Yule Trees and Cats

[badkitty]

My husband is completely opposed to having a yule tree, because he is convinced that it will turn into a nightmare as we have a very curious cat that he is sure will get into trouble. Any suggestions?

[halfwaynowhere]

unfortunately, i have yet to find a solution for this problem. we just stopped putting up breakable ornaments ater having our tree knocked down several times. unless you can keep the cat out of that room... do you have a den or something? Its not as traditional as having the tree in the living room or something, but at least you could keep it up without worrying about it being attacked by cats. then again, it is very cute to get pictures of cats sound asleep in trees... hmm.. that gives me ideas for holiday cards...

[BrigidMoon]

We have in the past used fishing line and hooked the tree to the wall. That has helped.

[Aowyn]

you could always just put up the tree when you have time to observe the cat around it and then try to deter him if he shows interest.

[Shanti]

I dont put up a yule tree.

Instead, after the holidays are over, we take out the old pick-up truck and go out collecting peoples disguarded tress. We bring them home and place them in the yard. With it being so cold, they hold their needles on through the rest of winter and create a haven for the birds and other wildlife. Then in spring when we have our major spring bon fire, we burn all the trees and give the ashes to our gardens! :)

Also we always pick one tree to save for the next years yule log for our yule fire. :)

[halfwaynowhere]

I dont put up a yule tree.

Instead, after the holidays are over, we take out the old pick-up truck and go out collecting peoples disguarded tress. We bring them home and place them in the yard. With it being so cold, they hold their needles on through the rest of winter and create a haven for the birds and other wildlife. Then in spring when we have our major spring bon fire, we burn all the trees and give the ashes to our gardens! :)

Also we always pick one tree to save for the next years yule log for our yule fire. :)
that sounds really awesome! I wish i could do something like that.... around here, most of us use artificial trees, so thats not really an option, but it sounds amazing!

[Yasmine Galenorn]

My husband is completely opposed to having a yule tree, because he is convinced that it will turn into a nightmare as we have a very curious cat that he is sure will get into trouble. Any suggestions?

Our cats are into everything but they leave the tree alone--we have a 7.5 foot artificial (very nice one) tree and the lack of smell seems to keep them from getting interested. They like to sit under it, but that's about all, and these are cats who won't let me have a plant in the house since they try to eat it.

Yasmine :colorful:

[ap Dafydd]

Xmas is _supposed_ to be for the little ones, isn't it <G>

One way of deterring cats relatively painlessly is to get a plant mister, turn it so that it fires a jet of water, and squirt her when she starts squaring up to the tree (watch out for the lights, obviously!)

We just put non-breakable balls on the lower branches so ours can't do too much damage. Once it's been up for a few days they seem to lose interest anyway

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Aleannah]

the only way you'll know is to go ahead and put one up...but do it with the mindset that the cat probably will at least be curious about the tree...we have an artificial one, so they don't try to climb it, but they do play with the ornaments on the bottom, so we put non-breakable ones there, and just keep hanging the one they choose to play with back up...none of my cats have ever tried to eat the tinsel, but just beware of that also...and keep the squirt bottle handy.

Best of luck!!

[SilverMaiden]

Get one of the citrus varieties. Cats don't like citrus and will avoid it. It smells wonderful, but does not hold heavy ornaments well.

Another idea is to purchase cheap car mats and place them upside down around the tree. The little nubs will keep both dogs and cats away from the tree.

:D

[misschief]

i was going to say, use citrus.. but i guess someone else already said it.. lol. cats hate citrus. i have a nosey cat too.. he even steals things and hides them away.. but he doesn't bother the tree at all. just looks at it for a while.. then finds something else to do.

[Morgandria]

I've got a 4' fake shrub :p that sits on an end table in our living room...my cats mostly ignore it, but sometimes they like to chew on the ends of the branches, like it's a big green toothbrush! If mine persist with the chewing, I paint the ends they're abusing with something they don't like, or rub orange peels on them.

Unfortuntely short of hanigng the tree from the ceiling there's nothing I can do to keep them out from under it and knocking it over!

Good luck! Cats and Yule trees are always an adventure.
-M.

[Silverwings]

Get one of the citrus varieties. Cats don't like citrus and will avoid it. It smells wonderful, but does not hold heavy ornaments well.

Another idea is to purchase cheap car mats and place them upside down around the tree. The little nubs will keep both dogs and cats away from the tree.

:D
That's cause most bath products (things associated with the dreaded WATER and even more evil BATH) have citrus in them

[Mab]

Yell at the cat for giving you a heart attack at 3am when he comes flying out of the middle of the tree just past your head.

That's what I did.

[Gwynyvyr]

I used to put my tree in a playpen (mom of 7 here)...kept it away from the kids and the cats and the dogs, etc. (Was handy for keeping the gifts unmolested,too!)

If all else fails, go to any pet shop and you can get stuff to spray on the tree that will deter the cat, and is usually pleasently scented to humans.

[DragonsChest]

Our kitty has never knocked over the tree or anything, but she has played with the ornaments on the lower branches. She LOVES sleeping up under the tree, as close to the trunk as she can get. Must satisfy some inner urge to lurk in a forest.

The thing we have the most problem with is the Lemon Lab and his Tail of Destruction. Woe the ornament that lies within the sweep of said Tail. :yikes:

[rain_fallen_tears]

Well...a few years ago, I had a a crazy cat who would climb up into the tree and watch us from the inside it was so cute! Even though she was a klutz she knocked very little ornaments off, so it wasn't really a problem.:)

She along with my baby Shakepeare LOVES to snooze under the tree! :smileroll

[Iora Rua]

Our older cats all lost interest a long time ago. This year though, we have a young one who has joined the herd (he makes seven). Satan....well...is rotten. Smart as a whip, which just makes it worse. :lol:

Ya'll are going to think we're mean but....We reverted to old methods....bolted the tree to the walls with string...and strung a few mousetraps. yep. One snap of a paw or nose is all it takes. Nothing else worked for us. :D

[Crystal_Raye]

You could try putting rows of double-sided tape on the floor around the tree. Most cats hate walking on sticky stuff.

[Moonlight's Daughter]

my cat doesnt try to climb mine, I think its because I use a bucket to hold the tree instead of a stand. I get a big plastic bucket and put the tree in it then fill it with large heavy stones. it keeps the tree upright. Then I put a christmas fabric around the bucket so you dont see it. The cat also cant climb it that way. seems to work! I hope that helps!