Do you have a Christmas tree?

[Pam]

JenL's thread about Christmas decorations got me thinking. I am wondering how many people with cats are able to successfully put up a Christmas tree each year. When it was just Trevor he'd go underneath and just take a nap. He never was enticed to bother anything on the tree. When Andy came along three years later that was a different story. He knocked all of the ornaments off and tugged and tugged on the light cords. I gave up having a tree after that. By New Year's Day all of my decorations and lights were on the top third of the tree. How about you? Can you still have a tree or don't you dare attempt it?

[catmandu]

No, It Would Just Be A Found Cat Target, Aand I Am Too Old To Keep Picking Things Up, That The Cats Knock Over.

[kimlovescats]

Yes, we still do! Of course, not ALL of my kitties are allowed downstairs during the holidays! I won't name names, but a couple of kitties who closely resemble So Small and Harvey (clears throat) would NEVER be allowed around the tree. Last year when So Small was um ... "so small" he basically lived in the tree. This year he would definitely knock it over along with his accomplice in crime ... Harvey!

Sassy is enjoying climbing in it this year, but so far hasn't caused too much damage. She also enjoys sleeping under it! The littlest ones, Sahara and Tiger have only been exposed to it a couple of days and I still haven't seen either one of them playing in it .... YET!

Usually by Christmas though, it doesn't have quite as many ornaments and is a little worse for the wear!

[catnapper]

We put up a tree every year without major incident. But its been one heck of a tank of an artificial tree

We plan to go real this year.... I'll let you kow what happens

[BitsyNaceyDog]

My cats are good with the tree for the most part. Jimmy needed a reminder (with the water bottle) this year, but after two squirts of water he's left it alone. The rest of the cats have totally left it alone, they just like to lay under it.

[RedHedd]

WOW! You had a tree last until New Year's? How'd you do that? I haven't had a tree in more years than I care to count, since Goldie was a couple of years old - I tried, I really did, but the one year she broke 21 ornaments in one day was the capper. No tree since then. I do decorate - I even decorate the cats. They hate it, but I love a challenge!

[catnapper]

WOW! You had a tree last until New Year's? How'd you do that? I haven't had a tree in more years than I care to count, since Goldie was a couple of years old - I tried, I really did, but the one year she broke 21 ornaments in one day was the capper. No tree since then. I do decorate - I even decorate the cats. They hate it, but I love a challenge!

Oh the answer is all plastic ornaments! They sell shatterproof ornaments now that look so real! I got a ton at the craft store last year after Christmas for a song -- they're very pretty and will never break!

[kimlovescats]

Yes, we still do! Of course, not ALL of my kitties are allowed downstairs during the holidays! I won't name names, but a couple of kitties who closely resemble So Small and Harvey (clears throat) would NEVER be allowed around the tree. Last year when So Small was um ... "so small" he basically lived in the tree. This year he would definitely knock it over along with his accomplice in crime ... Harvey!

Sassy is enjoying climbing in it this year, but so far hasn't caused too much damage. She also enjoys sleeping under it! The littlest ones, Sahara and Tiger have only been exposed to it a couple of days and I still haven't seen either one of them playing in it .... YET!

Usually by Christmas though, it doesn't have quite as many ornaments and is a little worse for the wear!

OK, me and my big mouth. I forgot that my boy Redfurd was now downstairs! Right after I posted the above, I went into the living room to find this!

[Sevaede]

Heh... We are going to forego the tree this year.

Last year, we were celebrating with my in laws. MIL, SIL, and I spent all day putting up the tree, putting up ornaments, decorating the house, etc. Then, I couldn't find Soni. I searched everywhere and then I heard the tree rustle and saw some movement. Upon closer inspection I discovered Soni freaking out in the tree like it was nip or something. He managed to break three ornaments last year.

[Catlady711]

Until we got Cami we had always gotten a real Christmas tree (minus the tinsle of course), however last year we just didn't feel in the 'mood' for decorating so we didn't get one. In previous years, I just made a point not to hang fragile dangly ornaments near the bottom of the tree, and frequently the cats would nap under it. Actually my bigger problem is getting the cats NOT to unwrap the presents by pawing at ribbons & bows & folds in the packages underneath.

We'll plan on getting a tree this year in a week or two. This will be the first year for a tree for Cami, and I'm not sure it's going to go well as she is the most avid counter cruiser and 'get into anything and everything she's not supposed to' kind of cat. lol *crosses fingers*

[caseysmom]

This is our first year with Potter, I put the tree up and he was getting up close and looking like he wanted to get into mischief, I scolded him a few times and he has stayed away from it as far as I know.

My rb gigi didn't ever bother with our tree.

[slick]

I do put up a 6' artificial tree every year decorated with about 400 lights and tons of ornaments. Max shows no interest in it, after all, he's an old English Gentleman and does not partake in such frivolous activities.

When Speckles was here and in her younger years, she would run around the apartment and end up behind the tree with her head poking through the branches. How I wish I had gotten a picture of that. It was the cutest thing to see. She never tried to climb the tree and her favourite sleeping spot was on the tree skirt....safely tucked away underneath the branches.

My tree is not up yet but will be by the weekend.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I used to put up an artificial tree until I had cats. I haven't bothered to put one up since and I know that Storm would try to eat it and I certainly don't need to be rushing any of my cats to the ER in the middle of the night.

[Pam]

LOL! LOL! Oh Kim what a pretty kitty ornament you have in your tree, and so lifelike too!

Catlady711, I also have trouble with both of my boys pawing at the presents and they both eat ribbon so I can't even leave my gifts out. I used to either find little piles of colorful throw-up around or sparkly litter box contributions.

[orangemm]

We have TWO artificial trees and (so far) no problems with the boys. Sometimes they will nap under it, but for the most part both of them ignore it.

Last year I had some of those balls that are wrapped in ribbon on one of them and I found one on the floor with the ribbon unraveling, so I took all of those down and threw them away. Too tempting for Archy.