I am afraid to put up the tree!

Last Christmas was our first Christmas with a cat. I was a little afraid too because she is such a climber and she chews up everything. But the tree went up, same as we've done every year! She was very interested in it, but we scolded her every time she went near it, sprayed her with a spray-bottle, and she mostly stayed away. My Dad only caught her clambering around the inside of the tree once (and he says it was quite a sight watching her fly out of the center of the tree when he yelled at her ) and we also caught her playing with a bell ornament at the bottom of the tree once (which was also hilarious, because she would dart up to the tree, tap the bell, then dart away, dart up, tap the bell, dart away... ). So we're putting up a tree this year too. Of course, I only have one cat. If I had more, I might think differently.

With three cats, I know what it is like to worry about whether they will take something out in a moment of rambunctiousness. Thankfully, they are all past the kitten stage (Shh! Don't tell them I said that. ). I would suggest finding a way to anchor the tree in place. My thought would be to try Quake Hold! museum putty. It is supposed to go on easily and come off cleanly. When my youngest was a kitten, I was sorely tempted to buy some of it, since she was quite the hyper little beast. She's since calmed for the most part. It only took... two years?

I have 2 adult cats and won't put my tree up. I know it won't last long if I do. They love shiny hanging things. I keep saying I'm going to try it but am not in the mood to keep putting it back up. My son has a kitten and she isn't bothering his tree. If you can sit there all night and watch her the spray bottle will work but you have to go to bed sometime and who knows what she will do. Good Luck

Well.. I usually just put it up and deal. Actually most of my cats have left the trees alone, it was usually the kids that messed with it. But the 2 black cats I have now, when they were babies they did love to mess with the tree and I actually found them IN the tree many times. And it was an artificial!! Now this year I have another new kitten.. he's about 6 or 7 months old.. so I don't know how he'll do with the tree either. But like I said, I'm going to put it up and deal. Christmas night I usually lock the cats up in a room so they can't mess with the presents. I do worry they'll chew or scratch them.. so they'll get locked up in a bedroom that night.

You need to anchor the tree somehow. I did this last year and it was okay because we only had two older cats who have lost interest in going totally crazy. However, this year we got another, very young cat so we will be securing the tree as best we can. I am totally expecting the ornaments to be used as toys because she is very playful.

It's natural and instinctive for a cat to want to climb a Christmas tree. However, it is also dangerous. Aside from the water bottle spray, you can also try rubbing lemon or orange rind on the tree and near it. It's said that cats dislike citrus smells and will stay away from the area. You can also try to put sheets with double sided tape near the base of the tree. Cats don't like walking on sticky surfaces and after a few tries, you cat will probably stay away from the area. But don't forget to create an area that will allow your cat to climb. Cats like being in high places so if the tree is the only place possible, then he or she will keep on attempting to climb it no matter what deterrent you try.

Now you know why I don't put up a tree, so glad I don't have kids... If you want a tree but don't want kitty climbing, put the tree in a room you can shut off from her.

I actually never had a problem with any of my cats doing that but they would bite some of the ornaments and paw at them. Not to big a deal though. My kids used to do the same thing when they were little lol. To keep them from pulling the tree down I tied it around the middle to a eye hook I put in the wall.

Don't put up a tree unless it can be securely anchored so that there is absolutely no way it could tip over. You are correct that your kitten could tip over the whole tree. I had one that did just that. I was thankful to have been home at the time.

You could get a small tree and put it up high somewhere or maybe you could put the tree in a different room where you are able to close the door (such as a bedroom or family room).

How about letting the base of tree harden in a block of wet cement? lol I really do not know what you can do nless it is a small tree that can be lifted up and put in a bedroom or something. Cats are just sp independant and cannot be trained like dogs. So how about getting a dog? Lilybug, I am just making light hearted suggestions as I do not know a lot about cats or how to discipline them. Can you give him a light smack on his nose with a newspaper or something or is this cinsidered to be cat abuse?

I hear you there.. cats seems to love xmas trees.