Cats and Christmas trees/decorations [Archive]

Perpetual_Christmas

10-24-2010, 05:29 PM

In a couple weeks or so I will be putting up my first Christmas tree in about 15 years (will start a thread on that later). I've already bought in excess of $200 of ornaments ( :happyfatsanta: ) and made sure to get ones that, for the most part, don't appear to be breakable. I have a cat who is less than 2 years old and she's quite frisky and curious, with a wee bit of a destructo-cat streak when she's in the right mood. I had many cats when I was a kid and the major thing I remember is that some of them used to try to climb the Christmas tree :), at least when they were kittens. This cat is a tad bit big so I don't think she'll actually try to do that, though u never know.

Anyway, before I go out and get more stuff and do more planning, I was wondering if there was anyone here who is well-experienced at dealing with cat-tree-ornament issues and might have some suggestions, maybe something I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Thanks!

bethene

10-24-2010, 05:36 PM

well, I have 4 cats, but they aren't too bad, I have had cats for about 33 years, had one that did climb it(I get a real tree) and knocked it down in the night, so I tied it up, other years I have taken string and tied the tree to something so it didn't tip, a nail in the wall, hook in ceiling, etc, but with a better stand and the kitties aren't too bad right now,they don't climb, and just bat at the ornaments! I usually get unbreakable ones for the bottom, and may use thin wire to tie the beads and garland on, they like that too. but just be flexable, willing to put things back up, and NEVER get tinsel icicles, they eat those, and could harm them, get stuck in their intestines.

Perpetual_Christmas

10-24-2010, 05:59 PM

and NEVER get tinsel icicles, they eat those, and could harm them, get stuck in their intestines.
Thanks, that's one of the things I wouldn't have thought of.

What about regular tinsel, like on a string? Anyone with cats ever have problems with that?

Perpetual_Christmas

10-24-2010, 06:00 PM

BTW bethene, I like your avatar! :D

Just Whisper

10-24-2010, 06:53 PM

My cats like to curl up in it and play in it but have never tried to eat the tinsel. I agree with Beth, unbreakables on the lower branches. I also use very flexible hooks and instead of just hanging the ornaments I actually wrap the hanger around the branch so kitties can't pull them off. I have also only had one cat who climbed my tree. Now my cats are older. I had a foster kitten last christmas who terrorized our tree and I found by wrapping the hangers he could not get ornaments off. And yes....patience is a must. You will have to decorate your tree many times over. LOL Enjoy it, take pics, laugh a lot.

PS...that is Paul Tyler in my avatar. The tree terror. :)

Sickie Ickie

10-25-2010, 03:06 PM

Do kids count? My cat leaves the tree ornaments alone, but with the 2 yr olds (and 6 yr old) this year we're looking at plastic ornaments, popcorn tinsel, paper chains, and no lights.

rukiafae

11-03-2010, 03:25 PM

i didnt read all the responses but as the owner of 11 (yes eleven, its not a typo) cats, I feel I know more about this subject than a lot of folks (LOL)

Some of my cats are (were) never interested in it, other than to sniff around it when i first put it up. Others (usually younger ones) are more... adventurous, shall we say.

Hopefully the tree is in a family room or room where you are most of the time. A spray bottle kept by you at all times is a godsend (i have one on my table and hubby has one at his desk)! I have never lost an ornament or had a cat climb the tree, as long as I kept watch over it. and to further teach them that the tree is 'bad' even if they get too close...I'll squirt them! Even the dumbest cats learn if they get hit with the water often enough.

For added security (and its not such a bad idea anyways, especially if you have a lot of breakable or old ornaments) is to screw a hook into the wall (like an eye hook) and take some fishing line and tie the tree to the wall. This way if kitty (say in the middle of the night) decides to take a romp up the tree, it wont fall. he may knock some ornaments down, but a few lost is better than a bunch lost.

I've had cats and kittens of all ages and personalities and never had a major mishap. sometimes they will bat at lower hanging ornaments but i always put ones low that are 'unbreakable' or ones that otherwise cant be hurt. Many of my cats are more interested in the water reservoir than the tree itself ;)

I have some of the sweetest pictures of kitties sleeping under the tree :)

FYI (if it hasnt been mentioned)- poinsettias are poisonous to cats, so dont have any where he can get at them

Perpetual_Christmas

11-09-2010, 08:04 PM

For added security (and its not such a bad idea anyways, especially if you have a lot of breakable or old ornaments) is to screw a hook into the wall (like an eye hook) and take some fishing line and tie the tree to the wall. This way if kitty (say in the middle of the night) decides to take a romp up the tree, it wont fall. he may knock some ornaments down, but a few lost is better than a bunch lost.
Yeah, I've already thought of that.

Kitty is alone in the house 9 hours a day while I'm at work so I'm going to have to take all the precautions I can think of. She's young and has never seen a Christmas tree before so it definitely shall be . . . interesting.

LaBruja

11-10-2010, 01:55 AM

Make sure she has lots of other toys, scratch pad etc ..I remember my sister's cat 'Pudd" ..Every year Mom and Dad would put up a real tree..and every year he would come into the living room..and RUN right up the trunk to the top...Just once..First year we were decorating. From then on it was set up the tree, let the cat get his run up the tree done, then decorate. He would mess with stuff on the branches and use it as a scratchin' post throught Christmas, but only do a run up one time.

Craig

11-10-2010, 03:12 AM

When we first started with Pizmar, Mark sat down with him in the middle of the livingroom floor while he unpacked all the ornaments. (Mark is an avid collector of Radko ornaments - yet ANOTHER reason I don't do any inside decorating) Anyhow, Piz got the idea that these were NOT to be toyed with.

Mark decorated the tree as usual, and Piz never bothered anything. He DID (however) LOVE to "hide" under the tree and watch everything that was going on (I suspect that was mostly instinctual for stalking prey) but he wouldn't even show interest in the ornaments. I will NOT say that all or even most cats will respond in this manner, but it might be worth a shot.

We always had the attitude that Pizmar was a family member, and we weren't going to change how the tree was decorated just because he may break some ornaments. Replaceable or not, an ornament (in our household) is not as precious as our family.:):):)

Giles

11-10-2010, 05:03 AM

Everyone's suggestions are right on the money! I have four cats in the house and number four is a fairly recent rescue. He is young and full of himself.

It was not uncommon last year to find the lower half of my tree undecorated when i came home, but there was never anything broken. Being that two of the four are siamese, I'm surprised there isn't more damage because they are so inquisitive and sneaky, but they seem to respect the tree for the most part. I used to have a cat that loved Christmas and sleeping high up in the tree was her favorite thing to do.

lisa48317

11-16-2010, 05:34 AM

We use an artifical tree and haven't had any real trouble with any of my 3 cats. I was really concerned with #3 since she'd been a barn cat for several years before we brought her home. They are interested (due to having a mouse nest in it one year) when I open the box, so I let them check it out and they all find a place in the living room and watch it go up. Other than that, they leave it aone. I do occasionally find an ornament on the floor, but that could be because the fleece tree skirt is a favorite nap spot (I think it used to be red & green plaid - but now its a mix of brown, gray, orange, black & white). My oldest and fattest cat will walk in while we're in the living room and will casually start chewing on a branch. I think he's just doing it for attention, since they're all SOooooooo neglected. :rolleyes:
The Beagle is also interested. I watched him one year sniff every ornament he could reach and then he noticed the chaser lights - it was hysterical watching him stand perfectly still with nose against an ornament while just his eyes followed the lights.

Good luck with your kitties!

RCIAG

11-23-2010, 11:28 AM

This is our first year with 2 one year old crazy gatos! They love to roll around the floor with each other & catapult off the furniture.

There will be no vintage/glass ornaments on the tree & I haven't had tinsel on a tree since the 70s when I was cat-less. Not sure if they'll climb it, never had a cat do that to a fake one, but I can imagine these guys would be the first to break that rule.

All of them do seem to like to be under it, & the tree is pretty thick all over so it shouldn't be easy to climb, but we'll see.

These little doofuses would be just the ones to break every "I never had a cat that..." rule.

lisa48317

11-24-2010, 02:19 AM

Oh man, you have trouble x2!

Don't sic PETA on me - but many moons ago when my first cat was a kitten, I set the (real) tree up & before I decorated, I picked him up & tossed him into the tree a couple times. It startled him, which was the purpose & he never bothered it. Now we have an artificial tree, so as we're setting up we'll swat a branch at whoever comes close. I know they still investigate it when we're not around, but nothing dramatic. We have more danger from the dog's wagging tail!

I really hope I didn't just jinx the tree this year!!

Jeremy

11-29-2010, 11:03 AM

well, I have 4 cats, but they aren't too bad, I have had cats for about 33 years, had one that did climb it(I get a real tree) and knocked it down in the night, so I tied it up,

You tied up your cat? LOL:twisted:

Just Whisper

11-29-2010, 11:23 AM

My cats mostly think our tree is a big water dish. They won't drink out of their own dish.

Perpetual_Christmas

11-29-2010, 06:10 PM

Well here's the scoop . . .

When I first put up the tree she was really curious and tried a few times to climb up it, but the branches were way too dense and she's given up on that (mostly). Now she just likes to hang out beneath it. But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

Craig

11-30-2010, 02:06 AM

RCIAG

12-06-2010, 10:11 AM

Put up the tree yesterday with only our Hallmark ornaments on it so they're mostly plastic with a few fabric & a few bisque type ornaments, but mostly pretty sturdy plastic.

So far they've gotten 4 ornaments off, no clue how, I just heard **jinglejinglethunk** at 5AM & went out to check cause I KNEW it was a ornament, & there's 2 on the floor. Unbroken, but still, on the floor.

And hour later the same thing, **jinglejinglethunk**, another on the floor.

Last nite we went out & when we got back we found one reindeer with feathers on it (not a Hallmark) on the floor with one antler broken but fixable.

I'm sorta torn because I think if we don't put up most of the non-breakables, next year they're gonna be just as fascinated & grabby, on the other hand, I don't wanna be finding ornaments or pieces of ornaments under the sofa in July.

I just don't know.

Our biggest problem is we have their cat tree & a chair next to the tree because we have nowhere else to put the chair. The kitty tree could go elsewhere but then they'd just be up in the window in front of the tree which is worse.

I'm thinking we'll just end up having a tree that doesn't have any decorations on the entire right side of the tree!:)

lisa48317

12-06-2010, 10:20 AM

**jinglejinglethunk**

LOL ! ! ! That's funny! I do believe I've heard that sound before!

And also **wagwagwagthunk ~pause~ crash** from Jack wagging his tail & smacking something across the room with it.

RCIAG

12-06-2010, 10:52 AM

The jingle is from 2 bells I acquired at a yard sale so if they break those I've no attachment to them but I've realized that now they're a cat alarm so I moved them waaaay up the tree!:):)

Perpetual_Christmas

12-07-2010, 07:40 AM

RCIAG

12-07-2010, 08:48 AM

Once again, 5AM I hear **thunk**.:(

I get up, go out & see the little rubbery-plasticy sushi ornament our friends just gave us on the floor.

There is now not a single ornament on that side of the tree.:)

It's the little troublemaker too, Ziggy. I know he's sitting on the arm of the chair & getting what he can reach.

I thought that was the only one he got which I thought was an improvement. Then I sit down to watch the traffic & weather before I leave for work & there's a paper Hallmark ornament on the floor in front of the fireplace.

So, they're down to 2 a day, so far. Today is the first day they're home for 8 hours without supervision. Tomorrow is another day & I've still got some decorations left to put up.

RCIAG

12-07-2010, 02:50 PM

This is our problem, this chair & cat tree. This is our set up this year too. That was our Fatty, we just lost him about a month ago, RIP Fatty. You were supposed to stick around to teach these little furry kids how to behave properly with the tree.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/jasonleeisagod/Christmas%202009/Fattyandthecatperch.jpg

Anyhoo, the latest kittens vs. tree debacle:

I came home to ceramic angel on the floor & I thought OK, not bad, but wait...that was on the OTHER SIDE OF THE TREE!!:mad:

One of 'em, I'm still guessin' Ziggy, went from the arm of that chair ACROSS THE TREE TO THE OTHER SIDE, & batted her down & in the process knocked some others off their branches but not off the tree. After I looked at it I realized what he'd done, you could just see the path of destruction & branches bent down. He's the lightest of the 2 so he could pull it off.

Yet there's still ornments on the bottom that haven't been touched. Go figure.

Craig

12-07-2010, 02:55 PM

Hey RCIAG!:)

I am really sorry to hear that you lost one of your furry kids. It's always tough.

As far as the new kids attacking the TOP of the tree and leaving the bottom? (That's a new one:) on me!)

RCIAG

12-07-2010, 03:00 PM

It's not even the top, it's the middle sorta left & right side.:)

Fatty never bothered the tree except to taste a branch every now & then. His first year we had him he got a fabric ornament or 2 & played with them but never bothered any of the others.

But these 2 critters...oy vey. It's a good thing they're cute. Augie is the one with his tongue out, Ziggy is behind.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/jasonleeisagod/Cats/IMG_1192.jpg

RCIAG

12-10-2010, 06:06 PM

Well, it finally happened.

They finally destroyed an ornament that can't be fixed. :( It was a paper Hallmark Santa ornament (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200551730829&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT) & they shredded it. The words on one side are gone & it's ripped down one seam on the right side.

I'm bidding on that auction for a new one & moved the old one up higher until the new one arrives.

Found a chalkware Santa on the floor tonite, it was something I just bought at World Market or TJMax or some place like that so no huge deal that it was chipped on the base, you really can't even see the chip & I wouldn't have known it was there if there hadn't been pieces next to it. Found my red Devil Ducky this morning, yesterday nothing, which is prolly when they shredded Santa.:mad:

kittyvibe

12-10-2010, 08:37 PM

owch! sorry to hear about your losses :(

I just placed the tree out a few days ago and immediately my newest cat of a year old is climbing it right away. Im like, "helloooo, Im still trying to put it up can you at least wait until I walk away?"

He and the 6 year old kitteh played under it last year and were mostly good, but now Im worried to put my nice glass ones on it at all. Last year they were placed up higher on the tree but after finding my young kitteh hanging in the middle of the tree looking out at me upside down Im having second thoughts.

Sickie Ickie

12-11-2010, 05:11 AM

Man it always sucks to lose ornaments no matter how it happens. I am glad though that you wee able to find a replacement.

Craig

12-11-2010, 05:15 AM

I really do understand the twinges about ornament vs. cats.:) Sorry to hear about the losses of your ornaments (one can get pretty attached to them) Have you tried tying the ornaments in place with floral wire?

Clarice

12-11-2010, 04:47 PM

I've always had cats and the only problem I've ever had is that they will pull the ornaments off the bottom branches, so I only put plain easy to replace ornaments on the bottom branches.

This year we have a feral kitten, maybe 4 or 5 months old, that we have taken in. The only time he bothered the tree was when I was putting it together, he tried to climb the lower part of the trunk. I just sprayed him a couple times with a water bottle with a little vinegar added and he hasn't bothered it since. I have the tree in front of my front window where all the cats wonder back and forth and they completely ignore the tree.

Cats do love to lay under the tree, last year I made a felt tree skirt that I had to take up every couple days and take the lint roller to it to remove the cat hair.:D

kittyvibe

12-11-2010, 07:10 PM

Cats do love to lay under the tree, last year I made a felt tree skirt that I had to take up every couple days and take the lint roller to it to remove the cat hair.:D

this part Im dreading, I have a beautiful treeskirt and its completely taken over with fur, it will be forever to get it pristine again, if its even possible, lol.

RCIAG

12-11-2010, 07:52 PM

We finished decorating the tree finally.

All the ornaments that are on it are plastic, rubber, cloth, metal, mostly things that if they get them, they may break but could be fixed or if they're destroyed they don't have much sentimental value. The wires are wrapped around the branches as best we could, if they get them, they get them.

The paper ones are outta reach I hope. No garland on the tree or mantlepiece just in case.

We went out to dinner for an hour or so & came home & one of the new round of ornaments we just put up was on the floor. Intact but off the tree. There's plenty on there now that they can ruin & play with so maybe they'll leave my Hallmarks alone.

Oddly enough, they're not really bothering the ones on the bottom, which is usually the place every other cat I've had goes to.

As for the tree skirt, I got that out tonite & realized that it had these little dangly circles off the edge & of course that had to go because the second I got it in place & straight Ziggy started playing with it.

So after dinner we walked down the strip mall to HomeGoods & got a new skirt that's square, red & white with buttons holding it closed. They had a few nicer ones but they all had frills, ruffles, or trim on the edge that would be ruined. It was only $20, kinda plain but still nice. It's really wide so you can really see it under the tree.

I also put up the aluminum tree so we'll see what happens with that. If they bother it, the ornaments can go or be replaced with some unbreakables.

Sickie Ickie

12-12-2010, 05:10 AM

Good thinking, RCIAG

Craig

12-12-2010, 05:20 AM

Sounds like you are doing the best you can. Good for you! The fur-kids will STILL figure out how to get into mischief (that is one of the things that makes them so amazing) but they ARE part of the family:):):)

Perpetual_Christmas

12-12-2010, 09:08 PM

Surprisingly, my cat has yet to bat down any ornaments. Though I deliberately didn't put any near the bottom.

Mostly she just likes to hang out underneath the tree. I think she'll be really disappointed in January when I take it down.

She also sometimes chews and tugs at the lower branches, but not in any major way.
Just a couple days after I wrote this, kitty the cat decided to not be so good after all, and she's gotten into the habit of biting off the ends of some of the small lower branches, and then turing them into play toys, lol.

Could be worse I s'pose.

RCIAG

12-13-2010, 06:39 AM

We got some spray for the tree & that kept Augie out of it overnight, but they did get to some ornaments on the bottom FINALLY!! I put some down there with the express purpose of being cat toys & they finally bought it!!

I actually got to see the tree mess in action yesterday. Augie just climbed right into it from one side. I think he likes looking out the window while sitting in the tree. When I yelled AUGIE!! he catapulted himself outta the tree & an ornament came tumbling down the tree. I think they're in cahoots. I think Ziggy says to Augie, "Dude, you go in the tree since you're bigger, then on the way out knock down an ornament or 2 & then we'll have some new toys!!"

bluexmas

12-13-2010, 12:53 PM

And I thought I worried about the two black evil cats I have with my tree? I am sorry to even thought that. I (ahem) gotten little bit lucky. Twilight is year old so this mark his second Christmas with me. Midnight, it will be her first Christmas. And even she stayed away once after I caught her sniffing out the tree.
I remember when i had my first kitten, Shadow, he loves to sleep under the tree and was always into the gifts sherreding the paper to hell and back, Of course twilight did that the last year which had me resort to bagging all the gifts since they are better protected that way. Shadow also had knocked down every ornament on the bottom and whatever he could reached. and When we were sleeping... he climbed the tree up and down through the night until I had him sleeping in his cage under the tree, which he learnt to leave the tree along after that. =}

Craig

12-13-2010, 04:13 PM

he climbed the tree up and down through the night until I had him sleeping in his cage under the tree, which he learnt to leave the tree along after that. =}

That is what we call "positive re-inforcement"!:)

Perpetual_Christmas

12-15-2010, 07:32 PM

Hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCNr0I3v1uk

SantaSarah

12-23-2010, 10:07 AM

My cat's been wonderful with our tree ever since we got him as a kitten. He LOVES watching us put up the tree, and once it's decorated he'll sit in a chair and watch the tree for hours. We still always put the fabric and cloth ornaments at the bottom, just in case. This year we did bite at a few low branches, but the water squirter cured that. :P

I've noticed that cats like fake trees more. Our cat does chew our smaller fake tree and garland on the banister.