Sharing life with pets is awesome, but sometimes they can be a handful! Especially cats. They're naturally curious, and a Christmas tree is basically catnip on a stick – shiny ornaments, interesting smells, and a great green climbing spot.
It's easy for them to knock it over, or even grab a tempting decoration. But we can totally make this work, here are six ways and tips for cat-proofing your Christmas tree and keeping your cat safe around it this year.
Get Your Cat Used to the Christmas Tree
Before you decorate, put up the bare tree and let your cat check it out for a few days. It's a big change, a new thing in their territory. Getting used to the tree before adding shiny ornaments makes it less exciting and more like just another piece of furniture. That way, once the decorations go up, it won't seem like such a huge, irresistible adventure.
A Strong Base is Key
Here's another tip that's easy to overlook: get a really solid tree stand. Even if you have an artificial tree, the one it comes with might not be up to the task of a playful kitty. You want something heavy and stable, like the kind you'd get for a real tree. If you're worried about it being sturdy enough, add some extra weight to the base – the tree skirt will cover it up completely.
Anchor Your Tree for Extra Security
Let's be honest, sometimes even the sturdiest stand isn't enough! For extra peace of mind, consider anchoring your Christmas tree to the wall or ceiling. It's super sneaky and easy. If you have a large picture on the wall, remove it and use a strong fishing line to attach the tree to the wall hook. After Christmas, just remove the line and put the picture back – no one will ever know!
Another great option is to use a hanging plant hook in the ceiling. Remove the plant, attach the tree to the hook with a fishing line, and when the holidays are over, simply rehang your plant.
Cat-Friendly Christmas Decorations
When decorating, leave the bottom third of the tree bare at first. Gradually add ornaments over several days, starting higher up and working your way down. This gives your cat time to adjust to the new decorations before they're within paw's reach.
Choose ornaments wisely! Avoid anything lightweight or dangly—those are the most tempting. Heavier ornaments are safer. And definitely skip the tinsel – it's a serious hazard if swallowed.
To protect your cat (and your tree!), coat the lights' cords with Bitter Apple spray to discourage chewing. You can also hide the cord near the wall outlet inside some painted PVC tubing.
Finally, use ribbon or decorative cord to hang ornaments instead of hooks. These are safer, and you can coat them with Bitter Apple too for extra protection.
Keep your cat safe from other holiday hazards, too. Avoid real candles, small ornaments, and fake snow because they might have harmful chemicals. And keep anything poisonous – like chocolate, mistletoe, lilies, and poinsettias – well out of reach or even better, out of the house.
Save the Catnip for Christmas Morning
It's fun to wrap catnip toys for Christmas, but having them under the tree for days before Christmas morning could prove too tempting. Store them safely out of sight until the big day.
Think About Getting a Smaller Artificial Tree
The smaller size minimizes the potential for injury if it gets knocked over. But there's another important reason to choose artificial ones, real trees present some real dangers to pets. As we discussed earlier, sharp needles can poke eyes or puncture skin, and the water in the stand can contain fallen needles, which are a serious hazard if ingested. An artificial tree eliminates these risks entirely.
Let's Be Realistic
Even with the best precautions, some cats are just going to explore the Christmas tree. It's in their nature! You know they're going to scratch the sofa eventually, right? The tree is just another irresistible item. So, do your best to create a safe environment, but don't stress too much if your cat decides to do a little “redecorating” of their own. The unpredictable nature of cats is half the charm.
If Your Cat Gets Hurt by the Christmas Tree
If your cat does get hurt by the Christmas tree—especially if they've swallowed something they shouldn't have—contact your vet as soon as possible.
