Q&A for How to Cat Proof Your Christmas Tree

Please take your cat to the vet. It may need surgery to clear a bowel obstruction if the problem does not clear on its own.

If the wire is ingested, take the cat to the vet immediately. The content of wires are dangerous and sharp. However, if it's a plugged-in wire, unplug the wire immediately to prevent the cat from being shocked. After this, consider Bitter Apple spray to deter your cat going forward.

Yes, they are much safer than glass.

Take your cat to the vet immediately. Anything a cat eats that isn't cat food or water needs to be treated to prevent your cat from getting sick.

There are certain fragrances that cats just do not like, but are safe for humans. Buy a fragrance that your cat dislikes, but you like to ward them from attacking your beloved tree and ruining the ornaments.

Possibly, but I would not trust them. They might contain harsh chemicals that could be unhealthy for your cat.

If you are not planning on eating the gingerbread, try putting toothpaste, bitter apple spray, or orange juice on the decoration. Also, try putting the gingerbread nearer to the top of the tree.

You could try using a spray bottle or a squirt gun to discourage your cat, or maybe spray citrus on the tree to deter the cat. There are lots of tips to try in the article too, just after these Q&A.

Yes, these will work for cats of any age.

Cat-proofing your tree is more difficult with fake snow. Keep your cat away from the snow by spraying it with bitter apple spray, or forgo the fake snow to make your tree safer for your cat.

Try rubbing mint toothpaste on the lower branches. My cat stays away for 2-3 weeks before I have to reapply.

That kind of spray works in the short term - at least for my cats - but not for long. You'd likely to need to re-spray your tree every day or even multiple times a day. I would attempt to train them with a spray bottle filled with water.

Put all the decorations farther up on your tree so your cat has a lower chance of reaching them.

Healthy would be better than on old tree, but it would be better to go with a fake tree to not cause any punctures from a real tree to your cat.

Clean up the glass immediately. If you need to look for supplies, and must leave your cat unattended, spray water on the floor around the glass if the floor isn't wood.

If you have followed all the steps in this article, this should not happen, but it's better to be prepared. If it happens, get your cat off of there right away. After that, maybe try moving the tree to a different location where that is less likely to happen again.

Do not put the breakable ones near the bottom of the tree. Also, give the cat a few ornaments at the bottom which are safe to play with and will not break easily.

It depends on your cat. If your cat is docile and keeps off the table, that is fine. But you should keep a close eye on the tree. To be safe, you should get an artificial miniature tree and if you want to decorate it, use plastic decorations and avoid anything that would make your cat sick if eaten.

In my experience, yes. Cats hate the smell of vinegar. This repellent may work better on artificial trees though. Citrus juice is also a good deterrent to add to the mix. I would spray the tree every 1-2 days and focus especially on the bottom branches.

You can use tape or a pipe as in the picture. You can also put something over it like a blanket or small stool or table.

That may work, but a very active (or a very small) cat may possibly go over, under or through one of those.

Cats dislike certain smells just as humans do. Try spraying the tree with citrus or anything else the article suggests.

Collect all the broken ornaments and pieces and dispose of them properly (wrap glass/sharp pieces in paper before binning). Sweep/mop/vacuum the floor thoroughly to ensure no parts are left for the cat to ingest or feet to step on. Check to see if the cat is okay; if it shows signs of choking, not eating or has a distended stomach, take the cat to the vet. When redecorating the tree, use the tips above to cat proof it next time, and/or choose unbreakable and safe ornaments.

The materials used to create the flocked effect are mildly toxic if ingested. As long as the cat eats barely any, it should be okay. What to watch for is if the cat eats a lot, it may cause blockage in the cat's intestines, which can be fatal. If that happens, or you're unsure, take the cat to the vet/emergency animal hospital for a checkup.

Some cats love to chew paper, so your cat is likely attracted to the paper over the gifts. Either remove the presents until Christmas Day or put the gifts out of reach of the cat by putting them up higher, perhaps on a stand or similar higher object. Another option is to place a barrier, such as a fireplace screen or playpen around the gifts when nobody is in the room to distract the cat.

Although not citrus, lemongrass is citrus-scented and may therefore deter the cat from going near the mopped area. If that's what you're wanting, then it could be useful. If you're concerned the cats might leave the room, use a different scent.

The best way is prevention. Keep the tree above the cat's direct level, such as putting it up on something solid like a stand, flat suitcase or box. Make it hard for the cat to reach the tree from below or above by placing it away from shelving and other items the cat could climb and putting gifts or other objects to act as barriers around the base. You can also lift up or remove the lower branches or cover them in foil to discourage chewing. As a last resort, spray the tree with citrus scent to deter interest.

Cats have a natural aversion to citrus, which causes them to stay away from it and hate the smell. The juice comes from the flesh, so it should be safe - at worst, it will upset their stomach. The peel contains a dangerous poison, which can be a concern if they consume it. All of these methods involve knowing your cat will not touch what repulses them, so knowing your cat's behaviour when repulsed is important. Most cats will also stay away from artificial citrus. Never use essential oils as they are so concentrated, an accidental tail graze could be harmful.

Clean up any glass that has fallen on the floor right away and remove the lights from the tree. It's also worth taking your cat to a vet, just in case he/she swallowed any shards of glass. Small LED lights are a safer alternative to large glass ones.

Try wrapping a few boxes in tin foil and putting them under the tree. A lot of cats dislike tin foil. If you've wrapped boxes, they will look like gifts, and a bit more attractive than anything else likely to put your cat off.