To cat-proof a Christmas tree, anchor it, cover the water, skip the tinsel, and give her the Gardner Pet 41-inch cat tree to climb instead. Then tie up the cords and keep candles attended.
To cat-proof a Christmas tree, anchor it, cover the water, skip the tinsel, and give her the Gardner Pet 41-inch cat tree to climb instead.
Then tie up the cords and keep candles attended.
In this guide10 sections
Cat-proof the tree in 7 steps
Anchor the tree so it can't tip, and cover the water.
Skip tinsel and long ribbon. Hang soft ornaments low, breakables high.
Tie up cords. Never leave a candle alone.
Move the furniture she jumps from, then give her a better climb.
A Christmas tree is a climbing tower, a toy shop and a water bowl in one. You will not out-argue a cat about that. You can make the tree safe, and you can give her something tall of her own to climb instead. Seven steps, then the picks.
A Christmas tree is a climbing tower, a toy shop and a water bowl in one.
The ASPCA says to make sure the tree is tightly secured so there is no chance it can tip over and hurt a pet. For a climber, Cornell's Feline Health Center suggests anchoring it to the ceiling with a cup hook and some wire or string, and warns that unanchored, the results can be devastating.
Anchor first, decorate second.
2. Cover the tree water
The ASPCA says tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria that could cause nausea, diarrhea or stomach upset, so keep it covered or out of reach. Cornell adds: keep your cat away from the water, and use plain water with no chemicals added. Cover the stand so she can't reach the bowl.
3. Skip the tinsel and the long ribbon
Tinsel is the one to leave in the box. The ASPCA says swallowed tinsel can cause severe vomiting, a blocked digestive tract and dehydration, and could even require surgery. Cornell's Dr. Perry calls it very life-threatening for cats.
Ribbon is the same story. Cornell says to avoid long ribbon ties, especially under the tree. Wrap gifts with short tabs or paper tape, and let the paper be the whole show.
4. Soft ornaments low, breakables high
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The ASPCA says shards of breakable ornaments can hurt the mouth and digestive tract, so keep glass and plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. Cornell's tip: hang cloth, straw or wood ornaments at a cat's eye level, put the cat-friendly ones at the bottom, and tie them on with cloth loops rather than hooks.
That gives her bottom branches something to bat at that won't shatter. The glass ones go near the top, where you can reach and she can't.
5. Tie up the cords
The ASPCA warns that a wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock. Cornell says chewing on bulbs, wires and electrical cords, especially plugged in, is dangerous. Its fix: tie the cords up and run them through a heavy plastic cord protector from the hardware store. Some attach to the wall or baseboard.
While you are at it, the ASPCA says never leave a candle unattended. A tail or a paw can knock it over.
6. Move the launch pad, and mind the needles
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PetMD's vet-reviewed guide points out that moving as much furniture as you can away from the tree takes away her launching point. No sofa arm, no jump.
Needles are the other snack. Cornell says a cat may dine on them, and that even an artificial tree may not stop a persistent cat from treating the branches as a midnight buffet. It suggests a light coating of something distasteful on the lower branches, and notes that not all cats dislike the same things. Check with your vet before you put anything on a tree your cat will lick.
7. Give her a better climb (our top pick: the Gardner Pet 41-inch cat tree)
PetMD's advice is to lead your cat away from the tree by offering something more desirable. Cornell notes a holiday tree gives a climbing cat the excitement of the outdoors inside. So give her a tall place of her own, in the same room.
Where it goes matters. The ASPCA says to place posts where she is inclined to climb, and to look for one that is sturdy and won't shift or collapse. Scent it with catnip to get her started.
Three picks, from a full tree to a wall shelf to a plain scratcher.
A tall tree of her own: Gardner Pet 41-inch cat tree
The listing gives it 41 inches of height on a 23 x 17 inch base, two condos and plush top perches, and a hold for cats up to 30 lb. That is a second floor for one big cat or two cats, so nobody has to claim the real tree. Good for: large cats and multi-cat homes. The catch: it needs assembly and floor space.
A five-piece set: a condo, a bridge, two perches and a climbing platform with a sisal post. It mounts on the wall, so the floor stays clear in a small living room. The catch: you drill into the wall, so renters should ask the landlord first. Mount it before the tree goes up, so she has the new route ready.
Just a scratcher: ANWA 32-inch scratching post
A 32 inch sisal post with a reinforced heavy base, so it stays put mid-scratch and she can stretch all the way up. It is a post, not a tower: there is no perch on top. The catch: a cat who wants to nap up high wants the Gardner tree instead.
You will not stop every climb, so make the tree safe and give her a better one. Anchor the tree, move furniture away so she has no launching point, and put a tall cat tree in the same room, as PetMD suggests.
Is Christmas tree water bad for cats?
It can be. The ASPCA says tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria that could cause nausea, diarrhea or stomach upset. Cover it, and use plain water with no additives, as Cornell advises.
Is tinsel dangerous for cats?
Yes. The ASPCA says swallowed tinsel can block the digestive tract and could even require surgery. Cornell's Dr. Perry calls it very life-threatening for cats. Skip it.
Is an artificial tree safer for cats?
It avoids the tree water, but Cornell says an artificial tree may not discourage a persistent cat from treating the branches as a snack. Anchoring, cords and ornaments matter either way.
What do I give my cat to climb instead of the Christmas tree?
A tall, sturdy tree or post in the same room. The ASPCA says all cats want a sturdy post that won't shift, and most like one tall enough to stretch on. Our pick is the Gardner Pet 41-inch cat tree.
