Help, really want a xmas tree but have a VERY active cat!

spinningsheep

Hi, last year, I had a piddly little fibre optic tree that really was pants and it didnt look remotely festive in my lounge. This year I really want a proper tree, decorated with tinsel, baubles, lights, the works. But, my cat is a very active lil boy, he loves to climb, bat things, chew things, just generally cause havoc really, has anyone else had this and if so, how did you enjoy a festive cat proof xmas??!!

ormus

i threw my cat in the canal.
never had a problem after that.

robpw2

i ended up with two cats in the tree last year they were auditioning to be the partridge

frugallass

*sniggers at ormus*


get a really long piece of tinsel and make a shape of it on the wall and you can dangle baubles off it too !

either that or get the tree as normal and squirt the cat with water everytime it tries to climb the tree !

27col

Our cat went so far up the tree we thought that she was auditioning to be the fairy at the top. She's too old now, so she just lurks around the bottom.

timmmers

I have 3 (one of whom is busy somewhere he shouldn't be as I type :rolleyes:) ..they like to ride the tree and make a mess.

The easy way I found was to tie some string to the top braches and secure it to something high ..in my case a little hook in the window frame above.
Surrounding the base with pressies so they can't get to the trunk if it's a big tree sometimes works too.

Hard to beat a determined cat really though.

t

rosalie-lavender

I saw a similar discussion to this somewhere else and what one family said they did was hang the tree from a hook in the ceiling which put it out of reach of the cat. They put theirs behind the sofa so that the bottom of the tree was hidden so it didn't look too odd.

Darkstar

There is nothing that a cat likes more than a challenge, the more you try to keep the cat away the more it will be determined to climb it. Just get a tree and make sure it is firmly held. Then sit back, preferable with your camera ready, and enjoy the fun.

I had a 6 foot rubber plant that I decided to wrap with light one Christmas and Poppy took a running jump and landed three quarters of the way up and slid down removing all the leaves. Taught me not to get too festive. I finally cut the top of the rubber tree and got it to re-root and grew it again to 8 foot.

pandas66

We have half a tree on the wall!

not because of a cat, beacause a lack of space but we have plenty of wall space.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://dyn-images.hsni.com/is/image/HomeShoppingNetwork/4622512w%3F%24pd300%24&imgrefurl=http://home-decor.hsn.com/improvements-pre-lit-wall-christmas-tree_p-4622512_xp.aspx&usg=__qOIkD5wn3R62T9YqyUnpq2hHAqA=&h=300&w=300&sz=28&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=ReQSAQQmxueUJM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwall%2Bchristmas%2Btree%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

dampdaveski

ormus wrote: »

i threw my cat in the canal.
never had a problem after that.

:T muwahaha, was thinking along those lines myself,
however quiter seriously I suggest going to either the local Zoo and asking a keeper for some lion excrement, placing some glittery sprinkles on said 'matter' whilst it is still moist, then you can place these 'glittery lion balls' on your tree and hey presto your cat will be too traumatised by the musky odour to go near it, as it will now truly be territory well marked.
alternatively carefully break the glass outer covering off some of the tree lights (you should use low voltage lights for this option) when your feline climbs your festive woodland feature it will be subjected to a mild to moderate electric shock, this admittedly could be classed as tough love however I find it a bit more humane than the option that ormus suggested.
The pain recieved from this shock should remain in your feline friends memory for a long time, thus enabling your festive decorations to prosper over the christmas period
Do I win £10?
DD

dampdaveski

pandas66 wrote: »

We have half a tree on the wall!

not because of a cat, beacause a lack of space but we have plenty of wall space.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://dyn-images.hsni.com/is/image/HomeShoppingNetwork/4622512w%3F%24pd300%24&imgrefurl=http://home-decor.hsn.com/improvements-pre-lit-wall-christmas-tree_p-4622512_xp.aspx&usg=__qOIkD5wn3R62T9YqyUnpq2hHAqA=&h=300&w=300&sz=28&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=ReQSAQQmxueUJM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwall%2Bchristmas%2Btree%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

panda, checked out your pic and whilst I applaud your festive efforts I can't help but think you shouldn't have bothered. merry Christmas:xmassign: :xmassmile