kitten insists on climbing and chewing the tree, lights, and bulbs.
I like everyone's ideas of putting something on or around the tress that smells bad to them, but I didn't want to spray the tree itself or coat the wires with soap. So cut a hole in a small paper plate and coated the inside edge with Icy Hot (Vicks wasn't strong enough), then wrapped the paper plate around the post of the tree just above the lowest row of branches. We have to coat the paper plate every so often after the smell dies but so far Mittens stays away from the tree.
The downfall is now my older cats miss out on sleeping under the tree because they hate the smell as well and my husband and I have to deal with Icy Hot smell also. Maybe I'll try aromatherapy oils or spray on the paper plate. At least my husband and I won't mind the smell. :)
Post By Jennie (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Well this is one idea you can try. Last yeat I had 4 cats, one had never seen a Christmas tree before and would not stay out of it. She was Climbing the tree, batting the balls all of the place. Finally I had to try something. I went to drugstore and bought a jar of vicks salve and a bag of cotton balls. All you do is dip the cotton balls in the vicks salve and hang it from a christmas tree hanger from the lower limbs of your tree, in a hidden spot of course, that worked for my cat. She would go by the tree look at and wince her eyes and walk away. It was actually to funny. The tree is up this year without the cotton balls and she has'nt even looked at it. Good Luck, hope it works for you. p.s you do have go back and redip the cotton balls again.
Post By Enter your name.Paula (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hey all! I googled to keep cats away from christmas tree and ended up here! What a lot of great ideas! Guess you just have to know your cat(s) and decide what to try! My Riley(the light colored one), who is 7 mo old, loves to play with dryer sheets (my fault!) and actually digs them out of the garbage - so that won't work for sure! I currently have open vicks containers and a waterless vicks unit under the tree - makes them sniff and think twice, but I have still noticed some ornaments out of place! We even have a yard gate around it right now! I am going to try pepper spray, maybe body spray and/or moth balls and my sis-in-law also suggested hairspray. I'll have to remember to come back and let you know if anything worked! thanks for all the great creative suggestions! Oh - the black one, Taz - whom we rescued from a shelter, he's about 2-3, is a spontaneous wire chewer, too, so I may try the dish soap thing for that problem!
Post By CMK (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I have been facing the same problems year after year, trying so many different remedies. It even came to just keeping the cats ( I have four little monsters) in rooms downstairs when we are not home just to keep the tree safe. Its very irritating and I dont even want to put up the tree although I must. Any suggestions, even out-landish and odd are greatly appreciated!
Editor's Note: My cats don't climb the tree luckily but do like to bat at the ornaments. What I do is put unbreakable ones at the bottom (this also helps with the grandkids) and the more breakable ones up at the top. If your cats climb the tree, this doesn't work very well.
Post By Kelleigh (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I adopted a kitten in septemer and he is now 5 months old...AND WON'T STOP CLIMBING MY CHRISTMAS TREE AND BREAKING MY DECORATIONS!! It is his first Christmas and understandably he is curious but I am getting tired of re-decorating every night when I get home from work. I tried a lot of the suggestions posted here, but my kitten is a little odd...he actually enjoys playing with plastic bags, the spray from the pet store didn't work, and he wasn't intimidated by the smell of the crushed mothballs or dryer sheets.
I was at my wit's end when I decided to try a little experiment...I took this citrus scented body spray I got as a gift one year (it smells very strongly of orange, grapefruit and lime), and sprayed the base of the tree, the bottom branches thoroughly, and around the rest of our christmas tree. As soon as I let him at the tree he sniffed around a little...and then walked away!! Ever since he sniffs the christmas tree and walks away... no more climbing, or chewing, and breaking ornaments :D
Basically, thanks for all the helpful tips, I would have never tried what I did unless I had read all those wonderful suggestions first!
Happy Holidays!
Ps...If you decide to try this idea don't forget to re-spritz, as the scent wears off after a week or two, depending on how strong it is...
Post By Anna (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I have a 8 month old kitten. I can tell you that the foil thing doesn't work. She still gets into things.
Post By Ashley Kippen (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
---> CATS HATE THE SMELL of CITRUS & PEPPER
Try spraying TREE with a citrus scent, or put cotton balls with a citrus scent on the around the bottom of tree.
---> The recipe below works to keep cats away from house plants, maybe it WILL also work for Christmas Trees:
* Take a bottle & fill it with any kind of alcohol, (rubbing or Vodka). add crushed red pepper or cayenne, (& if you're daring garlic powder too)
Leave this to sit for 2 days or so then strain and put in a marked spray bottle & spray on plants, garbage, or where you want cats to keep away.
*OR: Take a few paper envelopes. Fill with Cayenne or Crushed peppers (or maybe plain black pepper could work too) Seal the paper envelope & poke holes in it with a pin. Pin this to furniture that cats like to scratch. You could try hooking these envelopes to the bottom of the tree as cats just HATE the smell of pepper! * If this works, buy green envelopes at the paper store to match your tree.
*** DO NOT USE HOT RED PEPPER OR CAYENNE IN HOMES WITH SMALL CHILDREN! ***
Post by Cyinda
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I LIVE BY MY SELF AND MY ANIMALS ARE MY COMPANIONS. MY TREE THIS YEAR IS FOR MY CATS. THEY CAN DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO IT.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Dee, I don't think that crushed moth balls is a very safe idea for cats. They have a very sensitive nervous system and this could be harmful to them. Not to mention, that I don't like the smell of mothballs either!
Post by Persnickety Paula
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
i have the same problem. unfortunately our cat isnt jumpy at all and would just play with the foil. ive tried spraying orange fantastic on the tree and around the base...hopefully it works
Post By JediKitteh (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Put a little crushed moth balls in a jar. Our cat Winnie won't go near the tree now!
Post By Dee (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
We've had cats for about 10 years or so and had some problems but never anything major. but i rescued a kitten from someone who abused him. And just fell in love with the monster. He's fearless. Jumped from 2nd floor loft to land on ceiling fan blades! And terrorizes grown cats and dog. But will sleep up under your chin. Wife says first time Christmas tree is down, he's outside. At the point of just giving up, read here about perfume.Me and lil buddy are inside and warm. Thanks
Post By Kevin (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
thanx so much for all these ideas. my cat climbs the christmas tree every year, and last year she finally crashed it, and like half the ornaments broke. we've tried tying it to the wall, getting a real tree, spraying her w/ water, but none of it really worked. This year, we're putting plastic bags around the base of the tree, because she is like TERRIFIED of bags... idk why lol.
Post By sarah (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
We have 3 very cool cats, Kurtis, Hemingway, and Harley. We love them very much but after we put up a very beautiful Christmas tree this year, we were having the same problem. Hemingway, with Kurtis egging him on.. dove into the tree more than once, broke the stand, knocked off several of the branches and really almost destoyed the tree. (fake tree) :-( I thought about this, searched on the internet, ended up here, and I didn't really see anything that I wanted to try. I was in the shower and it hit me.. We have all this home automation stuff (x10.com) so what I did was.. put the vacuum behind the tree.. plugged it into a module.. set up the macro on the pc and downloaded it to the interface... now, when one of them gets within 3 feet of the tree.. motion trips, fires up the vacuum and the cats go motoring down the hallway LOL!!! it stays on for 5 seconds and then shuts off ;-) It took a couple days for our kittys to adjust but now they won't give the tree the time of day ;-) We can now enjoy our tree and have NO worries about them tearing it up again. Just thought we would share our remedy on here.
jivedive @ adelphia.net (remove spaces)
Post By Jason West (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hi, I was having the same problem, it is the 14th of December and I have yet to decorate my tree due to the kitten. I went to Petsmart and purchase, ""boundary" Indoor/outdoor cat repellant by Lambert Kay--it works wonders!
Post By Katie (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
didn't work. i tried the tin foil and he was happy as can be. played like crazy with the tin foil and then climbed the tree.....aaaaaaah! who's stupid idea was it to get a real tree....**blushes** oops, that was me!
Post By Queen RSA (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
HI..this is my first post, But I ended up here due to a search i did for this topic. I cant help but laugh because I can relate to almost all of you at one point or another...lol I did however get some good pointers here and I wanted to say thanks for posting! I have 7, no that isnt a typo...Cats. 2 of which are siamese mixes.IF anyone has seen the lady and the tramp movie, then you met my cats..or at least that is how they behave..lol
I just wanted to add a little something that I think might also be a good tip for those of us out there that choose to share the home with our cat masters. Dish liquid on wires is a great friend. Our "MIss Kitty" was always eating our wires that connected various things to our computers..mice, speakers that kinda thing. Since we discovered that Dawn isnt just for dishes anymore, our wires have remained in tact!
I also think that the idea of foil < im assuming that you are talking about the rolls of aluminum foil> under the tree is a great idea! Im tired of readjusting and re decorating the tree. OUr four year old has gotten in on the water bottle fun tho..he loves to shoot at the cats when he catches them under the tree...I just wonder if mebbe he is inticing them in there so that he CAN shoot them with a blast of water...lol
Thanks for all the tips and Happy Holidays to us all...
Post by Debbie1
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
The perfuming the tree worked for my cat. He sneezed at first but it has been 3 days and I haven't seen him get into in since. Thank you
Post By Barbara (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I tryed the dryer sheet (very stronge ones), orange peelings (I did not put very big pieces)and reynolds wrap and they still got in the tree. Not as bad as before. My next experiment will be the perfume.
Post by oats
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Ok, I did the perfume plan. I will let you know how it goes. He is sneezing right now.. he hee!
Post By Barbara (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
This is for Diane, who suggested getting a real tree. We DID and I came HERE to find out how to keep 6 month old Precious OUT of it! LOL..Some people suggest cayenne pepper. anyone know if this works?
Post By Jocelyn (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Thanks for all the advice. I have 1 cat that's 3 yrs old and have battled his tree infatuation before noe all he wants to do is lay underneath, which is no problem, but our new kitty, whose 7 months old thinks he's allowed to climb in it and chew it. Its his first christmas, so I knew he would do it. Ya'll are right that water bottle thing just don't work for that. I going to get the bitter apple and try that or the perfume. Hope it works.
Post By Joy Sutphin (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Well I took the suggestion to spray perfume on our tree and so far so good. The little punk found her way around to an area I didn't spray and got in that way so I had to go and make sure I sprayed the whole tree! Our tree now smells like rasberry body spray from bath and body works but at least we don't have our little kitty trying to play in it anymore...at least for now. Thanks for the suggestion.
Post By Kristie (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Yippie, I was worried about our kitties this year. We adopted them in June so this is their 1st Christmas. We collect ornament all throughout the year of all the places we travel and such so it would be a shame if they got broken.
After reading your board, I ran right to Wal-Mart. I purchased some oranges, dryer sheets, balloons (on another site), and a few new toys to keep their attention.
So far (20 mins) the new toys and putting the orange peels at the base of the tree are working. However, on of them still likes to stick her paw in the base.
About the balloons on the other site.....This is really a last resort ment to scare them away from the tree. Hang small balloons from the bottom branches and when they spat at them the balloons will burst hopefully scarring them away from the tree
Post by lrod827
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I have 2 cats and 1 kitten and for 7 years I have fought with my cats trying to keep them out of the tree. I have tryed the water bottle, but that only works if you are at home. I have stopped them up everyday till I get home and when we go to be at night and that works but the cats don't like it and I have lots more work to do (cleaning up cat litter and moving the litter box 2x a day). They play with my satin balls and play in the tree. I have come home and had to redecorate my tree. It have gotten so I hate to put up a tree because of my cats. I certainly going to try the suggestions that everyone has given. I will let you know how things work out.
Post by oats
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
this one is for dianne. i hate to tell you but not all cats are like yours. i have had different cats in my home for 14 years now. as well as real trees for christmas. my cats just love to sleep and climb my real trees.
Post By purplekoala222 (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I use to have cats and when I put the tree up they wouldn't leave it alone , they sell a product in the pet store that works, but I used felt oraments on the bottom of the lower branches on the tree and sprayed with perfume for cats don't like the smell and it worked for me, maybe this would work for you just find a perfume around the house that they don't like and spray on the felt orament and they should stay away from your tree.
I miss my cats, and now 3 have 3 dogs and I do this for them to keep one away from the tree, she always wants to lay under it and play with the lower oraments till I sprayed with perfume and it works on dogs too.
Post By Janet P (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
It is also my cats first christmas, and since he has always LOVED climbing the fake ficus tree I knew the x-mas tree would be hard too. We decided to only put decorations on the top 2/3 so he may not be as tempted to play..and he is yet to climb it (it's only been up 6 hours). I decided that he thinks he is actually a wild jungle cat..and that all the trees in here are his "jungle".
We are going to put foil around the bottom under and around the skirt for a few days (it helped when I taped it to the furniture to keep him from scratching..) I'll let you guys know how that works out.
Post By Lauren (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hi, it's me! (The author of the post.) And I wanted to show you all the tree - we put it up again and tried some of the suggestions and she basically just got disinterested in it. So here it is! Thanks again everyone for your suggestions! Love the pictures of all the cats, by the way. Aren't they special "people?" :)
Post by wdyjsu
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I guess we have been very, very lucky...I have had cats inside and outside/inside cats most of the past 34 years and have NEVER had one bother any of our trees..real or otherwise!! Knock on wood.
Sorry, I can't help...my current cat HATES plastic bags...I would put some around the tree and cover them with tissue if it were my cat, but sorry...it isn't and that doesn't help.
Post by fauxpaslover
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Here is the deal-The reason the cats are so interested in christmas tree's among other things, is that being cats they need to check each and everything out thoughly before they loose interest in it! Curosity has killed some cats! Futher is by not letting them check it out you have made that tree much more unobtainable and the object of their desire :) We humans make things (like christmas trees, center pieces etc or anything just added, new or being worked on the kitchen table) so interesting!! If we just didn't make it so darn desirable, irresistable to them by making it so untouchable, unobtainable, now any self respecting feline would have to give it the once or thrice over! This worked for me and my two fur babies Sterling (aka STINKS or STINKY) and Baxter (or axter as my parrot Miguel affectionally refers to him)! Before I bring anything new (esp if it is breakable) I sit it on the floor right smack dab in the middle of where my cats travel. I leave it there until they losse interest in it, then after the interest is gone I move the tree into position and leave it for at least a day or two before I decorate it. Then I begin to decorate it slowly or if thats not possible I just decorate it while they are sleeping. Let me know if it works for you :") I have included a couple of pictures of my two darlings!
Post by JustSusan
Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
she looks just like ours. We kept our cats out by spraying them with water everytime we caught them getting in the tree, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
Ziggee
Post by Ziggee
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Such a cute cat, you can see how desperately she wants the tree!
We had 2 kittens who thought it was fun to chase each other in the tree. They knocked it down twice before we finally tied it to the wall. We hung bells at the bottom so we could hear when they were near it. We also used unbreakable decorations.
They got to where they wouldn't climb it in the day time but we still had to shut them up in the bedroom with us at night.
Love & Prayers,
Linda
Post by lindaljh1
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
WE HAVE 5 HOUSECATS AND THE "ONLY" THING WE HAVE FOUND TO KEEP THEM OUT OF AND AWAY FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE WAS TO GET A REAL TREE. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS WEIRD CUZ YOU WOULD THINK "OH YEAH, LIKE A CAT IS GOING TO LEAVE A REAL TREE ALONE". BUT WHEN MY HUSBAND SUGGESTED IT LAST YEAR WE HAD ALREADY SPENT 7 CHRISTMAS' PUTTING OUR TREE BACK TOGETHOR AND PICKING IT UP AND WERE AT OUR WITS END. WE GOT THE REAL CHRISTMAS TREE LAST YEAR AND NONE OF OUR 5 CATS GOT UP IN IT {WHICH THEY DID WITH THE FAKE ONE, USED TO SLEEP UP IN THE BRANCHES} OR PLAYED WITH THE BRANCHES, ETC. I THINK IT IS TO POKEY FOR THEM OR SOMETHING. THEY WILL STILL SWAT AT ORNAMENTS IF YOU HANG THEM LOW OFF BRANCHES THO.
BUT IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME...I DARE SOMEONE TO TRY IT AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT WORKED FOR YOU.
Post By Dianne (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
My mom uses bounce dryer sheets around the base of the tree..Dryer Sheets Keeps dogs, cats, mice away from anything. They don't like the smell. You should try that. Hope it helps!
Post By kvd2241 (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
I have the same problem with my new kitty and I guess I understand, first Christmas and all. My hubby used orange peels in a flower pot she wouldnt stay out of, so we used some at the base of the tree to. So far everything is going well.
Post by motherearth12
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
To keep the tree from falling over, my DH cut a 4' plywood circle which I place the tree skirt overtop of. The tree stand base has spots for a nail to be screwed in at the end of each stand "arm" . This way, if you cannot be there to keep her out of the tree, at least you can keep the tree from falling over. My DH made the circle when we had a kitten and the real tree had a stand filled with water. We placed the tree in the living room that had a new carpet. The tree did not tip over and the carpet did not get wet. The bottom ornaments did get batted around and did not always remain by the tree, but the tree stayed put.
Post by valleyrimgirl
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Some cats hate the smell of hot peppers (like hot sauce or cayenne pepper powder) or try mint (peppermint oil or toothpaste). Luckily, our cat just wants to lay under the tree. I wish we could keep it up yearound just for her;)
Post by thriftyboo
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Does your cat not like when you just put perfume on?
I use perfume on wires that my Pudd likes to chew, the smell stops her before she even tastes it.
Post By Novice333 (Guest Post)
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
You might try spraying Bitter Apple (you can buy it at pet stores) around the bottom.
Post by dse77
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
Hi Stacey,
I've used the playpen for the tree but to keep the children from getting to it. It might work for a small kitten but one that big, she'd probably just climb over it. I have a bunch of cats and use unbreakable ornaments on the bottom of the tree because they inevitably play with them. That saves a lot of broken ornaments. With yours on the table, she might knock it over if she tries to climb it.
One thing you could try is to cover your table with foil down to the ground. Cats hate foil and it might keep her down.
It's a problem, but she sure is cute!
Susan from ThriftyFun
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Our Cat Won't Leave The Christmas Tree Alone
depending how big your tree is we put ours in a playpen and that solved everything.only an idea, otherwise spray water at her everytime she goes near the tree.
Post by dtmiddle1
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