- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
When a towering pine tree glimmering with lights and ornaments shows up unexpectedly in your home, chaos might not be far behind. Knowing how to cat-proof a Christmas tree can protect your cat and your tree to keep things festive.
“Cats are natural climbers, so with both live and artificial trees, one of the biggest and most common risks is the tree toppling over and causing physical injury,” explains Dr. Elizabeth Whitlock DVM, Lead Veterinarian and Partner at CityVet Woodstock.
“Cats also don’t get out much, and you bringing in something new and fun and cool with dangly things to their house is going to be a big deal,” adds Laura Cassiday, certified cat behavior consultant and founder of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior & Training.
Read on to discover clever tips from Whitlock and Cassiday for how to keep cats out of Christmas trees this year.
Are Christmas Trees Dangerous to Cats?
We’re not going to go all Scrooge on you, but there are a few holiday hazards, including Christmas trees, that have the potential to harm your kitty.
Start your festivities off on the right foot this season by being mindful of these Christmas tree risks.
- Pine tree branches. The needles and oils on pine tree branches carry mild risks of GI upset, mouth irritation, and other temporary discomfort in curious chewers, says Dr. Whitlock. More serious risks include intestinal blockage or perforation from excessive pine needle ingestion, as well as punctured paw pads.
- Tree water. The water used for indoor live trees harbors bacteria that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other GI upset if your kitty drinks or licks it.
- Tree soil. Potted live Christmas tree soil might include fertilizers and other additives that are toxic to cats. Re-pot the tree in fresh soil.
- Bugs and other critters. Some insects like aphids and spider mites spend their winters in Christmas tree branches. Many of these bugs are generally harmless to cats, but insecticides used to stop infestations are extremely toxic to cats.
- Electric lights. Wires used for lights and decorations on live and artificial trees carry the risks of electrocution and burns to cord-chewing cats. Cover them, turn off the main power switch, or look into battery-powered options to protect your kitty.
What Kind of Tree Is Best in a Home with Cats?
If you’re looking out for your kitty clan’s safety, Cassiday suggests artificial trees have less risks than live ones.
But even fake plastic trees, especially if they have electric string lights and breakable ornaments built in, aren’t entirely perfect alternatives.
The only sure-fire way to avoid tree-related accidents is to rethink a traditional Christmas tree altogether.
Cassiday enthusiastically notes that there are tons of Christmassy cat towers and trees that you can install in place of a live or artificial tree.
“There’s no better way to show off that you’re a crazy cat person than by having a designated Christmas cat tower!” Cassiday says.
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How To Cat-Proof a Christmas Tree
If you opt for a live or artificial tree, cat-proofing your Christmas tree is the ticket to keeping a pet-filled holiday season merry and bright and avoiding emergency vet visits. Here are six ways.
1. Put trees near walls, with anchors
If you have feline friends, finding the perfect place for your tree isn’t about the best way to show off your ornament collection. Instead, choose a spot that keeps the tree stable, ideally near a wall or in a corner. Cats have a powerful desire to climb, and setting up your tree in the middle of a room is an accident waiting to happen.
Stabilize and tightly secure your tree by anchoring it to the wall or ceiling and using a heavy, wide base so there is little to no risk of it falling over if your kitty climbs it.
2. Get an appealing, cat-friendly tree skirt
Putting out the beloved hand-crocheted tree skirt you inherited from a favorite relative might not be ideal decor for a cat-proofed Christmas tree. Avoid tree skirts with loose, dangling threads, and embellishments like beads and tinsel that are easy to choke on.
Instead, try feline-forward alternatives like Christmas stocking-shaped cat tunnels and festive tube beds. Not only do these add some fun to your winter wonderland, but kitty-approved snooze and play spots also redirect their attention away from the tree.
3. Don’t fill every inch of your tree with ornaments
As much as you might want to load up every branch of your tree with ornaments, keeping the bottom quarter or third of your tree empty is a safer choice. Low-hanging ornaments can actually entice your already curious kitty to bat at them and play. If this pawable section of the tree is naked, your cat is less likely to want to mess with the tree.
4. Choose cat-safe ornaments
If you can’t bear to see any empty space on your tree, dedicate the bottom portion of it to cat-safe ornaments. Think soft plush or felt ornaments, hard plastic or wood ornaments without loose pieces, or metal jingle bells without cat-tempting ribbons or strings. For inspiration, look up toddler-safe and baby-friendly ornaments.
Glass ornaments are the riskiest ones, since they’re so easy to break and can hurt cat and human family members alike. Dr. Whitlock advises pet parents to avoid using glass ornaments or strategically place them far from your kitty’s reach.
How you hang your ornaments matters too. Sharp metal hangers traditionally used to hang ornaments injure curious kitties and sensitive paws. Instead, fasten ornaments to branches as tightly as you can with wire or twine.
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5. Wind lights, use cord protectors, and supervise closely
Is having string lights glowing from your tree a must? Be prepared to take extra precautions and preventive steps.
For one, always unplug the lights when you’re not around. Even if you’re running out for only five minutes to grab another bottle of vanilla extract for your famous sugar cookies. Electricity-related accidents can happen fast and be deadly.
Carefully installing the lights is also a must. Wind the strings of light close to the center of your tree and use cord protectors to keep your cat from gnawing on the wires.
6. Avoid putting tinsel on the tree
To have a safe and happy cat-mas, skip some of the classic Christmas decorations like tinsel, angel hair, and winter flowers.
“Cats are naturally attracted to dangling, shiny objects. Tinsel and angel hair is especially appealing, but also one of the most dangerous decorations,” Dr. Whitlock warns. “If ingested, it can become stuck in their mouth or intestinal tract, causing a blockage which can be life-threatening.”
Fresh cut blooms from holiday season flowers and plants like holly, poinsettias, and lilies are also toxic, so it’s best to avoid them completely!
How To Keep Your Cat Away from the Christmas Tree
Even if you’ve cat-proofed your tree, you might still want to be prepared with some quick ways to keep cats out of Christmas trees, especially if your kitty is continually obsessed with investigating and hanging around it.
Cassiday and Dr. Whitlock suggest trying these cat-repellent ideas for Christmas trees.
- Add cat-safe climbing opportunities. Putting some shelves, perches, or a cat tree in the same room as the Christmas tree gives the cats an appropriate and fun new place to climb. Put some favorite cat treats and cat toys on it to encourage them to use it.
- Give your cat more mental and physical stimulation. This may include extra play time with your cat and enrichment like cardboard boxes with crinkly paper, cat grass, puzzle feeders, and cat games on a tablet.
- Use deterrents. You can spray pine cones with apple cider vinegar to repel a mischievous cat, or use an anti-scratch cat-deterrent spray. Wrapping your tree’s trunk in aluminum foil can serve the same purpose. Cats hate the feel of foil on their feet, so they’re likely to leave a foil-covered tree alone.
- Put up a physical barrier. An x-pen for dogs in a circle around the tree is the best deterrent. Cassiday acknowledges that it’s not going to look cute or festive—but it is safer for very intrepid cats.
- Block off the room the tree is in. Keep the tree in a separate area of the house that your cat can’t access.
- Training recall. Brief, positive cat recall training sessions can curb undesirable behaviors like your cat attempting to climb the tree or chew on the string light cords.
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Alternatives to a Christmas Tree
With some crafty cat-proofing, most cat lovers won’t have to miss out on decorating a Christmas tree. But for especially intrepid kitties, households with kittens, or homes where holiday supervision is tricky, a tree alternative might be the best way to minimize stress.
“I have a cute little fake mini tree that I put up on a shelf!” Cassiday says. You can also try:
- A two-dimensional “wall tree” made of garlands or boughs
- A festive painting, print, or wall hanging
- A Christmas tree that doubles as a cat tower
- A sisal Christmas tree
