I never had a cat/tree problem either when I had cats. They used to play with the ornaments on the bottom branches, so unbreakable ones always went there - just in case. I had to quit using tinsel tho, since my old Meezer would slurp it up like spaghetti. Luckily - he passed it tho. YUK!

My son's cats never bother the tree much except for playing with the decorations toward the bottom like my cats did. However, they like to nest in the tree skirt all scrunched and balled up to suit themselves. I could straighten the skirt out a dozen times each day - and they would rearrange it that many times too.

I can't imagine NOT having a tree - even if it was a big attraction to the felines.