Cats and Christmas Trees

Does your kitty have an annual tradition of trying to climb your Christmas tree? If so, you’re in good company. Every year hundreds, if not thousands, of frisky felines amuse themselves by wreaking havoc on beautifully-decorated trees. We’re here to help! Read on as a local Pickerington, OH vet offers some tips on keeping Fluffy out of your tree.

Placement

Picking the right spot for your tree is very important. Avoid putting the tree too close to a desk, sofa, or chair. These things make great kitty launch pads, and may make it a little too easy for your frisky pet to jump into the tree. A corner is a good spot.

Decorating Tactics

Avoid putting shiny objects on the bottom branches. Keep fancy and delicate ornaments on the top third of the tree. The only things you want within paws’ reach are dull, unbreakable items. If you have a super frisky pet, opt for a fake tree instead of a real one: it will be harder to climb.

Safety

Always keep your pet’s safety in mind. Ribbons, lights, tinsel, ornament hooks, and pine needles all pose serious choking and/or entanglement risks to cats! Keep potentially-dangerous items where Fluffy can’t reach them.

Distraction Techniques

While Fluffy may see the tree as a giant cat playground, she’ll still take interest in other toys. Offer your kitty some of her gifts early, and get her some fun new playthings. We also recommend playing with your cat every day. If your furball tires herself out playing Catch The Red Dot before dinner, she’ll be more interested in napping than making mischief afterwards.

Training

We know, cats usually train their people, instead of it being the other way around. While you may never be able to get your kitty to do anything on command, you can make her reconsider the pros and cons of getting too near the tree. When your pet approaches the tree, make a loud noise: sound an alarm on your phone, rattle a jar of change; or bang two pots together. This won’t hurt Fluffy, but it will startle her, which may just be enough to make her wary of the tree. Cats absolutely hate being startled! Happy Holidays! Please feel free to contact us, your Pickerington, OH pet hospital, with any questions or concerns about your cat’s health or care. We are here to help!