How to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree: 12 Ideas That Work
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A Christmas tree is, from a cat’s point of view, an indoor climbing frame that arrives once a year with shiny things hanging off it. Most cats treat it exactly that way. You don’t have to choose between a tree and a calm house. A few changes to the base, the ornaments and the cords will solve most of the trouble before it starts.
Below are 12 ideas, from the stand to the tree water, with products for the ones where gear helps. For the safety points I’ve leaned on the ASPCA’s holiday hazards guidance, which I link at the end of the relevant sections.
Our Favorite
If I could only do one thing, I’d put a fence around the base. The Amazon Basics Foldable Octagonal Metal Playpen (the 24 x 30 inch, 8 panel size) is sold as a dog playpen, but it makes a plain, sturdy tree fence that folds flat in January. It is sold and shipped by Amazon, and it had 4.6 stars from more than 23,000 reviews when I checked.
12 ways to cat-proof your Christmas tree
1. Hide the base with a tree collar
A collar is a ring that sits around the trunk and stand. It will not stop a determined climber, but it does cover the stand and the water dish, which is where a lot of the early curiosity goes. Pick one with a solid wall rather than a soft skirt, since a cat can burrow under fabric.
The HarcoHome Tree Collar is a 28.4 inch round plastic ring with a natural grain fiber look, listed as pet-proof, in beige. It had 4.7 stars from over 230 reviews.
If you prefer metal, the FORUP Metal Christmas Tree Collar adjusts between a 20.8 and 27.5 inch inner diameter and is made for trees up to 7.5 feet. It had 4.5 stars from over 130 reviews.
2. Put a fence around the tree
A fence does the job a collar cannot. It keeps paws away from the lower branches and the cords at the bottom, and it gives you a clear line to see if a cat is up to something. A foldable metal pen works well because you can set it as wide or as tight as the tree needs. A cat that likes to leap may clear a 30 inch panel, so a fence suits cats who bat at the base better than confirmed jumpers.
3. Anchor the tree so it can’t tip
This one needs no product. The ASPCA’s advice is to make sure the tree is tightly secured so there is no chance it can tip over and hurt a pet. A common way to do it is a length of clear fishing line from the trunk to a ceiling hook or a wall anchor, set above where a cat can reach it. Tug the tree gently to check it before you decorate, and check again after the first full day.
4. Use a wide, stable stand
A tree that wobbles when you brush past will wobble when a cat lands on it. A stand with a wide footprint and a solid cross base is the first thing to get right, and it pairs with the anchor above.
For real trees, the Good Tidings Cinco C-148 Classic Tree Stand is a classic green stand made for trees up to 10 feet. It had 4.6 stars from more than 1,100 reviews. If you use it, cover the water (more on that in idea 11).
For an artificial tree, the 16 inch Heavy Duty Metal Christmas Tree Stand Base has a cross base design for 4 to 7 foot trees and a rustproof green coating. Check that your trunk fits, because the listing says it takes trunks up to 0.87 inches. It had 4.5 stars from over 130 reviews.
5. Switch to shatterproof ornaments
Glass ornaments and curious paws do not mix. The ASPCA notes that shards of breakable ornaments are very sharp and can be dangerous. Plastic ball ornaments cost less, shrug off a fall and look fine from a few feet away.
The Valery Madelyn 30 count Shatterproof Ornaments are 2 inch balls in red, green and white. It had 4.6 stars from nearly 1,500 reviews, and it is a good first set if you’re only doing the lower half of the tree.
For a full tree, the Valery Madelyn 108 count set adds candy cane red, green and white balls in several sizes. It had 4.7 stars from over 900 reviews.
6. Skip tinsel, and keep ribbon short
Cats love tinsel, and that is the problem with it. The ASPCA warns that a swallowed strand can cause an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting and dehydration, and may even need surgery, and it suggests sticking to lights and ornaments instead. Long ribbon and curling gift string have the same shape and the same risk, so I’d keep both short, or leave them off the tree altogether.
7. Hang the fragile and the precious high
Put your sturdy ornaments on the bottom third and keep anything breakable or sentimental near the top, out of easy reach. Hook the ornaments on with a bent wire or a loop of string rather than letting them rest loosely on a branch, so a swipe doesn’t send one across the room. If a lower branch keeps getting raided, take the decorations off it and leave it bare.
8. Try a tabletop tree in a room the cat can’t enter
A small tree on a high surface takes the climbing question away, as long as you can close the door on it or the surface really is out of reach. I’d call this a plan for rooms you can shut, since cats get onto tables.
The DUUDO 3 foot Hinged Tabletop Tree folds up with metal hinges and a foldable base. It had 4.6 stars from nearly 1,000 reviews.
9. Mount a flat tree on the wall
A half tree that hangs flat gives you the Christmas look with nothing to knock over and no trunk to climb. It is a good fit for small apartments, and it works best when the lower edge is higher than your cat can jump.
The ElectricWise 5 foot Lighted Wall Christmas Tree is a plug-in half tree with 144 LED lights and 8 light modes, made to hang flat against the wall. It had 4.5 stars from just over 100 reviews. Because it plugs in, route the cord with idea 10.
10. Cover the cords
Light cords look like toys. The ASPCA points out that wires can deliver potentially lethal electric shocks, and that punctured batteries can cause burns to the mouth and throat. A split-sleeve cord cover goes over the wire, and you plug the tree lights into a power strip you can switch off when you leave.
The Secbolt Cord Protectors are 10 feet of 1/2 inch black tubing made to stop chewing. It had 4.5 stars from nearly 900 reviews.
For thinner wires, such as light strings, the Alex Tech 1/4 inch Cord Protector is 10 feet of split sleeving. It had 4.7 stars from more than 85,000 reviews. I wrote more about this in how to cat-proof electric cables.
11. Make the floor unappealing, and cover the tree water
Many cats dislike the feel of sticky tape under their paws, so a few sheets laid on the floor around the base can put them off the area. The Kitty City Scratch Furniture Protector Tape comes as 12 large, clear double-sided sheets, listed as non-toxic and residue-free. It had 4.7 stars from over 21,000 reviews and is sold by Amazon. Keep it off the tree itself.
If you have a real tree, cover the water. The ASPCA says tree water can contain fertilizers and bacteria that cause stomach upset, nausea or diarrhea if a pet drinks it. A tight skirt over the reservoir, or a collar from idea 1, does the job.
12. Check the plants around the tree
Lilies are the serious one. The ASPCA says many lilies found in holiday bouquets are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure in cats, so keep them out of any home with a cat. There is more on this in are lilies poisonous to cats. Poinsettias are far less dangerous than their reputation, since the ASPCA says they cause only mild to moderate stomach irritation, but it is still best to keep them out of reach. Holly and mistletoe can also cause problems, so a faux version is the easier choice.
If your cat does swallow something it shouldn’t, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 straight away.
FAQ
Will my cat try to climb the tree?
Many cats will, at least once. A stable base, an anchor and a fence give you a good chance of that first attempt being the last. If climbing continues, move to a tabletop or wall tree for this year.
Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?
The ASPCA says Christmas trees are not particularly toxic. The risks come from the stand water, the tree tipping over, and what hangs on it, such as tinsel and breakable ornaments.
Should I use a real tree or an artificial one?
Either can work. A real tree adds water and needles to manage, so it asks for a covered stand. An artificial tree has no water, which makes it a little simpler.
What if my cat chews the lights?
Switch the lights off when you are out, use a cord cover, and move to battery lights if the cord remains a target. Call your vet if you think a cat has chewed through a wire.
Sources
The safety points above come from the ASPCA: Keep Your Pet Safe from These 10 Holiday Hazards and its press release ASPCA Offers Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season. For anything specific to your cat, ask your own vet.