Cats ruining Christmas tree

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2004
Cats ruining Christmas tree
8
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 12:33pm
Hi, I have 2 cats, one is a two yr old male and the other is a one year old female, both spayed/neutered, de-clawed(well they still have back claws) indoor cats. My problem is that I put my artifical Christmas tree up on the weekend and every time I go to work my cats almost destroy it. Well I am pretty sure it is mostly the younger one. She climbs around inside the tree, bends all the branches, knocks the ornaments off (and some of them have broken) and pulls all the lights off. They broke a string of beads I had on the tree too by chewing them. I am getting so upset - my tree looked so nice and I was looking forward to having people over when the house is all decorated but at this rate the tree will be destroyed before Christmas. Please someone help! I will be so grateful for any suggestions anyone has to save my tree!!!! Thanks in advance.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 1:11pm

Hi Kinky498.


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Registered: 12-01-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 2:32pm
look at Les's post on look what these cats did and you will see you are not alone!!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Wed, 12-15-2004 - 10:02pm
I'm sorry, too, that your tree is getting ruined! We decided not to do a tree this year with our two 9 month old kitties and a year old hyper dog...I am very sad not to have one, but I decided it would be better for my sanity in the long run. :) I agree that you should try to put them in a different room while you are away to at least deter SOME of the tree-hopping! Good luck!!!
-sadie :)
Avatar for missourigrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 12-16-2004 - 6:37pm

I know how annoying it can be. I did not put one up last year (which was the first xmas I had Asher) because I knew what he would do to it. So this year I decided to put it up. First I put up just the tree, no decorations, to see how he reacted. He just hid under it and played with some of the branches. Then I put on some lights. He didn't bother those at all. Then I put on some ornaments. He pulled them all off. I decided to forget about the ornaments and just put on some ribbon (like garland). Well he pulled all that off so all I'm left with is a tree with some lights. Luckily he doesn't climb the tree, but I'm sure he'll figure that out soon enough. Just know you are not alone!!!

Kristen

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 7:37am
How about covering the tree with a big sheet when you are out of the house? You can get good deals on King sized sheets at discount stores. You could even make a special "tree-cover" that fits your tree exactly if you like to sew. Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2004
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 3:29pm
I remember how annoying it was when my babies were kittens. The tree was just to irresistable. The ones we had were real so the attraction was overwhelming. but i never put breakable ornaments on the bottom and I used to put the little jingle bells on the bottom of the entire tree. (just hook them on) I am not sure exactly why it acted as a deterant but they never really bothered the tree and if I was home and they were near the tree I could hear them and try to correct their behavior. Also we actually anchored the tree (one year we put an eye hook in the wall and other years we would actually nail it through the stand (I know not good for the floor, but good for the tree)
Good Luck
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2003
Sat, 12-18-2004 - 2:00pm
YOU CAN DO LIKE I DID WHEN MY CATS WERE YOUNG GET A LITTLE TREE THAT SITS ON A TABLE AND HIDE IT WHEN YOU ARE NOT HOME OR SLEEPING. I DID THIS FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF YOUNG CATS IT WORKED AND I STILL HAD NICE TREE. JOANN
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 12-20-2004 - 2:02am
Our Simba(then eight months) was very hard on our tree last year as well. I went to a pet store in our city and they suggested a bitter spray to spray on the tree. It worked!!! I found I need to reapply it every few days, and it is awlful tasting stuff if you (or would imagine the cat) gets it in its mouth. But we found it was a deterant, thankfully, I would suggest giving a try, was a saving grace for us last year as well as this year. Kathy