Happy FRI-YAY! Christmas is officially THREE DAYS AWAY. THREE. DAYS. THREE. Let that soak in. I can’t believe another year is almost over. I have been celebrating the holidays for a month now already – I started right after Thanksgiving. This is both of my sweet kittens FIRST Christmas with a tree and to say the last few weeks have been exciting is an understatement. The cats are 100% certain I brought this tree home specifically for them to climb and the fact that I put jangly, sparkly, dangling ornaments on the branches was an added bonus. I love both my cats dearly, but I love my tree, too. I would prefer if it was still standing by the time Christmas actually rolled around. It took a few trial and error experiments to figure out how to get them to stop parkouring onto my tree. Let’s dive into it this guide on how to keep your cats away from your Christmas tree.
How To Keep Your Cats Away From Your Christmas Tree
First things first, you want to give yourself a fighting chance when it comes to protecting your tree. Always go with an artificial tree if you have pets (dogs AND cats) because the water from the base of a real tree can be toxic to them. Also, if possible, choose non-breakable ornaments so if they do get knocked off your tree, they don’t shatter and potentially hurt your little fur babies. Do not use any type of tinsel: this decoration can wrap around your kitties intestines and can seriously injure or kill them.
Way #1: Deterrent Spray – 5/10
This was the first method I tried. It smelled like oranges, which supposedly is a deterrent for cats. Apparently, they don’t love the citrus-y fruit. I started off by spraying the lower branches of the tree where the cats were most attracted to, and did that periodically throughout the day. It isn’t possible for me to close a door to hide the tree, and the cats just open the doors anyways, because our tree is in the living room. They didn’t love the way it smelled or tasted, and it was kind of helpful during the day but the spray didn’t do much while we were sleeping at night and I still woke up to ornaments all over my floor. So, it was mildly successful but not quite.
Way #2: Orange peels in the lower branches – 6/10
According to cat forums online, orange peels are another deterrent for cats. They don’t rot because they’re just the peels. I attempting to do this, and the cats didn’t love it when they got near the lower branches so it did help a little bit. HOWEVER, this helped them discover that they could launch themselves off the window sill and into the center of the tree where the orange peels were not. So while my lower branches were generally left alone, the middle of my tree was assaulted.
Way #3: Loud sounds when they ran to the tree – 5/10
I also heard a loud startling noise when they went near the tree would help deter them from going by the tree at all. I tried this with an app on my phone. It was supposed to be something akin to a dog whistle but for cats. They definitely hated the noise, but it was only effective if I caught them in the act. SO – while we were sleeping (which is the worst part), they had a field day on my tree. So, if you want to sit and watch your cats 24/7, this is a great method. If not, it’s not that useful.
Way #4: Bitter Anti-Chew Spray – 7/10
This was pretty successful in keeping the cats away from the tree cords. One of the issues we were having was the cats were nibbling on the tree cords, and I was worried about them getting shocked and hurt. I discovered anti-chew spray and now I use it on a bunch of our cords to keep the cats from biting and chewing at them. It worked GREAT for keeping them away from the cords but not quite as well when it came to keeping them from jumping into the branches.
Way #5: Febreeze – 9/10
Ok. This ended up being the method that saved my tree. I bought a pine scented Febreeze spray so that my tree didn’t smell funny (and matched my pine scented candles) but I mostly tried this because my cats HATE the sound of Febreeze. I don’t think they care so much about the smell – but it’s to the point now all I have to do is shake the Febreeze bottle and they go running. I never sprayed it at the cats direction, just into the air so it made the spray sound. A few days of this, and they no longer bother the tree! Right now, they’re both fast asleep underneath the twinkly lights and I haven’t had a broken ornament for a week and a half now. I sleep soundly knowing that my tree isn’t going to be destroyed while I sleep.
REMEMBER: It’s mainly cats under the age of 4 that are most enticed by the Christmas tree. Kittens and young cats are more active and energetic than older cats, so it may help you to know that they WILL eventually grow out of their tree attacking behavior. While I want them to be little kittens forever, I will be glad when I’m not constantly diving to save my Christmas tree.
It’s also important to note that doing things like aluminum foil, spraying them in the face with water or yelling or hitting your animals are NOT effective punishments and cats DO NOT respond to that kind of treatment. Not only is it mean, it can alter personality and make your cats frightened or timid of you. That’s the opposite of we want to accomplish!
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
I hope this guide for how to keep your cats away from your Christmas tree it helpful in finding the best ways to keep your cats away from your Christmas tree. If you have any tips that I missed – put them in the comments below! I can add them to the list so it may help other kitty cat owners!
Let me know if this was helpful to you in the comments below and ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS WEEKEND!
We no longer have pets, but I had a whole house full of them for many years. So I feel your pain! I had to laugh when I read about them launching themselves at the tree from the window sill. Yes, that sounds like a cat thing to do. Glad the Febreeze worked. I guess it really is just a matter of finding the right deterrent for your cats…
I know – while I was mad that they jumped into the tree, it was funny to watch them do it! It just depends on what works for your kitties for sure!!!
My cat is about 4 and this year he’s been pretty good with the tree— we’ve only lost two ornaments. His big thing is messing with the presents, especially bagged gifts. He’s super nosy and likes to dig through them and tear up the tissue paper.
The only thing I have found that works as a deterrent for him with anything is wide double-sided tape. I put it on the couches to keep him from scratching so that might work if you put it on your tree skirt or ground around the tree (sans presents). Merry Christmas!! ????
Great idea! Thanks Amanda!!
Totally sharing this with my dad. He has a crazy kitten!
They’re the BEST.
OMG your cats are just the cutest! I don’t have cats, but I used to have a roommate that had one and we couldn’t have a tree. I will have to pass this along to her!
Thanks Kelsie!!! Please do share 🙂
Omg these are all such great ideas. Our cats don’t really care about the tree, but it’s our little chihuahua’s first Christmas and these tips are going to be perfect for keeping her away too! xx
I hope they help, Holly!
I don’t have any cats but I know a few people that do have cats and I will have to show them this awesome post! They are great tips and your cats are so adorable❤️
I never had any cats but I know a few people that do have cats and I will have to show them this awesome post! They are great tips and your cats are so adorable❤️
I don’t have cats myself but I have a pup and these are great tips!
We have two dogs, so we don’t put any ornaments on the lower half haha. One of my dogs used to like to scratch his butt with the branches, since we get a real tree!
It’s funny, the past couple of years I’ve been so occupied making my tree toddler safe, but pets can be even worse! My dog used to love the tree! I’ll have to remember these tips when we get a new pet in the future!
Rachael
I’m so lucky that my cat has zero interest in our tree aside from sleeping beneath it. She’s been like that since kitten times and it’s so rare, so it’s nice that we don’t have to use any of these methods. But I know my fiancé’s cat is going to be a brat about things like this, so next year once we’re married, I’ll have to take this all into account. Thanks for sharing your tips!
ah i have a cat and definitely needed this post!
kileen
cute & little
It must be so hard with pets! These are such great tips!
Haha such a fun post- glad all those tricks worked for you!
xo Kimmie
Hello 🙂 I was wondering if this was the pimp spray fabreze or the aerosol can… I can’t seem to find a pine in the pump ????
*pump
The one I used was in the aerosol can!!!! But here is a link to a different brand in a pump spray: https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/mrs-meyers-room-freshener?offer=g-pla-st&utm_content=meyers&v=5248&utm_source=google&utm_medium=nonbrand_pla&utm_campaign=acq-Meyers-Holiday-Seasonal-US&utm_term=5248&gclid=CjwKCAiAws7uBRAkEiwAMlbZjjZIis-5Y_IbjJvHq7kwOaLIVmO44P085bXUJS3m70z9cV11z2SqshoCZ0EQAvD_BwE
Just curious as to what comment about aluminum foil being mean meant? I had read they don’t like the sound of it, as you stated they don’t like sound of febreeze bottle, I was considering putting aluminum foil under tree skirt so when she stepped on it she would turn around? I would never in any way mistreat the ADHD princess of this house. Lol. Our adopted 2 month old baby tortures the African grey…..in all fairness….since the bird says here kitty kitty kitty then tells her go away in another voice….lol I never say anything to Peanut (son named her) when she goes to Sam’s (bird) cage and watches her move about the cage. I’m sure Sam isn’t quite as excited to unlock her cage doors and stroll around the house now. Hahaha. Love my babies.