Cats love lights and anything that shines. They are also very inquisitive when anything new is introduced to the household.  It’s that time of year and you will spend many hours decorating your tree and it’s possible that your cat may put a damper on all of your hard work. Here are some tips which may help keep your cat and tree safe.

1. Consider the tree. Real trees can be more dangerous to your cat than artificial ones. The needles are sharper and could pierce or puncture the skin of your curious cat.
2. Select a very strong base for your tree.
3. Select the proper place for the tree. Make sure there is enough space around it and it isn’t too close to anything that your cat can climb on and potentially do damage to your tree.
4. Consider waiting a few days before decorating the tree. Let your cat become familiar with it. This may reduce his desire get into it after it’s decorated.
   • If you’re still concerned prior to decorating the tree, spray it with a product called Apple Bitter. This will deter her without leaving a noticeable odor to human noses. Or, you might try a citrus spray, as cats are repelled by citrus odor too.
   • If it’s a plastic tree, a small amount of Citronella oil shaken into a bottle of water and misted on to the tree makes it smell unpleasant to the cat but fresh and citrus-like to you.
   • You could also place orange peels under the tree to make your cat less likely to go near it. (Cats also dislike the smell of rotten apples but then you probably won’t like that smell much either!)
   • Spray some pine cones with Citronella and pile them around the base of the tree. Cats do not walk on pine cones! (Pine cones also have the same effect in the base of your houseplants.)
5. Decorate your tree with your cat out of the way.
6. Choose ornaments that are less attractive to your cat. Buy non breakable ornaments and place them on the bottom of the tree. Place the more fragile and expensive ones towards the middle and top of the tree,
7. Attach ornaments securely.
8. Watch out for electrical wiring.  Don’t leave dangling wires around. You may want to coat the wires with bitter apple to keep your cat away.
9. Relax and enjoy your holiday!

Remember, your pets count!

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