How To Keep Cats Out of Christmas Trees

Sitting under the glow of your Christmas tree, it really does feel like all is merry and bright—until you hear the awful sound of your fragile ornaments clanking to the ground and spot your mischievous (but lovable) kitty making themselves right at home in the fragrant pine needles of your decorated tree.

This is an all-too-familiar scene for cat parents, whose tree decorations and pretty holiday baubles can be mistaken as toys by their feline. Even more concerning, both real and artificial Christmas trees can pose a danger to our furry friends.

Fortunately, cat-proofing your Christmas tree can help curb some of this naughty cat behavior. Keep reading to learn how to cat-proof Christmas trees so you can enjoy a month of serene and silent nights.

Christmas trees are a beacon to felines because of the twinkling lights, shiny baubles, outdoor fragrance, and thick pine branches that make a great hiding spot. While you can’t change your cat’s instincts, you can make the tree less appealing and put safety measures in place to keep them out of harm’s way. Follow these expert tips for a more cat-friendly Christmas tree this holiday season.

Here’s the bad news: There’s no such thing as a truly cat-safe Christmas tree. Both artificial trees and real trees are a potential hazard to your curious cat—but some trees are technically considered safer than others.

Real Christmas trees—including popular firs and pines—are considered mildly toxic to cats when chewed or ingested. Further, tree farms sometimes use harmful pesticides on the branches.

Fake trees are not as dangerous in this way, but be aware that pieces can still break off and create a digestive blockage or choking hazard.

Smaller Christmas trees are also considered less dangerous since they’re not as heavy if they topple over.

Pro tip: No matter what type of tree you choose, be sure to set it up with a solid base that’s difficult to tip over. That way, if your cat does pounce on your ornaments, your tree is more likely to remain upright.

Cats’ climbing instinct works well for them in the wild, where trees are firmly planted in the ground. The tree in your living room, on the other hand, can crash down much quicker.

“If you have a tree-climbing feline, your Christmas tree may topple, so make sure your tree is well-secured to the ceiling or a wall,” says David Dilmore, DVM, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital® in Denver.

Cristin Coll, a certified feline training and behavior specialist in Santa Monica, California, agrees. Along with anchoring the tree to the walls and ceiling with eye hooks and twine, she recommends a heavy and sturdy tree base. By increasing the weight of the base of the tree, you’ll make the tree harder for your cat to knock over, which can prevent injury to your cat as well as damage to your ornaments and home.

Place your Christmas tree away from anything your cat already likes to climb or perch on. These can become launching zones that allow your cat to easily jump onto your tree.

Common launching zones include:

• Cat trees
• Tall scratching posts
• Counters
• Furniture
• Bookshelves

Stephen Quandt, certified feline training and behavior specialist, adds that many cats access the tree by going underneath it and climbing up. “Protecting or deterring your cat from approaching the base of the tree,” he says, “may be the best thing you can do to prevent climbing.”

If that doesn’t work, you can keep your cat out of your tree by keeping your cat out of the room entirely. Close the door or use a pet gate like Primetime Petz® Configurable Gate, which comes in heights up to 3 feet tall, to keep your feline friend away from the tree.

Anything new and shiny in your home is likely to attract your cat’s eye. But if you wait a few days before adding decorations to your tree, you give your cat time to get used to it—which may make them less likely to try to investigate it when it’s all done up and sparkly.

“A Christmas tree’s greatest appeal,” Quandt says, “is often when it first arrives in the home, smells nice and has cool air sinking out of it, assuming you bought it in a cold-weather environment.”

Give your furry friend time to acclimate to its presence before adding ornaments, lights, or other shiny baubles.

Climbing isn’t the only Christmas-tree hazard tempting curious kitties. Dangling, breakable ornaments can also become potential playthings in the eyes of cats.

“Holiday decorations are prime candidates for swatting, chewing, and general mishaps,” Dilmore says—especially when it comes to kittens and Christmas trees. But no matter your cat’s age, “Keep an eye out for glass ornaments and ornament hooks, both of which can cause puncture wounds and serious injury to probing pets.”

Other items to keep out of reach include long ribbons on Christmas presents and tinsel. Coll says that, if swallowed, ribbon can cause serious issues, including intestinal blockage and perforation of the intestinal tract.

To recap, items to keep out of reach include:

• Glass ornaments
• Metal ornament hooks
• Tiny Christmas decorations that are easily swallowed
• Fake snow (flocking), which is toxic to cats
• Tinsel
• Long ribbons

One thing you absolutely need for a cat-proof Christmas tree: decorations that won’t pose a threat to your sweet feline. Keep fragile ornaments at the tippy-top, and opt for plush ornaments on the lower branches.

Instead of tinsel, use paper bows, thick cloth ribbons, or garlands made with large beads or plush materials. Anything that’s soft and won’t create a choking hazard is fair game.

Now’s also a great time to introduce a new cat tree to the mix to detract attention from your Christmas tree.

“The only solution I have found is to give cats their own tree and reward them for playing on it,” says Samantha Bell, a cat training expert for Best Friends Animal Society®. She suggests buying cats their own cat tree, or using their old one and decorating it with their toys and treats. Then, reward them whenever they interact with it, while ignoring all attempts to interact with your tree.

She says cats will realize that “their tree” is for climbing and playing, and they will soon leave your tree alone. It may sound silly, but Bell swears it works—and also provides new and exciting enrichment for your cat. Think of it as a holiday cat gift just for them!

Don’t have room for a cat tree? Providing new cat toys can work, too—anything to distract your cutie from that tree. If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, check out our list of cat toys, cat trees, and other supplies inspired by Swift’s different eras.

A number of remedies can separate cats from Christmas trees, including sprays with odors cats find unpleasant, Coll says. Cat deterrents are designed to train cats and dogs to stay away from places they’re not allowed, like on top of the sofa and, yes, under the Christmas tree.

Coll adds that many cats also have aversions to textures like aluminum foil or vinyl carpet runners, so they may make ideal barriers between the cat and the tree.

On that note, also keep electrical cords out of reach. “Electric cords connected to holiday lights are a tempting chew toy for any kitten,” Dilmore says. Obviously, chewing a live wire can be dangerous for your favorite feline. Cover cords with a tree skirt or cord protector like MyPet Safety Paws® Cord Protector.

Cats enjoy a refreshing drink of water just like anyone else, but that’s a problem if the water’s coming from the basin beneath your Christmas tree, Dilmore says.

“If you have a live Christmas tree, make sure your cat can’t get to the water bowl underneath,” he says. “Some of the chemicals [and fertilizers] added to it to help the tree stay green can actually be toxic to pets and make them sick.”

Luckily, there are several ways to prevent your cat from drinking the tree water. Coll recommends placing a cover over the base, or using tin foil or a tree skirt to prevent a cat from getting into the water.

If blocking your cat’s access to the Christmas tree water is impossible, Dilmore recommends using fresh, clean water with no preservatives or chemical additives, and changing it daily.

Your cat’s got a mighty fine sense of smell, so any Christmas present filled with food, treats, or catnip can become a fun puzzle for your feline. Keep these items out of reach until Christmas morning, then put them under the tree just in time for your family to joyfully open.

So why do cats love Christmas trees in the first place? Coll says that anything new—such as a Christmas tree—instantly becomes an object of curiosity.

“Most cats are very curious about Christmas trees and see them as an exciting new opportunity,” Coll says. “Christmas trees are tall; present lots of climbing, hiding, and scratching spaces; and are incredibly enticing to our feline friends.”

They also appeal to cats’ innate instincts that date back before they were domesticated.

“Before cats began cohabiting with humans, trees provided a place for them to seek out their next meal and to watch over their territory,” Coll says. “As animals that are both predator and prey, being in high places like trees also provides them with a sense of safety, security, and control. Cats love to feel like they are in control.”

In addition to cat Christmas-tree safety concerns, there’s another instinct-driven reason to use caution. One of the more unpleasant—and not at all funny—risks of bringing a Christmas tree into the home is the potential of marking.

“Marking is a means of feline communication and takes on a few different forms: scratching, rubbing, urine spraying, and even depositing feces, which is maddening,” Coll says. “While marking is generally considered to be an undesired behavior to cat parents, it is a completely normal cat behavior.”

In the wild, marking objects (like a tree), helps establish territories and puts out a little call for potential mates.

“The most common reasons that neutered and spayed housecats mark include territorial insecurity, other animals, stress, anxiety, and new objects with unfamiliar scents,” Coll says. “A Christmas tree would most likely fall into the category of being targeted due to unfamiliar smells.”

Understanding your own feline’s instincts and proclivities can go a long way in preventing a frustrating or potentially dangerous cat-versus-Christmas tree mishap. When you celebrate the holidays with cat Christmas-tree safety in mind, every member of the family can enjoy the festive fun of the season.

This content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.