Tips for First-Time Cat Owners: Keeping Kittens Away from Christmas Trees

[swim]

I have two trees and two cats. The fake one is in the kitchen where they are most of the time and I have covered it in wooden decorations which shouldn't break. I am hoping this is the one they favour. I also only gradually decked - trees up first day, tinsel and lights the second, baubles the third. They are rescues so new to me this year. So far, nothing broken.... good luck! X edited in line with your edit - I tell them off when scratching and have a great tool for mending the fabric sofa. I have lots of coir doormats for them to scratch through the house and a few specific cat ones x

 

[afguy32]

I've grown up with cats my whole life. It's cats natural instinct to climb. So if you put a tree up, they are gonna climb it. The scratching on your sofa is annoying but also their natural instinct to sharpen their claws. I've got covers to go over the ends of my sofa so sometimes he scratches the end and other times he goes for the middle. Got cat scratching posts upstairs and downstairs and he'll always go for the sofa. This is what I've got though.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[hello_there]

Tim foil, double sided sticky tape, a water spray bottle close by

 

[honeybear418]

I have one cat who isn’t interested and two who are an absolute pain. I lose count of how many sets of lights they have destroyed over the past 3 years. I just spend all December yelling at them basically

 

[mesme]

I bought a parasol tree for this reason and it has worked! My little darling is also a fan of carpet scratching even with 2 scratch posts in the house

 

[bornagain98]

For the scratching I buy cardboard scratching posts from b&m or temu. They've completely stopped my cat scratching the carpet xx

 

[paradis603]

I used citrus spray and tin foil near mine and he was pretty good see how it goes this year say hello too middy

 

[sirgav1n]

@paradis603 what a beauty!

 

[materialgirl]

I have a Russian Blue and she's nuts unfortunately out of all my cats (other breeds) she's the one who causes carnage!! Stealing food, jumping on the sides, spilling plant pots, scratching everything, climbing high up lol

 

[sirgav1n]

@materialgirl this is Nova! Was told they’re a calm breed with the usual energy a cat has but she pulled my son’s spider plant down that was grown from scratch the only plant we’ve ever managed to keep alive! I’ve moved it but she’ll only find it she’s like a rocket. She got into our bed last night and started scratching the covers chasing her tail when I had the utter cheek to sit up and look at her she started tapping me and getting her claws out even bit me the look of disgust when I put her out of the room and closed the door then every time we eat she’s on us even though she’s fed at the same time. She’s like a little dog always sniffing and round where the food is it’s just all new to me not owning a cat before but she’s certainly a character, I suppose she has to be to fit in this crazy family

 

[materialgirl]

@sirgav1n they are far from calm highly intelligent maybe! Which is why they are quite inquisitive

 

[materialgirl]

@sirgav1n mine grabs your hands with her claws for your food

 

[eaglesz]

What a beautiful baby you have
My cat Frankie loves the tree but after she ruined my tree 4 years ago I used a water spray and just sprayed it near her and left the spray bottle when I left the room and now after 4 years she only has a wee smell if it and runs off as if she knows she’s being naughty
My other cat Lenny is too lazy and fat to be bothered about any new toys or trees

 

[zerozerozero]

We also have a Russian Blue and had the exact same problem. She just didn't get it, then we eventually got her a companion kitten who DID know how to use the scratch post and he taught her. Not sure how helpful that is though if you weren't planning on getting a second cat

 

[puert0rican]

This is Albert him and his sister are both absolutely mental so have decided no tree till nearly Xmas this year the thought of the stress is too much this year

 

[omgmagazine]

@puert0rican he looks so cheeky love the name too

 

[kevfr]

Re Christmas Tree
Tin foil Citrus spray Hanging cinnamon sticks the only thing that works with my 2 kittens is sitting with the mouse laser pen in hand ready to get them bolting out of the tree to chase that instead! I’ve given up
PS. Your kitten is beautiful

 

[newstep]

Omg she’s beautiful xx

 

[batcat]

My boyce I have a plug in and it stops him from scratching

 

[lovedasif]

You just don't.we adopted a 10 mth old.its her first Xmas. Basically a giant kitten.
You're wasting your breath.
Save yourself the stress and just accept that cats are aholes and try to keep them as safe as possible