# How can I keep my cat from destroying the Christmas tree? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278 "2000-11-22T13:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/21 "2000-11-22T22:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*Sorry **Wring** but 'tis true choc is even worse for cats than it is for dogs. > > I’ve seen Cedric comment on this somewhereso it must be true. > > It’s got some chemical in it with lots of unlikely looking combinations of vowels. \*\* Thanks, of course, the kitty in question lived to be 19 years old, and she was the only one who seemed to like it. I didn’t “give” it to her in the first place, I was eating a white chocolate sucker, turned my head for a moment, then **she** was at it. I’ll try harder with next kitties. ---
**Author:** ![Hecubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Hecubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hecubis)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/22 "2000-11-22T23:35:09Z")
The citronella ties sound like a very good idea I think I’ll try that this year. Like a number of people said I would recommend securing the tree to the wall. I don’t think I can emphasize this enough. Other damage will seem minor compared to finding the tree has fallen over and crashed into many cherished items and the mess… I usually put the tree in the corner and secure it to the wall with fishing line, it’s invisible and because the tree is in the corner you don’t even notice it. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/23 "2000-11-23T01:51:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lesa \* > \*\*You could get a live tree. We got a live tree two years ago. It came in a BIG pot of dirt and was very heavy. It was brough into the house with a moving dolly. It was too heavy to be knocked over by a cat. Our cats are older now and weren’t ambitious enough to jump up into the pot. Your cat probably will, so be prepared. She will dig in the dirt, then track it everywhere. She may also climb the tree. But again, if it’s heavy enough, she won’t be able to knock it over. > > If you love your cat, be careful about the ornaments you put on the tree. Many pets will eat the “icicles,” which aren’t good for them. > \*\* I second this post- we get a live tree 'for the cats"- and they love it- we are careful what decorations to put on it, tho. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/24 "2000-11-23T02:15:50Z")
Funny…I have a cat that does the whole “run around the house as fast as you can and see what you can break” thing,but neither she or the other, older cat ever went near the tree. We’d put it up, leave it for a day for the branches to settle, then decorate. They might sniff at it at first, then either ignore it, or go sleep in the corner under it. The dog however…that’s another story! ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/25 "2000-11-24T00:47:24Z")
Cinder blocks wrapped to look like gifts will hold a regular tripod-style tree stand down nicely, quite enough to withstand cat-assault. ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/26 "2000-11-24T02:54:10Z")
The citronella ties sound really good, if you can make them all cute and decorative then you kill two birds with one stone, extra ornaments and it keeps the kitty away. I know that my dog can’t stand any kind of citrus fruits. He mistook a lemon that had fallen from our lemon tree for his ball (also yellow) and he hasn’t gotten near any kind of citrus fruit since. I’m pretty sure that cats will do the same. Kitty ---
**Author:** ![KV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@KV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KV)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278/27 "2000-11-25T15:46:28Z")
So far so good, we spread some concentrated lavender oil around the base, and she hasn’t even swatted at it yet.!! Thanks for all the suggestions [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-from-destroying-the-christmas-tree/42278.md?page=1)