Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Video: This is everything that can go wrong with your cat and your Christmas tree

Here's how to cat proof your Christmas tree (plus watch what happens when you don't)

By

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — for cats. Our furry felines love the Christmas season because it comes with lots of new smells and ornaments to play with. Of course, when your kitty decides her new favorite toy is your holiday decorations, you might be in for a bit of trouble. This video perfectly sums up everything that can go wrong when your cat discovers the Christmas tree.

@funnyanimals670

Cats and chrismas trees#cat #pet #christmas #marrychristmas

♬ original sound – Funny pets ??❤️

Compilation videos frequently go viral on TikTok and this one, entitled Cats and Christmas trees, is sure to delight since it features the internet’s favorite creatures. You get to witness a series of cats attacking, inspecting, and attempting to climb their Christmas trees. Predictably, many of the evergreens fall over onto the unsuspecting house cats. That certainly doesn’t stop them from trying again though.

Recommended Videos

Top comment by Nils perfectly summed up the video with, “Cats and Christmas trees! Never gets old, unless it’s your cat and your tree!” peanutsonic43 got into the minds of the cats and said, “While it may be annoying for us, imagine how magical Christmas is for cats. Suddenly everything is colorful and sparkly and fun to play with.” If you’re looking for some cat-proofing tips, follow Jayden’s advice, “My cat is terrified of gnomes so we surrounded our tree with them so she won’t jump on it.” Genius.

A cat sits beneath a Christmas tree on top of a present
Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

How to keep cats out of the Christmas tree

In order to prevent your animal from getting to the tree, you need to understand why she tries to go after it in the first place. There are three main reasons that your tree is irresistible to your mouser:

  • It smells interesting and may retain some outdoorsy scents for her powerful nose
  • The branches are fun to climb, and the bark makes an excellent scratching post
  • Your shiny ornaments attract her attention and beg to be played with

With that in mind, you’ll need to eliminate these enticements in order to create a cat-proof Christmas tree. Some owners find that a fake tree goes a long way to keeping the pets away, especially one designed to be difficult to climb. Additionally, you can put ornaments higher up or stick with ones that don’t grab her attention. While any of these tricks might work, some four-leggers are persistent, and you may have to give up and put the tree in a room with a door. That way, you can shut the tree away when you aren’t keeping your eye on your cat.

Unfortunately, Christmas can be a dangerous times for pets, so as much as we enjoy watching these videos, it is necessary to take certain precautions to protect your animals. But assuming you have everything as safe as can be, you might as well set up a camera to catch the action, just in case.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Do cats understand kisses? What science says
Your cat may or may not take to this human behavior
Woman kissing her cat

Why do we give our pets kisses? For us, it shows affection and devotion to our animals, including by reinforcing the physical bond between us. But when we give our felines a peck on the head and they glare up at us, it's easy to wonder what they feel during this sign of our love.

Do cats understand kisses? To get to the heart of this question, we first have to think about how our kitties feel about us. Scientists don't have a consensus on whether cats feel love (in the same way we do) for us and how we should interpret their behavior. It seems that some mousers do indeed enjoy getting a kiss or two, while others certainly probably don't enjoy it.

Read more
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Surprising reasons explained
Health concerns to harmless changes: Reasons cats stick out their tongues
Side view of a cat sticking out its tongue

If you've ever wondered, "Why do cats stick out their tongues?" you're not alone. Whether you've noticed your cat doing it and wondered whether your cat is sick, or you've simply seen a cute TikTok, try not to worry. Most cats occasionally "blep" or stick their tongues out, and it's rarely a cause for concern. In fact, it's downright adorable! (Search for 'cat bleps' online when you're feeling down; the precious images are the perfect pick-me-up.)
What causes cats to blep? We'll explore a few potential reasons behind this strange yet adorable behavior.
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Here are a few reasons

As odd as this behavior may look, you'll be glad to know that you rarely need to worry about a cat sticking out their tongue.
Your cat is exploring the world with their tongue
One of the most common reasons for an exposed tongue is rather simple: your cat is literally exploring their surroundings. When your cat leaves their mouth open and tongue out, they're collecting pheromones on their tongue -- this is called the Flehmen response. Those pheromones give your cat important information about other cats around, including whether they're in heat, via electrical signals from body to brain. Who knew something so cute could be so helpful, too?
Your cat may show their tongue if they're missing teeth
Sometimes, cats let their tongue hang out a little because they're missing their canine or front teeth. These teeth help keep the tongue within the mouth, so if your cat is missing one or two of these teeth, it's more likely that their tongue will slip out from time to time. No worries!
Your cat is trying to please you with a behavior they think you like
You might even be reinforcing your cat to stick their tongue out without knowing! If you laugh at your cat, give them attention, or give them a treat when they do this behavior, they may quickly learn that sticking out their tongue gets a positive response. You might start to see your cat do this repeatedly, mainly to get a positive reaction from you. Whether that's 'good' or not is up to you to decide.
Your cat may let their tongue fall out of their mouth when they're relaxed
Sometimes, when cats are relaxed, their tongues naturally slip out. This happens because your cat's jaw loosens up as they relax, so their mouth opens up just enough to let the tongue through.

Read more
Why is my cat peeing everywhere? Find out the reason and how to fix it
Helpful tips if your kitty is guilty of this
A black and white cat sprawls out beside a blue litter box with a pile of litter on the floor

Whether you've recently adopted your feline friend or they've been your constant companion for years, inappropriate urination is a problem you want to nip in the bud — sooner rather than later. Inappropriate urination, otherwise referred to as elimination issues, are frustrating for all pet parents. Don't think you're at fault. An estimated 10% of all cats will experience house soiling at some point in their lives.

Sadly, inappropriate litter box use is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters each year. You've come to the right place if you've been wondering, "Why is my cat peeing everywhere?" We'll share what you need to know about the most common reasons behind these issues, and we'll teach you how you can put an end to your fur baby's toilet troubles once and for all.
Why is my cat peeing everywhere?

Read more