Cat climbing into Christmas Tree?

[BroganMc]

I've had cats for years, never this. When a Disney friend told me her cat climbed into their Christmas tree the first year she had him I thought that was just insane. I mean all those tiny branches, prickly needles, light strings and ornaments dangling about. How in the world would any creature think that was a comfortable spot to nap?

I've had playful kittens who'd whack a shiny ornament off a bottom branch and play soccer with it. I've had a dog take out a tree with an exuberant whack of his tail. But a tree climber?!

Most our last cat (who lived with us 15 years before her passing) did was stare at the tree lights from under it. But this year we have two new kitties. Very sweet white cats who were adopted as kittens during last year's blizzards. Lovable little furballs who cuddle with their humans and play chase around the house. They wear bells on their collars so we always hear them gamboling about.

Then tonight as I sit in the kitchen tapping away on my computer I hear a new little tinkle. It's the glass angel bell ornament we've had for years (to symbolize that "when a bell rings and angel gets their wings" thing in It's A Wonderful Life). Hmmm, that's odd. I thought I heard that sound two times today already.

So I go in the Living Room and there right in the middle of the tree is a white kitty snoozing on a branch. She climbed right up the center, gingerly avoiding all the lights, ornaments and prickly needles. Apparently her sister had done it twice already this morning when my dad was alone in the kitchen.

I don't know whether to laugh or be outraged. So far they haven't broken anything much less disturbed it. They are very careful climbers. I have no way of shutting the room off to them (it's an open floorplan). It's an artificial tree and pretty sturdy. And there's no sign they are wire chewers as well.

It's just crazy.

I ended up chasing her out of the tree, shutting it off and now she's sulking in another room. Maybe it was the lights they like so much. Or maybe they just like giving lots of angels their wings.

 

[epcotprincess]

Awww! I have 3 kitties and they've all climbed and napped in there at some point over the years.

I used to have a less full artificial tree and they loved climbing their way through that one, but this year we got an awesome new one that's very full, so they haven't attempted it.

When I hang my ornaments, I twist the metal hook around so it is bound to the branch. It's a pain to do it and a pain to take down, but that way I've always been assured that my cats won't knock important or special ornaments off.

I found the more I chased them out, the more they wanted in the tree. When I quit caring because it was fruitless, they stopped. I guess that's just how cats are!

 

[BroganMc]

Next time I must get a picture of them in the tree for the family scrapbook. It's just so hilarious.

I'm guessing this will be the last year for our tree anyway. Half the lights burned out (fortunately we could add new strings and fill in). Maybe next time we'll get a fuller tree.

 

[justhat]

Our cats consistently climb into the tree. Last year we had a tiny tree and even though they were mere kittens (born July 31, 2009), they would literally knock the whole tree down. This year we have a much larger tree that they haven't knocked down so far.

 

[scrapquitler]

We've had cats for nearly 20 years, and never had any cat do any more damage than knocking an ornament or two off the bottom branches.

Until this year.

In October we got two white kittens. As soon as we put our tree up (literally, iwthin 5 minutes, we hadn't even finished 'fluffing' out the branches), one of the kittens jumped up along the trunk and climbed all the way to the top of the tree in about 20 seconds. Then he jumped straigh out, over the branches. And she repeated this numerous times.

At this point, its still fun, but not as exciting, I guess. Now he's napping in the branches about 3/4 of the way up. His brother is sticking to standing near the branches and knocking things down.

Needless to say, there's not many ornaments on the tree. Instead we just did lights, strings of gold beads, red velvet ribbons and candy canes. My son did put a few ornaments on there, but we're constantly having to put them back up.

Oh well. Some year I'll be able to put all my fragile ornaments on the tree again. When the cats are all gone and the children have grown up.

 

[lovetoscrap]

This is our tree last year, with one of our 2 kittens at the time. I didn't a picture of the other one. This one loved to climb in there which is funny because she is the less adventurous of the two. This year she has been much better about staying out. The squirt bottle of water has helped!

 

[lsyorke]

Our's never climbed, but as soon the tree was up, she would sleep under it every night. She did "tree" a mouse one day though...it was pretty funny. She stared at the tree for HOURS until we realized that the poor mouse was hanging on for dear life in the top of the tree.

 

[BroganMc]

In October we got two white kittens. As soon as we put our tree up (literally, iwthin 5 minutes, we hadn't even finished 'fluffing' out the branches), one of the kittens jumped up along the trunk and climbed all the way to the top of the tree in about 20 seconds. Then he jumped straigh out, over the branches. And she repeated this numerous times.

That beats me. I did just catch Miss Thing climbing the bookshelves up to the fireplace mantle where the Nativity is located. She is a jumper.

Our tree is on a fairly plush rug so I'm hoping that means my ornaments won't break if they land. And we did hang them pretty securely.

We also have a huge train garden setup in our patio room. That one I can close off from them. So far we caught one taking a little stroll through the winter play area but not doing any damage. I think she just wanted to see out the window at a passing bird. The biggest problem is they jump up on the dining table out there to get a look at all the lights. Nothing worse than a dining tablecloth full of cat hair. Hence they get banned from that room.

They do have a cat tree and other areas to lay on and play in. (Any shipping boxes we get are instant playgrounds.) But it is the new places they must explore and make their own.

Could be worse. At least they aren't scratching the furniture or spraying. And if you catch them they flash you the baby face and purr as if they are the most adorable thing on the planet.

 

[hambirg]

lovetoscrap- that is friggin hilarious!

I've had cats my whole life and we never had any that wanted to climb the Christmas tree. We had a few that liked to knock around the lower hanging bulbs, but that's it.

BUT. . has anybody else's cat been weird lately? My 8 yr old has been jumping up on the counters lately. . .something that she has NEVER done before! And the other day when I came home. . I found her asleep in our pedestal sink!!! She's spade, but I'm starting to wonder if she's not in the midst of kitty menopause. I was thinking she was having hot flashes since she wanted to sleep in the sink.. . .do cats even go though that?

 

[redlight]

That's very funny. It may not appear so now, but it sounds like a story you will be telling for years.

 

[BroganMc]

lovetoscrap- that is friggin hilarious!

I've had cats my whole life and we never had any that wanted to climb the Christmas tree. We had a few that liked to knock around the lower hanging bulbs, but that's it.

BUT. . has anybody else's cat been weird lately? My 8 yr old has been jumping up on the counters lately. . .something that she has NEVER done before! And the other day when I came home. . I found her asleep in our pedestal sink!!! She's spade, but I'm starting to wonder if she's not in the midst of kitty menopause. I was thinking she was having hot flashes since she wanted to sleep in the sink.. . .do cats even go though that?

Ours climbed in the sink since we brought her home. Nearest I can figure is the bowl shape is a perfect fit for her little body. In the summertime it is cool laying against the porcelain. In the winter, it's a lot warmer than laying on the floor.

Course the way to discourage that behavior is just to flip on the tap. Running water terrifies most cats.

 

[BroganMc]

Our's never climbed, but as soon the tree was up, she would sleep under it every night. She did "tree" a mouse one day though...it was pretty funny. She stared at the tree for HOURS until we realized that the poor mouse was hanging on for dear life in the top of the tree.

OMG that's hysterical! What happened to the mouse?

A couple months ago when it first got cold our two cats staked out a corner of the kitchen. It's an older country house so we have a few cubby holes where field mice try to gain entry as soon as it gets chilly.

Sure enough I found them playing with a toy mouse later or assumed it was one of their furry little toys until I realized it had legs. And it squirmed. Poor thing didn't last long.

I may worry for my decorations but I'm secure no mouse can set up residence in this house.

 

[Imzadi]

OP, you need to read this web site:

http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

 

[BroganMc]

OP, you need to read this web site:

http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

Thanks. I think I'd cry if our tree ended up in that state. It's cute now because they haven't hurt anything, but the first broken ornament and the game changes.

I'm actually getting a little worried. We're going away Christmas week. I have a cat sitter but I cringe thinking what the miscreants will get up to while alone.

Yes they have been left here before with the sitter, but without Christmas stuff. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on things, or use a bitter spray. No way are they getting into the train room though. I would be heartbroken if that broke. Too many years and man-hours putting that up with my dad.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Our's never climbed, but as soon the tree was up, she would sleep under it every night. She did "tree" a mouse one day though...it was pretty funny. She stared at the tree for HOURS until we realized that the poor mouse was hanging on for dear life in the top of the tree.

Oh, my goodness!!


Lovetoscrap - your pictures are precious! Mine did that when they were kittens, too, and they just look so innocent and cute.

Last year, however, they were bigger, and it wasn't so cute. They tried to climb it and tipped it over! Our tree is now wired to the wall.

 

[PollyannaMom]

OP, you need to read this web site:

http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

That's fabulous!!!!

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

We've had to replace every ornament on our tree with non breakable ones because of two cats that just can't stay out of the tree! I'm afraid they may have finally destroyed this artificial tree too... there's huge gaps on the bottom from where I just know they've been laying.

We're thinking about trying a real tree next year, but that makes me nervous too! But I'm hoping the thicker the tree the harder it is for them to get up it lol.

It was a shock for me, as I grew up with a cat who was more than content to just lay underneath. Now I have two hellions who climb all the way up to the top!!

 

[gmcgrath]

Nice cats Brogan, they are looking really cute in that Christmas Tree

 

[lsyorke]

OMG that's hysterical! What happened to the mouse?

Luckily the three came in two pieces, so we popped off the top and took it outside and off the poor thing ran...traumatized for life, LOL!

 

[Geoff_M]

We have three cats, and our "climber" loves our artificial tree. He has effectively created a circular terrace about 18 inches from the top of the three by bending the wire branches above his perch out of the way. We finally gave up trying to keep him out of the tree and just make sure that the base legs are orientated so if it falls over it'll miss the TV.