What Can I Do to Keep My Cats Away From the Christmas Tree?

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various experiences and strategies shared by participants regarding keeping cats away from Christmas trees. Participants recount their challenges with cats interacting with trees and discuss different methods they have tried or considered.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shares their experience with a cat that chews on the Christmas tree and expresses concern about potential hazards.
  • Another participant mentions a bitter-tasting spray designed to deter pets from chewing on items, noting they are unsure of its effectiveness.
  • Several users discuss the idea of using sprays on the tree and share their experiences with similar products for other pets.
  • One participant describes using a Scat Spray as a barrier to keep their cats away from the tree, detailing their setup of the tree in a corner with the sprays positioned to create a triangle.
  • Another participant humorously reflects on the challenges of using the Scat Spray, sharing a funny incident involving their cat and the tree skirt.
  • One participant recounts a past cat's behavior during the Christmas season, highlighting the amusing interactions between their pet and the tree.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding the effectiveness of various deterrents, and no clear consensus emerges on the best approach to keep cats away from Christmas trees.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal anecdotes about their cats' behaviors during the holiday season, reflecting a range of experiences and humorous situations related to Christmas trees.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and pet owners facing similar challenges with their cats during the Christmas season may find the shared experiences and suggestions relevant.

cwinter474
cwinter474
Gold Member
Messages
1,180
We have two cats that are 4yrs old. One of them, Lacey will not leave the Christmas tree alone. It is a fake tree, she doesn't climb into it, she just constantly chews on it, then she will throw up. First I am tired of cat puke, Second I'm afraid she might bite into the lites and electrocute herself and or start a fire. Here is what we have tried over the years.

1) Shooting her with water gun.
2) Blowing a loud police whistle.
3) Using a dog whistle.
4) Shooting her with a nerf dart gun.
5) Clapping and Yelling.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I know I am leaving myself wide open for Ann and KG, cat lovers that we know they are. But I really hope someone has an idea.

Thanks,

Carol
 
the pet store sells this spray, i forget the name, that tastes terrible (supposedly) and you are to spray items you dont want your animals to chew, and they get one taste and dont... I dont know if it works... I only know that they sell it.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
We bought something like that a few years ago to help our dog from chewing on his feet. I had forgotten about it. Wonder if I could spray it on the tree? Do you think it would hurt the lights?
 
I would spray the tree, lights off, wait till dry and it should be ok... its just a spray, so its not like the tree would be wet, wet... ya know?
 
I think it may be called Bitter Apple Chew Deterrant
 
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  • #8
Janet, you never cease to amaze me, is there nothing you don't know???

Thanks to you and Laura both.

Carol
 
cwinter474 said:
Janet, you never cease to amaze me, is there nothing you don't know???

Thanks to you and Laura both.

Carol
Click to expand...

Um, I sort of work at a pet supply company. ;) ...and have pets...and teach Pet First Aid/CPR...

...jack of many trades, master of none! :rolleyes::D
 
janetupnorth said:
Cat Training Aids: Cat House Training to Keep Cats Off Furniture

Cat training aid: SSSCAT Spray at Drs. Foster & Smith (Scat spray)
Click to expand...

Good recommendation!

We have the same problem. Our oldest cat like to sleep in the tree and our youngest cat likes to chew the lights and fake branches.

We use the Scat Spray. It is awesome. We set the tree in the corner. We have 2 Scat's. One on each side making facing each other making a barrier so the cats can't get to the tree. It is almost like the tree is in a triangle (if that makes sense) the 2 walls are two sides of the triangle and the Scat's make the other side.

They are worth the money. We use it on the counters too. Our middle cat steals dish rags so we use this to keep her off the counter. It is funny though when it gets us when we forget it is there and forget to turn it off!
 
i wonder if the scat spray works for 6 yos who are into everything you dont want them to get into LOL!
 
Kathleen - that is a FUNNY mind picture of you guys getting sprayed!!!! Must suck at 3 a.m.! LOL!
 
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  • #14
janetupnorth said:
Um, I sort of work at a pet supply company. ;) ...and have pets...and teach Pet First Aid/CPR...

...jack of many trades, master of none! :rolleyes::D
Click to expand...

Didn't know that. Pet CPR? wish I had knew how to do that, I might still have my cat Wiggles. I think it is wonderful that you teach First Aid as well. I think I will make some calls and see if I can find anything here in my neck of the woods.
 
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  • #15
Scat Spray is bought. Hopes it arrives soon. I think the triangle is a great idea thats how we set up our tree as well.

Wish us luck.
 
janetupnorth said:
Kathleen - that is a FUNNY mind picture of you guys getting sprayed!!!!

Must suck at 3 a.m.! LOL!
Click to expand...

We must jump 3 ft in the air when we do it. We are both saying "I thought YOU turned off the Scat!"
 
http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2007/12/funny-pictures-christmas-tree-cat.jpg
 
I think you got a picture of my cat! That's right where she likes to sit in a tree!
 
cwinter474 said:
Didn't know that. Pet CPR? wish I had knew how to do that, I might still have my cat Wiggles. I think it is wonderful that you teach First Aid as well. I think I will make some calls and see if I can find anything here in my neck of the woods.
Click to expand...

Contact your local Red Cross to see if they have the course. If they don't you can still get the books and read them, the new books come with a DVD so it is just like taking the class!

Also, early 2009, I am doing Pet First Aid/CPR demo videos for work that will be on our peteducation website to view along with written instructions. You can teach yourself.
 
I am the one that started the thread about my beloved Moose..the Christmas tree terrorist!!

As I fondly look forward to the Christmas season, I readily think of my Mr. Moose and how he will destroy my tree. And how the Christmas village will probably stay in the closet yet another year because I just have always anticipated him being Catzilla walking down Main Street terrorizing the village and there people!!

But alas, he loves Christmas and is so puzzled when I put his big toy tree away every January 1st!!!

KG always comes up with the best cat and Christmas tree pictures!!
 
I am so glad I found this thread, b/c I have the same problem.
My two cats are almost 6 yo, and I really thought they'd be over this by now. Last year, I got so mad, I took down my 9-ft tree and moved it in our study, but it was so inconvenient. I am going to try the spray and see how it works. Does anyone know if you can get it at the pet store? Or just online?
One of my cat climbs the tree and could be the picture that KG posted (she is even gray!). The other one messes with the skirt, chews on the branches/lights, then throws up and knocks all the ornaments off and chases them around the house. Seriously, they should be over this by now!!

On a cute note: we used to have this one cat who as soon as the tree skirt came out, there she was, and you'd have to make a spot for her and she would sleep under the tree on the skirt and she'd get really mad if there wasn't a spot for her and would claw the gifts, but left everything alone as long as there was a spot for her!!
 
I don't know what local stores carry it since Foster & Smith is our local pet store outside of Walmart and I haven't seen it at Walmart.If anyone needs a coupon code for 12/1-12/31, PM me.
 
OMG Lisa - my cat Cirrus does that. Last year I goofed and put the tree up on an end table. You should have seen him! He kept trying to lay down on the skirt and as soon as he was fully comfy and fell asleep, Thunk! He fell off! It was so funny to watch him sit there with these big wide eyes thinking - WHAT HAPPENED? After a couple of days of this, I put the tree back on the floor and he was all fine and dandy with it again. Best part of the whole thing, he litterally kept trying! Why? You would have thought that after falling off the first few times he would stop. Of course, he got better at it and the time in between got further apart. I have to admit though, he scared the daylights out of me at 4 a.m. that last night. When he fell off, he came runny through the bedroom up and over me twice and growled at me. He seemed to know it was my fault! Needless to say, that's when the tree hit the floor! And I could not stop laughing!
 
baychef said:
KG always comes up with the best cat and Christmas tree pictures!!
Click to expand...

I dunno - it's usually the same one.
 
http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-likes-drinking-out-of-the-tree-basin.jpg
 
http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-in-tree-tries-to-look-ornamental.jpg
 
Uh-oh! I just rescued two kittens and never even thought about the Christmas Tree dilemma.

<sigh> It will be like Christmas with 2 year olds all over again - No ornaments on the bottom half of the tree.

Great pic KG - gave me a good chuckle.
 
Bottom half of the tree?Try the entire tree!Last year, I bought a bucket full of unbreakable ornaments at Farm & Barn, and a good thing. Some of them are still turning up, after getting batted out from under whatever hiding place they had been batted into.
 
http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/funny-pictures-your-cat-is-also-making-a-list.jpg
 
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