Cats + Tree = ???

[momoffuzzyfaces]

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

I really don't miss having one. It's just me and the cats now and I find Christmas still comes without one. Besides, it was sooooo depressing taking it down every year.

[pomtzu]

I really don't miss having one. It's just me and the cats now and I find Christmas still comes without one. Besides, it was sooooo depressing taking it down every year.

How about a small table top lighted ceramic tree? That might work. No decorating required and the cats can't climb it.

Years ago my departed MIL took some pottery classes, and for Christmas that year, all the kids and their spouses got a beautiful ceramic tree. I still have it (but not the spouse!!) and put it up in the "village" I set up on the sofa table. It has become tradition, and if I say I'm not going to bother setting it up, I get all kinds of grief from my son and grandkids. Soooooooo - it always goes up!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I don't know what to suggest. I haven't put a tree up since I've had cats. I did try to put a small one up which was fake but my RB Storm decided that the tree tasted good so he'd munch on the branches. I also tried putting up other decorations but unless I put them up very high, one of the cats would get to it and play with it. I do have a small white tree that lights up which I keep up high in my bedroom. So far so good with this one.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

How about a small table top lighted ceramic tree? That might work. No decorating required and the cats can't climb it.

Years ago my departed MIL took some pottery classes, and for Christmas that year, all the kids and their spouses got a beautiful ceramic tree. I still have it (but not the spouse!!) and put it up in the "village" I set up on the sofa table. It has become tradition, and if I say I'm not going to bother setting it up, I get all kinds of grief from my son and grandkids. Soooooooo - it always goes up!

I do have a ceramic one. Not good around my monsters. They break everything. I also have a small white fiber optic one. You put battries in the base and the branches change color. It is beautiful. For some reason, the last time I put it up, I took one look at it and burst into tears. I'd rather not have one.

[snakemama]

I am determined to have a tree up this year. They don't play in it, but Sherpa eats the artificial needles and pukes everywhere. So....this year I have the tree up on an end table, and I sprayed perfume around the base of it. Now I have a headache because I overdid it with the perfume, LoL!

[Karen]

Ah, the things we do for our pets!

[Taz_Zoee]

Since getting Paizly we've only put the tree up a few times (we've had her for four years) and once we never even decorated it! I believe it was 2010 that we didn't do a tree because Jax was a kitten.
We put our tree up this weekend and all the cats did was eat it. When I catch them I squirt them (which I was always opposed to doing, but it works and I don't do it hardly ever) or stomp on the ground (which usually doesn't phase them). At least Paizly isn't climbing in it like she did when she was a kitten.

I told my boyfriend my goal this year was to have ZERO broken ornaments. I know he is going to be the one to break one! Not the cats! LOL

If the cats are causing a huge problem, the only thing I could suggest is to not put it up. I know that's sad, but it would make things less stressful for everyone. Maybe like others suggested, get a small one and put it up on something where the cats do not have a way of getting to it.

[Chatanuga]

Back in 2008, I put my tree up and got the lights on it, letting Chessie and Casey into my home office where the tree is in front of the window to see how they would react. Chessie went up to it and just looked at it in awe. I think he liked the lights. Casey went right up under the tree, rubbed up against it, and got it swaying. After that, I kept the cats out of my office while the tree's up since I have a lot of breakable ornaments as well as porcelain Nativity figures. While they didn't try to come in, Chessie was always stretching his neck to have his look at all of those lights. I think of him every year when I put the tree up and the cute look of awe on his face.

So, in 2010 for Smokey's first Christmas, I had the tree up but didn't try letting him and Casey into the office. One evening, I was going out, and Smokey darted in, getting a running start as he tries to do. He got into the office and went straight for the fully decorated tree. Fortunately, I grabbed his back half as he tried to climb right up into it. Thankfully, nothing was harmed.





I call it my Clark W. Griswold Christmas Tree.

[Jessika]

Your tree is BEAUTIFUL!! And oddly enough, we have the same tree skirt!

[moosmom]

Christmas Treet + Cats = BIG TROUBLE!!!!!

[aTailOf2Kitties]

last year I had 2 small artificial trees on some end tables. They got knocked over every few days. I had no idea which cat was doing it. This year we have a very small, real tree sitting on the table (just some lights on it so far) and Toby doesn't pay any attention to it at all. I guess Havoc was the culprit, so I warned my parents that he may get into mischief if they put up a tree this year. My mom already laughs when she tells me he wants to play with the ribbons on all of the presents she's wrapped.

[maerlyn]

I really don't miss having one. It's just me and the cats now and I find Christmas still comes without one. Besides, it was sooooo depressing taking it down every year.

I'm with you. The cats don't seem to enjoy it - although when they were kittens, that was different. Just means a lot of trips up/down cellar steps for my arthritic knees - too much work for no reward. Besides, winter is my favorite season, and the holidays just cut into too much; by the time the holidays are over, so is much of winter.