Cats and Christmas Trees

[Uabassoon]

Thankfully we haven't had any problems with kitties climbing the tree. However we do have lots of problems with Tuna and Corkscrew thinking the ornaments are toys!

[RedHedd]

I use the no tree solution - they haven't climbed one in years because I haven't had one! In my teeny-tiny apartment, I don't miss it; I just decorate more and even decorate the cats which they really appreciated (NOT!)

Before I came up with that "solution" Goldie toppled the trees every year. The year she broke 21 ornaments (old, family collection ornaments) in one day was the last year I had a tree. It's so much less stressful on me and the kitties.

[Uabassoon]

Does anyone else have problems with the presents? We learned last year that leaving presents under the tree was a big no! They eat at the wrapping paper, scratch at the boxes, destroy any attempt I've made to make them look pretty. And once someone even peed on them! Presents have to stay hidden in the closet and on the night of our Christmas party we bring them out so our friends aren't wondering why we don't have any presents. Then they go back in the closet until it's time to open them.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Does anyone else have problems with the presents?

Yes- but mainly because I unwisely taught the dogs to "unwrap" their gifts (they would have done it anyway). So, they will tear paper off for fun. I had a really hard time wrapping a big stuffed animal I bought for my nephew- Marta and Vallis thought it was for them. So I put up my gifts until it's time to open them, too.

Pippin decided to climb the tree yesterday. It's a pretty small artificial, but it didn't tip. There are lots of ornaments strewn around the house though from little cats being naughty. Luckily, I bought the kind that won't shatter.

Sometimes the dogs get lucky and one of the cats will knock off candy canes. I've caught Mr. Vallis with a couple of them in his mouth before. It's kind of cute- he even figured how to unwrap the plastic.

[prechrswife]

Chloe is our only kitty who has ever really been a tree climber. She has outgrown that phase, though, and thankfully, hasn't climbed in a few years now. The cats mostly like to sleep on the tree skirt, although they do like to steal bows and play in tissue paper in gift bags. We don't secure the tree to the wall--our tree is artificial and fairly sturdy, but we do hang all of the bell ornaments on the lowest branches so we know when a kitty is getting too nosy.

[chocolatepuppy]

The first Christmas I had Sassy she climbed the tree. Only once, I guess because she didn't know how to get back down and I had to save her. She did however pull the lights out of their sockets, sometimes even when the tree was turned on! Missy never bothered the trees, just loved to lay under them.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

My cats don't get in the tree, but I still tie it back, just in case. One of my cats, Jimmy (the big orange guy in my signature), got in it when I first put it up but after getting squirted with a water bottle he no longer goes near the tree. Two of my others, Raisin and Kitten, LOVE to sleep under the tree. Then there is Oliver and Sundae who are rarely found near it.

I haven't had any problems with the cats and the Christmas presents, but we have had the dogs unwrap a few before. I now keep them somewhere the dogs can't reach them.