Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
Christmas is coming and everyone is so excited. To make the holiday even more spectacular, you found the perfect Christmas tree. You set it up, carefully decorate it and then stand back to bask in the beauty of the twinkling lights and delicate ornaments handed down from generation to generation. Your happiness may quickly turn to panic though as you notice your cat sauntering over to the tree with a look of total joy. Kitty thinks you’re the absolute best cat parent in the whole world because you just created the max in environmental enrichment. You set up the ultimate CAT TREE!
Basic Techniques Often Tried to Deter Cats From the Christmas Tree
I’ve seen people attempt to keep their cats away from the Christmas tree by creating an aluminum foil moat or encircling it in a folding dog pen. Although many cats may not enjoy walking over aluminum foil, they may think nothing of it when it’s the only barrier between them and the impossible-to-resist tree of their dreams. Dog pen barricades may keep some cats from bothering the tree but it if your cat is absolutely determined to scale those branches, it may only succeed in delaying the inevitable.
Do Not Use Electronic Deterrents
The other thing I notice cat parents do is to set up electronic deterrents around the tree. Whether it’s a sound-generating device or a shock mat, you might very well keep your cat away from the tree but you’ll also distress him, which could lead to secondary behavioral issues. I especially hate these devices in multipet environments. The sound-generating device can upset a cat or dog who isn’t even the one attempting to approach the tree. With either deterrent device, it may cause a cat to redirect frustration and react negatively by lashing out at a companion cat. I am against using ANY device that causes pain in any way. There’s no place in your home for either of these devices.
Keeping the Christmas Tree Upright
Your plan starts with choosing the best location for the tree. You may decide the best option is a room in which the cat will not have access or a room that can be closed off when needed. If not, place the tree near something to which you can anchor it. For example, if there’s a large picture on the wall, remove it and put the tree in that spot. Secure the tree to the wall with fishing line and an eyebolt. This will make it more difficult for the cat to knock the tree down. When Christmas is over you can put the picture back. Any extra holes you had to put in the wall will be hidden by the picture after Christmas.
If you have hanging plants, you can also use the same technique if you have an eye-bolt in the ceiling. Secure the top of the tree to a wire or fishing line and then attach that to the plant hook. This way, the tree is anchored to the floor by the tree base but has extra security by being attached by a wire to the ceiling hook.
If the above doesn’t seem sturdy enough you can add extra support by securing the tree toward the bottom as well. Attach wire or cord near the baseboard. You’ll just have to cover the small hole with a piece of furniture afterward.
I’d also recommend you invest in a heavy-duty tree stand. Pick one that can easily manage the weight and height of the tree even if a determined feline attempts to scale it.
When choosing a location for the tree, a corner is a safer choice. Look around though and make sure there isn’t a table or piece of furniture too close that your cat might use as a springboard to launch onto the tree.
Cat-Safe Tree Branches
Before decorating, deter your cat from nibbling on branches by spraying a bitter anti-chew product on the tree. This is especially important if you have a live tree because you certainly don’t want your cat chewing on the needles. The tree needles are toxic if ingested and you also don’t know whether fire retardants, preservatives, or any type of pesticides were sprayed on the tree. If you don’t want to use a bitter anti-chew product, make a homemade citrus spray to deter your cats.
Don’t Decorate Immediately
When you install the tree, keep it undecorated for a day or so to help your cat get used to it being in the house.
Prevent Your Cat From Drinking Water From the Tree Reservoir
If you have a live tree, cover the water reservoir to prevent your cat from drinking there. Tree sap is toxic and so are any tree preservatives you may add in the water. Aspirin is something that people commonly use in the water to keep the tree fresh and that’s highly toxic to cats. Use netting over the reservoir. this way, you can still water the tree but the cat won’t be able to get his face in there. Some tree stands have covers that go around the reservoir as well.
Artificial Trees May Provide Less Cat Appeal
Although I absolutely love the scent of a real live Christmas tree, we have had nothing but artificial ones in our house from the time we brought home our first cat and dog. Although there’s still a risk of choking, or toxins being released in the body if a cat ingests part of an artificial tree branch, the chances are much less that he’d be interested enough to do so. You can also coat the branches with a bitter anti-chew product to make it even less appealing. If you buy a tree with shiny artificial branches your cat may be more enticed by the light reflection, so when shopping, opt for the artificial trees made to look like live ones.
Tree Lighting Cat Safety Tips
Coat tree light wires with a bitter anti-chew cream to reduce the risk of getting chewed. Coat the wires before placing them on the tree. I recommend wearing disposable gloves when handling the wires. This way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally getting the nasty tasting product on your fingers and then touching your mouth before you have a chance to wash your hands. The gloves act as a reminder that you’re handling icky-tasting stuff.
When placing the lights on the tree, wrap them tightly around branches to limit any dangling wires. This will make it less enticing to your cat.
Choose lights that are steady and not twinkling to reduce the chances of enticing your cat into playing with them.
Don’t leave tree lights on all night or when you’re not at home. It’s best to completely unplug the tree lights when not in use.
Cover the electrical light cords leading from the tree to the outlet. Use pre-slit tubing, Command strips, or a cord containment product to prevent your cat from gaining access to the electrical cord itself.
Routinely check any exposed electrical cord for signs of teeth marks or breaks in rubber covering. Additionally, routinely examine your cat, especially if he’s a kitten or if the cat has shown interest in the tree. Check the mouth for signs of burns. Look for singed hair or whiskers. Watch your cat’s behavior as well in case you notice a lack of appetite, change in breathing, needing to stand up in order to breathe, coughing, or anything that doesn’t seem right. If you suspect your cat has been chewing on the Christmas tree lights, get to the veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic immediately. Some internal damage may have occurred that isn’t visually obvious to you (such as pulmonary edema). This is an emergency.
Ornaments and Decorations
These shiny, swaying objects can seem like toys just begging to be swatted at by a cat. Your best bet is to choose non-breakable ornaments. Breakable ornaments pose a double risk because small pieces can be ingested and your cat may also injure a paw stepping on sharp pieces. If you do want to put some delicate or breakable ones on the tree, save them for next year or the year after that when you have learned whether your cat has developed a decreased interest in Christmas decorations. When (or if) that time comes, secure any breakable ornaments tightly to the middle of branches and not hanging at the very edge. To limit temptation, don’t put ornaments on the very bottom branches.
Edible decorations such as strings of popcorn, cookie ornaments, cranberries, etc., are beautiful to look at but dangerous for your cat. These types of decorations are just too hard for a pet to resist with all those tempting aromas coming from the tree.
Be careful about using metal ornament hooks because they can easily fall from the tree with the ornament if the cat swipes hard enough. If your cat is very determined to play with ornaments, use green twist-ties so you can tightly secure the ornament to the branch. No matter how much swatting the cat does, the chances of the ornament staying put are much better.
If you have a kitten or a hard-core tree-climbing cat, consider making this the year you decorate with totally unappealing decorations (from a cat’s point of view). Paper ornaments, paper garland and wooden tree decorations can look beautiful, nostalgic, and will probably be of little interest to a cat.
Tinsel and Garland aren’t Cat Friendly
Don’t use tinsel at all. It’s lightweight, easily falls from the tree, and can cause intestinal blockage if swallowed by your cat. If you use garland, spray it with a bitter anti-chew product before placing it around the tree and secure it around branches so it can’t easily be pulled off.
Offer Your Cat Something Better to Do
Cats just want to have fun and now that you’ve done all this preventative work, the other half of the job involves giving your cat something better to do. I know it’s a busy time of year and it might even be the time you often skip a few play sessions with your cat but he really needs activity now. Engage in interactive play sessions at least twice a day to help your cat work off that energy and hopefully tone down the fascination with the Christmas tree. In-between play sessions, give your cat some early Christmas presents in the form of fun puzzle feeders or other environmental enrichment toys. Even a few paper bag tunnels with safe toys inside may interest your cat enough to stay away from the tree.
Photo: Pam Johnson-Bennett
Since cats love to climb, make sure your Christmas tree isn’t the only climbing option in the house. If you don’t already have a sturdy cat tree, I would certainly suggest you do a little early Christmas shopping and invest in one.
Use a Table-top Tree or Pencil Tree
If you’re worried that nothing will deter your cat from the Christmas tree, consider using a small, table-top tree. It may not be the tree of your Christmas dreams, but it may get you safely through the holiday without a disaster.
Another option is to opt for a thin pencil tree instead of a bushy, wide tree. The thin tree may be less appealing to climb and would be easier for you to secure to the wall with wire.
As Cats Mature
Typically, it’s the kittens and younger cats who show an interest in Christmas trees so hopefully, you’ll be able to ease up on this type of Fort Knox security tree prep after the first year or two. Some cats, though, never give up on the challenge.
Need More Information?
For information on cat behavior and training, refer to the best-selling books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included links to Amazon here on our website.
If you have a question about your cat’s behavior or health, contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a medical diagnosis nor is it a replacement for your cat’s regular veterinary care. This article is for general information purposes only.
