Fake tree v. real tree. Which one is less likely to be destroyed by my cats?

“Consider getting a Scotch Pine. They have extremely sharp needles. It also works for curious small children.”
From How to Cat Proof Your Christmas Tree

That WikiHow has a couple of good suggestions, but quite a few garbage ones too.

Amazingly, my three leave the live tree completely alone.

@syz When we had a cat he never touched our tree either.

Our cats play with the lower ornaments, but nothing more. We use a live tree, usually a spruce, and have a heavy, stable base. We also put the non-breakable/ingestible ornaments at the bottom.

If you use a live tree, be sure that your pets cannot access the water in the tree stand. It can cause severe GI upset.

@sebastian_von_tulu From your link I especially like this line: “Put something like orange peels under the tree to make your cat less likely to go near it. (Cats also dislike the smell of rotten apples.)” (emphasis added). Yes, well, I dislike the smell of rotten apples also. Seriously, should I hang some rotten apples on my tree? Eww.

This year I got a fake tree from QVC that’s pretty much un-destroyable. It comes in three big pieces with lights already on them, and you just put it together and plug it in. I’ve never seen cats destroy a tree, though. Mostly, they just curl up underneath. :)

@Syz beat me to it.

I would suggest, for that very reason, getting a really nice fake tree. It’s more dependable than a real one; you know every year that your tree will be full and lovely, rather than spending Lord knows how long on a tree lot getting Lord knows what. From what I understand, fresh trees don’t do so well in California either.

We had Fraser Firs for years with the cats, but had to switch to a fake tree with my son was born. Fraser’s keep their needles pretty good and smell nice. And they were pretty strong for the cats to climb in. (they were young too).

@Snarp I know yeah, while we’re at it let’s keep the cats away with lion faeces and wolf urine.

Neither, it is the ornaments that are in for trouble.

@sebastian_von_tulu Oooh, wolf urine is bound to work!

@Snarp and keep your home smelling refreshing all throughout the year. Mmm

@ChazMaz Yes. We know. No glass ornaments.

We always do a live tree. We have never had too many issues with the cats…they do enjoy laying under there, and trying to get to the water. The cats we have now are obsessed with ornaments, so lots of plastic ones closer to the ground…yet they managed to get some glass ones tricky assholes lol
There are only two types at the tree place we go to, I know one is a fir..and I don’t think we get that one. I’ll ask my husband what it’s called. But, whichever you get, I wish you luck! Christmas seems to make my cats crazy no matter what..with those huge pupils and lots of mischief.

We have had all sorts of trees. We have switched to all plastic ornaments and come up with ways to anchor the tree to the wall so it can’t be knocked down. However, no matter what we do, a dog or a cat or several will do something to upset the tree.

I like my mother’s solution: she painted a nice picture of a lighted and decorated tree on canvas with acrylics, got it framed, and now hangs it on the wall over the pine chest. We put the presents on the chest and the cats have fun knocking them on the floor, where the dogs chew on them, but the animals now leave the tree alone.

My parents use a plastic tree and tie it to the wall. One year it was tied to the banister and another they installed eye loops into a wall so that they could put the tree there. Since they move furniture every year for the tree, the hooks are easily hidden by a cabinet or removed and the holes hidden by a picture frame.

Either way, if a live tree falls over, there are a lot more needles and water to pick up.

I would recommend tying your tree up. You can try other methods of teaching your cats not to do it, but this way you don’t have to be sad if it doesn’t work.

We’ve always had live trees. One year the one cat that we’d never expect to do anything to the tree pulled the whole thing down. The other one that won’t leave anything alone never touched the tree, but does usually pick out one low ornament to pick on. She more enjoys hiding under it and drinking the water. I don’t think the type of tree makes a difference.

Leave all the ornaments off and use a live tree. That way, you will not have a problem. Lights are OK.

Even better, get a live tree in a pot and plant it afterwards.

Just be sure to cover the soil of the potted tree with tin foil or something to prevent kitty from thinking it’s her new mini-litterbox.

:D

I have always found that fake Christmas trees have always been easier to manage with animals running around (one cat and upteen dogs!). We had the same Christmas tree for about 15 years and it stayed looking good which also saved us money!

Either one is fair game. Might you try sprinkling it with cayenne pepper or the like; it won’t hurt the cat but the smell is offensive to their sensitive noses. That should help them leave it alone.

Hi all.

We got a fake tree. Only one of my cats is even interested in it. He tries to lick the branches and then gets poked by the needles. I have to squirt him sometimes, but not even one ornament has been knocked off and the tree has remained standing.

***YAY*** Thanks for the update.