A snapshot of your cat for the family Christmas card can turn charming. Not so sweet, though, when they decide to have a “no holds barred” wrestling bout with your Christmas tree. You put forth a lot of time and effort to provide them with plenty of glittery, sparkly toys. Pine needles give them a tasty source of nutritious greens they may gnaw on.
You could put some water for everyone to drink beneath that festive tree skirt! However, you then dismiss them outright. And you’re making no effort to hide their new hangout from them. At least, that’s how your cat pal sees it.
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Your cat may be at risk from your Christmas tree, ornaments, handmade cranberry garland, and other festive decorations. Never fear! Even if you have a cat, these tricks on how to stop cat from climbing the Christmas tree can help you prevent it and have a festively decorated house for the holidays.
Tree Protection
Make a good first impression by ensuring that your cat’s tree is safe and secure, with nothing it may shake loose or knock over. Invest in a tree stand with a sturdy foundation, just like this one. As a bonus, your cat will be safe from the potential dangers of water exposure thanks to the stand’s rock-solid construction. Though to appreciate this, owning a cat is not required. Wild canines may easily knock down a tree with boundless energy and enthusiasm.
From the bottom:
Place the tree stand in the middle of a square piece of plywood about the same width as your tree, and mark where the legs of the stand sit. Follow the markings to drill holes and fasten the stand to the plywood.
From the top:
Install a wall anchor at the same height as the upper third of the tree once you’ve set it up. Make a knot at the end of the fishing line and secure it to the anchor underneath the tree’s trunk.
Tying down your tree’s trunk and crown is also a good idea. A thick nylon line or rope fastened to the floor, the wall, or the ceiling may provide an additional support layer.
Make the tree seem disgusting
The correct answer for how to stop cat climbing Christmas tree may be by adopting the strategy when of making the base of your tree less appealing to your feline friend. A few examples are as follows.
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Flavorings and Sprays:
Commercial products (like Keep Off!) have been met with mixed reviews; however, some pet owners have reported success. Combine water and oil from an orange, lemongrass, or citronella tree to make your spray. Some felines are so repulsed by these odors that they naturally avoid the area.
A similar look could be achieved by scattering orange peels around the tree’s trunk; just remember to replenish them every few days. You’ll get more Vitamin C, which is great for fighting the flu, and that’s always a plus.
Touchable Barriers:
Some cats get the willies if they step on aluminum foil that has been put beneath or wrapped around the base of a tree.
There are commercial training mats on the market, but we don’t advise using them since your cat will get a static shock while walking on them. It may work, but only if you’re willing to risk your cat’s emotional well-being every time he satisfies his natural curiosity.
Defend Your Tree from Being Climbed
Wrapping the tree’s base with aluminum foil is a nice touch. For many cats, the crinkling sound and feel are too much to bear. A lightweight tree skirt may drape over the foil to complete the festive look.
Also, use your imagination and decorate the stones with garden ornaments. When cats walk, they don’t want to feel wobbly. The Christmas Tree Defender is another option for how to stop cat climbing Christmas trees; it is quite effective at deterring cats from climbing Christmas trees.
Cats can have a horizontal and vertical leap of almost five feet. Trees should be placed away from potential projectile sources such as bookcases, high-back chairs, and fireplace mantles.
Give Your Cat a Christmas Tree Alternative
Cats must climb to high places to sit comfortably and look out over their territory. In this light, telling a cat to refrain from climbing the Christmas tree is like asking it to go against its nature. If you have suitable climbers and perches on hand, you may head this off at the pass. If your cat has chosen her kitty condo over the banned Christmas tree, be sure to lavish her with praise and give her treats, it will quickly learn that doing so is rewarded.
Do Not Punish!!
An ancient adage goes like this: “Honey works better than vinegar.” More cats can be trained successfully using positive reinforcement than negative. Even if you’ve tried everything but are still not sure how to stop cat climbing Christmas tree and finds him up there, don’t panic and try to pull him down.
Tell him emphatically, “No,” and get him down from the tree. Place him in an area where you and your partner would both want to find him, such as a cat tree or scratching post. Give him a treat for remaining there and playing with his toys.
Also, be calm and let your cat interact with the newly-erected Christmas tree; if she approaches the lower branches to smell them, that’s OK; just wait to see what she does.
The same procedure should be used to relocate her if she approaches or begins swinging at the decorations.
Do not punish her if she sniffs and avoids eye contact.
What’s the deal here? It’s only natural to think like a cat: “Every time I leave that tree, I am praised for what a good girl I am and receive a reward!”
Honey, not vinegar, remember that. 🙂
What about some holiday kitty training?
A good holiday activity is teaching your cat to use a cat tree or other perch instead of a Christmas tree.
Rewards have a positive effect on most feline subjects. You may use anything your cat enjoys as a reward, such as his or her favorite meal, a special treat, a lot of attention, being brushed, playing with a favorite toy, etc. Take advantage of this fact by offering treats whenever your cat exhibits the desired behavior.
A reward of some kind, such as food or playtime, is given when they sit quietly by the tree. Children are escorted out of the room or summoned for safety if they start swinging at the decorations.
In little time, they will learn that just one of those actions will result in positive reinforcement.
If none of these suggestions has helped and you feel like giving up, you need to think outside the box, just as these folks did.
Extra Vital Safety Advice
These additional tricks might also, to some extent, answer your query on how to keep cats from climbing Christmas trees.
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- STOP USING TINSEL IMMEDIATELY! Cats can’t resist the tempting flavor of these little foil strips. They are very dangerous to your cat’s digestive system if swallowed. Please DON’T PULL anything string-like out of your cat’s throat or anus; instead, give us a call immediately.
- Hang decorations with emotional value and care out from the reach of young children.
- You should avoid edible decorations.
- If you have a living tree, protect the water by placing cardboard over the pot.
- Cover the cables that power the lights and other decorations. You can either buy pre-cut tubing for the cables at the hardware store or use duct tape to keep the (temptingly dangling) cords from the tree in place until you get them down to the base. Unplug ornaments while leaving dogs alone.
