How do you keep a cat out of a Christmas tree?

Question

Last year, my cats were about 6 months old at Christmastime, and they RUINED my tree (I had a beautiful artificial tree that set me back quite a bit of money. I knew they'd play with the ornaments, so I purposely left them off the tree and put up only lights. They climbed the tree, bent the branches, ate the artificial needles, etc. How can I prevent them from doing this again this year? I went out and bought a new artificial tree, and I'd LOVE to hang ornaments on it this year, but I don't want them broken or destroyed completely, and I don't want the cats to ruin the tree again. Help!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Ok this may sound like cruel and unusual punishment but we are cat owners of 10 and have never missed a Christmas without a Christmas tree. People cant believe we can actually have one up. All our cats are inside cats-yes everyone spayed and neutered. They get their recess outside too so they have that urge to want to climb trees.
First of all leave your most precious ornaments to the top and don't put any ornaments towards the bottom. Leave about the bottom 1ft of the tree with only lights. And never ever ever buy the lose tinsel and if your cats eat this it can bind in their intestines and they could die. Now for the punishment part.
We just bought us a plain spray bottle and filled it with water. We would watch them. They like to lay under the tree so we would let them be but if they tried to act up, attack the tree, etc. They would get squirted at. It only took one Christmas to break them of this. Water doesn't hurt anyone and everyone should be able to enjoy a Christmas tree. We sure do even wit 10 cats.

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Asker's Comment:

My cats were indoor only last year (because they were so young, and we lived in the city). Now they're older and we're out in the country, so I let them go outside during the day. Maybe they'll get their tree climbing "fix" outside and leave my poor christmas tree alone this year!! :)

Answer 2

Turn the vacuum on, and go by the tree.
That cat will be out in no time.
Haha i know it sounds cruel but your cats not gonna hate you.

Answer 3

sounds like feisty cats. I've only heard of them climbing real trees. The only thing I can think of is make them afraid of it. Try aluminum foil at the base so they don't like to step on it. also when ever they go near it even squirt them with a squirt gun or shake a can of pennies. try not to let them know the water and/or noise is coming from you so that they associate it with them going near the tree. Good luck.

Answer 4

I have been wondering this myself actually, mine were 6 months old last year at Christmas as well, and loved climbing my tree. Over the past year tho, I have noticed that mine have calmed down considerably, so I am hopeful that simply age and maturity will take hold and they will stay out of it (plus, mine is tiny, and they will pull it down lol). Put up the tree, and don't hang anything on it yet, and just see what they do. Did you keep the old one to train with? That might be your best bet if you still have it, just in case. But they are older now, and wiser, and hopefully will stay out of it on their own. Otherwise, you just need to correct them when they approach it.

Answer 5

scare them continuasly with a vacum cleaner and then leave it under the tree and when ever they get near make a vacuum noise or turn it on i know it sounds mean but it will work.

and when you think there to scared to go near it,put some tuna by it to see if the will go eat it

Answer 6

How To Keep A Cat Out Of A Christmas Tree [updated x2] - Blog on a ...
We have found out that our cats hate Canned Air. You know, the stuff you clean your keyboards with. We are using that on them whenever they get close to

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Answer 7

All you need is a little punishment. Get a piece of rolled up newspaper and lightly tap your cat on the face while firmly saying "NO." Your cat will then eventually realize that it is not supposed to climb the christmas tree.

Answer 8

If you catch your cat in the christmas tree, clap. Once. Make the clap loud and clear. That will startle the cat and he/she will jump out of the tree. This will teach the cat that climbing the tree isn't just annoying, it's wrong. Keep watch of the tree to make sure your cat doesn't get any ideas. Soon enough, your cat will understand that climbing the tree is wrong and annoying for their owner. You shouldn't hit your cat when he/she does something wrong. Your cat will become hostile and will just bite everyone that he/she can find. No matter how angry you are at your cats, do not hit them. Just simply clap.
I hope I helped!

Source(s):

Me and my own experience.

Answer 9

I'm sorry but I simply have to laugh and find this sooo funny! One of my cats disappeared and we couldn't find her. We called and called and called. Suddenly the tree shook a little...I looked through the branches to find her curled up across bent wire branches. She did that for two years and there was nothing to keep her out.

I've had to kitty-proof my tree too as a matter of their safety and my precious ornaments. My glass globe ornaments go at mid level...lower level and the cats like to stare at their enlarged faces and paw at the ornaments...higher level and the glass ornaments have further to fall and break. Shiny ornaments and ornaments of animals (I have a sequined deer) attract the cats so I put my small hard plastic cartoon ornaments lower.

Also, if you hang gingerbread ornaments, or citrus fragranced ornaments around the tree (or maybe even a potpourri ball) that may help detract them.

Another thing I had to avoid hanging was the tinsel icicles because the cats played with them and ingested them. I found the stuff twisted in their doo-doo in the litter box....definitely could be a dangerous thing for them.

Best of luck.

Answer 10

For years and years, no luck keeping them out. Stupid cats would fall asleep in the branches, roll over and knock it down. I finally surrendered to the cats, let them climb and tied a string to the ceiling and tree so it couldn't get knocked down. Hard lash the ornaments, don't leave the lights on. Real tree. Everybody wins, cats happy, I'm happy and the tree is safe with a few extra precautions.

Answer 11

there are pet sprays you can use, to keep them off. I hear tin foil/garland? may work.