Decorating for the holidays has always been fun and challenging for me, but having a cat really adds to the challenge. How do I keep my precious antique ornaments and knick-knacks from being broken? How high is high enough out of reach for the garland? Most importantly, how do I keep the cat out of the Christmas tree?
There are many opinions out there with how to deter a cat from knocking over the Christmas tree. Most of them include how to attach the tree to the ceiling with fishing line, how to duct tape the tree to the tree stand, or how to clamp that wire ornament hanger onto the branch so tightly it will not come off anytime in the next 50 years. These ideas are for those that have given up and are simply trying to minimize the damage. But why even let it get so far?
Here’s my secret to keeping the cats completely away from Christmas tree and other decorations: oranges!
Step 1: Grab an orange.
Step 2: Peel carefully.
Step 3: Enjoy your snack *Slurp*.
Step 4: Take those orange peels and place a few around the base of the tree. Put some more behind the Church in the winter land display on the table. Don’t forget to put a couple up on the mantle where the stockings are hung.
Step 5: Enjoy the nice citrusy smell and chuckle to yourself that you have outsmarted the cat again.
What’s the trick? Cats aren’t fond of citrus smells. Naturally, they will avoid locations that they don’t like. Simply replace the peels every couple of days. Get your whole family to help! The best part is; you don’t even have to use the word “healthy” when you hand your teenager an orange and ask him to help you out with the decorating.
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Great idea! Pet owners may also wish to use a Tattle Tale, which emits a loud noise when a pet gets near a forbidden area, or a product called Ssscat, which emits a startling, harmless spray as a deterrent.
I wanted to mention that beside the obvious dangers of knocking over a Christmas tree, there are other reasons to keep your cat away from it:
-Tree needles can be toxic and cause mouth and stomach irritation.
-Tinsel is attractive to pets. When eaten, it can cause intestinal blockage. We recommend you leave it off the tree altogether.
-Cats may knock glass ornaments off of trees, causing cuts on paws or mouth. Sharp ornament hooks may become imbedded in the mouth or esophagus.
- Water under the tree is also a hazard. Because tree preservatives are often sugar-based (and inviting to pets) and because the water stands so long, the water in the tree stand often harbors potentially harmful bacteria. Fertilizers, insecticides, or flame retardants that were used on the tree may also get into the water.