5 Tricks to Cat-proof Your Christmas Tree

The vacations are a magical time of yr. From gatherings with family and friends to seasonal decorations, there’s loads to like in regards to the holidays. Your cat may even benefit from the festivities as a lot as you do!

But for sure cats, the vacations generally is a hectic break from routine, crammed with guests and unfamiliar additions to the house surroundings. Take the Christmas tree, for instance. Meant to be an expression of vacation cheer, coated with lights and adornments, the Christmas tree’s sudden look could be complicated, tempting, and even dangerous for our feline pals.

Let’s discover why some cats can’t include their pleasure across the Christmas tree and the best way to hold it (and your cat) secure this vacation season.

Why Cats Love Christmas Timber

Cats are clever animals and curiosity is of their nature. The sudden arrival of one thing as important in dimension because the Christmas tree is sure to set off temptation. Nevertheless it’s extra than simply the novelty that attracts cats to the Christmas tree.

Listed below are a few of the causes cats love Christmas timber.

Cats Are Desperate to Discover New Issues

As predators, cats are naturally territorial and so they’re keen to analyze something new that enters their territory. Not solely is the Christmas tree one thing new and unfamiliar but it surely’s crammed with thrilling outside scents and attractive textures. Even in case you go the substitute route, the tree will carry scents your cat will need to discover.

It Offers Climbing Alternatives

Cats have robust legs and sharp claws for a purpose—they’re constructed for climbing. To a cat, the Christmas tree seems to be like the right place to survey their territory from on excessive. The temptation could also be significantly arduous to withstand in case your cat doesn’t have applicable alternate options like a cat tree or cat condominium.

Cats See Tree Decorations as Toys

Christmas ornaments made out of glass or ceramics are excellent batting alternatives for a mischievous cat who lacks indoor play alternatives. Tinsel, garland, and different ribbon-like adornments might also be arduous for a curious cat to withstand.

Sparkly trinkets and hanging decorations appear like enjoyable new toys to your cat however they arrive with a threat of breakage and unintended ingestion which may trigger your cat hurt.

It Affords an Attractive Scratching Floor

Scratching is a pure habits for cats and a obligatory one. It helps them shed the brittle outer layers of their claws, exposing the wholesome new development beneath. With its tough bark, the Christmas tree could provide a satisfying scratching floor on your cat.

There’s additionally the peak of the tree to contemplate. Small scratch pads don’t permit your cat to completely stretch their limbs as they scratch, however a tall Christmas tree may.

Cats Might See It As a Place to Disguise

Composed of layered boughs and needles, the Christmas tree presents a shy cat a pleasant place to cover. Some cats could benefit from the safety of curling up on the base whereas others may climb up into the branches, in search of the next hiding spot. As soon as the tree is embellished, after all, the act of climbing out and in of the tree places your cat in danger for harm.

5 Methods to Preserve Your Cat Out of the Christmas Tree

With its dangling globes of fragile glass and tangled strings of twinkling lights, the Christmas tree presents sure dangers to your cat. Taking steps to maintain your cat out of the Christmas tree is crucial for their very own safety—to not point out safeguarding the centerpiece of your vacation decor scheme.

Cat-proofing your Christmas tree helps make sure you get to spend the vacation at house, not within the vet’s workplace. Listed below are 5 methods to do it.

Select the Proper Location

The proper spot shows your Christmas tree in all its festive glory, however the location that appears greatest won’t be the most secure choice on your cat. Place your Christmas tree away from cabinets or cat furnishings that may give your cat quick access to the upper boughs.

And don’t overlook to safe it correctly. Select a sturdy base and take into account anchoring your tree to the wall or ceiling, simply in case your cat decides to go for a climb.

Choose Cat-Pleasant Adornments

Select unbreakable ornaments and place them excessive sufficient on the tree that your cat can’t bat them off from the bottom. Shiny, reflective ornaments will doubtless pose the best temptation. Mushy material ornaments could also be greatest, simply in case they fall or hold low sufficient on your cat to succeed in.

When you beautify the tree with tinsel or garland, restrict it to the higher half of the tree. Not solely do these decorations pose a choking hazard if swallowed, but when your cat catches maintain of 1 finish they might topple the tree over on themselves.

Keep away from Uncovered Wiring

Unaware of the chance of electrocution, some cats can’t resist chewing on uncovered wires. Select your Christmas tree lighting fastidiously, avoiding skinny wires that could be simple to chew by way of. When putting the lights, hold them towards the middle of the tree and use a twine protector to cowl the top of the string that plugs into the wall.

Preserve the Base Coated

Ensure your Christmas tree base is sturdy and safe. When you’re utilizing a stay Christmas tree, cowl the bottom to forestall your cat from ingesting the water. A tree skirt could do the trick however decided cats could require extra deterrents. Strive wrapping the trunk in foil and place presents or heavy decorations on prime of the skirt to weigh it down.

It’s significantly vital to cowl the bottom in case you’re utilizing a potted Christmas tree. The soil may include fertilizers that may make your cat sick, to not point out the temptation of the soil-filled pot as a litter field various.

Provide Attractive Alternate options

Your cat could also be much less within the Christmas tree if there are extra attractive alternate options out there. Arrange a devoted play space away from the tree and encourage your cat to make use of it with toys and treats.

Even higher, shock your cat with an early Christmas current of a brand new cat condominium, timing its arrival to coincide with the Christmas tree. Simply you’ll want to place cat furnishings far sufficient away from the Christmas tree that your cat can’t use it to leap onto the tree.

By adorning with care and taking sure precautions, you may hold each your cat and your Christmas tree secure this vacation season. Even in case you do, nonetheless, be vigilant and verify the tree day by day to verify there’s nothing to tempt a curious cat right into a probably harmful state of affairs.