It’s nearly Christmas, and everybody’s feeling festive. You get into the spirit, put up your Christmas tree, and spend the afternoon adorning it to close perfection. Then, simply as you sit down with a glass of mulled wine to admire your lovely work, your cat enters the room. Any skilled pet proprietor can inform you that the chances of that tree assembly the ground inside minutes are fairly excessive. Cat’s are notoriously mischievous in relation to Christmas bushes.
Kitties have an intense curiosity in direction of something new of their house. An enormous tree with flashing lights and glossy objects is assured to spark their curiosity. Your feline is more likely to see the Christmas tree as what can solely be likened to 1 large cat toy.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that your days of decor are behind you. There are methods you’ll be able to guarantee your kitty and the tree coexist in peace for everything of the festive season.
Which is finest – Actual or Synthetic?
We suggest selecting a pretend tree over an actual one, particularly in case your fur child likes to chew issues. The sharp pine needles on an actual Christmas tree pose an actual hazard to cats if chewed or ingested. In case your cat swallows them, they might pierce or puncture their throat or inside organs. Cat’s are nonetheless able to gnawing at a synthetic tree however the probability of something detaching or getting ingested is way decrease.
9 methods to cat-proof your Christmas tree this yr
Listed below are our tried and true methods to discourage a cat from a Christmas tree. Relying in your cat, some strategies might or might not work, so strive all of them till you discover essentially the most profitable combo on your family.
1.Go for a smaller tree
In case your cat knocks a small tree down, it is going to trigger much less havoc and mess than a bigger one. Furthermore, it’s a safer choice as a small tree gained’t harm your kitty if it falls on them. One thing bigger and even as heavy as an actual tree in the event you determine to get one can doubtlessly injure or lure your kitty if it suggestions over.
2.Place the tree away from furnishings
You need to make it tough on your cat to climb the tree. Due to this fact, place it as distant from furnishings as doable so your cat can’t bounce onto the tree from one thing like a settee, desk, or a bookshelf.
Additionally, take into account putting your tree on the next floor, similar to a desk. This may increasingly assist you probably have a really younger kitten or perhaps a senior with restricted mobility, they will not be capable to bounce excessive sufficient to entry the tree.
3.Anchor down the bottom
Guarantee your tree has a sturdy and secure base. If not, you’ll be able to add weighted objects to anchor it down. This can forestall the tree from toppling over in case your cat climbs it and provides extra stability. You may as well wire it to the wall to assist hold it upright (This is a wonderful choice for cats who’re particularly aggressive in direction of the tree).
4.Keep away from adorning the underside of the tree
Hanging shiny ornaments on the underside of the tree will increase temptation and the probability of your cat participating in harmful behaviors. As your cat is much less more likely to attain the upper components of the tree, it’s finest to position most, if not all decorations on the highest two thirds.
You may as well select to hold matt objects from the tree reasonably than shiny, sparkly decorations that can glisten and catch your kitty’s eye. Ornaments made out of felt or paper could also be much less interesting, although that’s not the case with all felines.
5.Wire the ornaments to the tree
In addition to wiring the tree to the wall, you’ll be able to tie the decorations to the branches utilizing hanging wire. This system will hold them in place, lowering the variety of shattered ornaments in the event that they take the entire thing down. Use metallic wire as a substitute of string or rubber bands as your kitty can simply chew these off and doubtlessly eat them. You’ll want to lower or tuck any sharp ends of the metallic to keep away from harm.
6.Discover an alternative choice to tinsel
Together with rubber bands, ribbons, and string, tinsel might be hazardous to cats. Consuming it might trigger your kitty to choke or block their intestines and, due to this fact, might be life-threatening. Paper garland makes for a safer different. Moreover, you’ll be able to add gentle wooden or felt decorations.
It’s vital to notice that pretend snow can comprise harmful elements too. Furthermore, bear in mind chocolate and plenty of houseplants, together with mistletoe and poinsettias, are additionally poisonous and can lead to poisoning. For that reason, it is best to keep away from these things when adorning a tree for a cat family.
7.Cowl all wires
Be aware in the event you arrange lights in your tree. Place them in direction of the middle, so they’re harder on your kitty to succeed in. Then use a wire protector to cowl the seen wire from the tree to the wall socket. You may as well use tape to cover and canopy the cables.
Moreover, don’t depart the lights plugged in when your cat is alone within the room. Some felines will proceed to attempt to chew the wires regardless of these precautions. In case your kitty gained’t depart them alone, it’s finest to take away them than danger any probability of a shock.
8.Spray the tree with a scent your cat dislikes
There are specific smells that cats hate, similar to orange or bitter apple. You possibly can spray the tree with apple cider vinegar or place orange rinds beneath the tree to maintain your kitty away. A mix of citronella and water can even do the job, or you’ll be able to even purchase a cat deterrent from a pet retailer.
9.Use a twig bottle to discourage your kitty
Suppose these preventative measures show unsuccessful, and your fur child is set to be harmful. In that case, you’ll be able to at all times use the basic spray bottle methodology.
Every time your kitty goes in direction of the tree, spritz them with water. Hold this up, and fingers crossed, your feline will get the message to remain clear.
Hold calm, it’s Christmas!
Cat-proofing your Christmas tree is just not essentially the most easy job. However, if it means you’ll be able to benefit from the festive season with out the tree pulled down, chewed, and destroyed, making an effort is completely value it!
Nevertheless, in case your cat does climb the tree, strive to not fret. Keep in mind, our feline buddies are simply following their curiosity and never desiring to trigger hurt. It’s all a part of the loopy expertise of dwelling with cats!
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