How to Keep Cats Off the Christmas Tree (and Keep Them Safe)
By the MCC team · 7 min read · Reviewed for accuracy
To keep a cat off the Christmas tree, make the tree boring and something else better. Anchor the tree so it cannot tip, leave it undecorated for a few days, keep the bottom third free of dangling ornaments, skip tinsel, cover the water, and put a cat tree or window perch nearby so your cat has an approved place to climb. No method makes a tree cat-proof, so aim for two results at once: fewer climbs, and no injuries when a climb happens anyway. This guide covers both.
Why cats go for the tree
- It is new. A large object has appeared in their territory overnight, and a real tree smells of outdoors.
- It is climbable. Branches work like a ladder, and cats feel safest high up.
- It moves and sparkles. Hanging ornaments behave exactly like the toys you buy on purpose.
- Age matters. Kittens and cats under two are the most determined; many adult cats lose interest after the first week.
Step 1: Choose the spot and anchor the tree
- Stand the tree in a corner, away from sofas, shelves and windowsills that work as launch pads.
- Use a wide, heavy stand, and weigh the base down if it rocks when you push the trunk.
- Tie the upper trunk to a wall or ceiling hook with clear fishing line. The ASPCA’s holiday advice starts here: secure the tree so it cannot tip and fall.
- A shorter or slimmer tree gives a cat less to climb and has less distance to fall.
Step 2: Let the tree stand bare first
Put the tree up and leave it undecorated for two or three days. Most of the appeal is novelty, and novelty fades quickly when nothing dangles. If your cat climbs, lift it down calmly and set it on its own tree or perch. Add lights next, then ornaments a day later.
Step 3: Decorate with a cat in mind
- Bottom third: nothing that dangles, or only soft, unbreakable ornaments.
- Glass and sentimental pieces go near the top, with hooks pinched closed around the branch.
- No tinsel. The ASPCA warns that swallowed tinsel can cause severe vomiting and an obstructed digestive tract, and may need surgery.
- No edible decorations: popcorn strings, candy canes and chocolate all invite chewing.
- Run light cords down the trunk, cover the stretch to the wall socket with a cord protector, and unplug the lights when you are out or asleep.
- Ribbon, string and yarn carry the same swallowing risk as tinsel. Keep them off the tree and off cat gifts.
Step 4: Cover the water and manage real-tree risks
- Cover the stand with a tree skirt or fitted cover so your cat cannot drink from it. Standing tree water grows bacteria that can cause nausea and diarrhea.
- Never add preservatives, aspirin or sugar to the water in a home with pets.
- Sweep up needles daily. Chewed needles can irritate the mouth and stomach.
- An artificial tree removes the water and most of the needle problem, but some cats chew plastic branches, so watch for it.
Step 5: Give your cat a better tree
A competing offer works better than any deterrent. A cat that wants height and a view will take it wherever it is easiest to get.
- Put a cat tree in the same room, within sight of the Christmas tree. Our Summit Cat Tower is a floor-to-ceiling tree that adjusts from 89.75 to 102.25 inches and braces against the ceiling with a tension rod; the Modern Cat Tower comes in 41 and 49 inch heights for smaller rooms.
- Add a window seat. The Sunny Sill Window Perch rests on the sill and holds cats up to 22 lb.
- Play before the lights go on. Ten to fifteen minutes of chasing in the early evening takes the edge off. The Orbit Chaser rolls in short bursts when tapped, and catnip kicker toys give your cat something legal to wrestle.
- Reward the right tree. Feed treats on the cat tree’s platforms so the good things happen there.
For more ideas, see our guides to the best cat toys for indoor cats and the best cat tree for a small apartment, or browse Towers and Scratchers.
Deterrents: what helps and what to skip
- Close the door. Shutting the tree’s room at night and when you are out is the simplest fix and the only one that always works.
- A pet gate or low decorative fence around the tree slows kittens down.
- Aluminum foil around the base puts some cats off, because they dislike the feel and sound. Results vary from cat to cat.
- Skip essential oils as a repellent. Citrus, pine, peppermint and tea tree oils can be harmful to cats.
- Skip spray bottles and shouting. Your cat learns to wait until you leave the room.
Other holiday hazards near the tree
- Lilies are extremely toxic to cats, including the pollen and the vase water. Keep them out of the house.
- Mistletoe and holly are harmful if eaten. Poinsettia usually causes only mild mouth and stomach irritation.
- Some snow globes contain ethylene glycol, the chemical in antifreeze. Clean up a broken one at once and keep your cat away.
- Never leave lit candles unattended.
If your cat swallows tinsel, ribbon or string, or chews any part of a lily, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not pull on string you can see in the mouth or under the tail.
A cat-safe ornament for the tree
Our Custom Name Cat Ornament is solid Hinoki wood, 0.37 inches thick, so it will not shatter like glass if a paw knocks it down. It is printed with your cat’s name in a heart or oval shape, and it has a magnet on the back if the fridge is a safer home. It hangs on a paper ribbon, so place it above cat height like any ornament with a ribbon. It is made to order and arrives in 6 to 10 business days; for Christmas, order by Monday, December 7. More ideas are in our Christmas gifts for cat lovers guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep my cat from climbing the Christmas tree?
Anchor the tree, leave it bare for a few days, keep dangling ornaments off the lower branches, and give your cat its own tree or perch in the same room. Close the door when you cannot supervise.
Is Christmas tree water bad for cats?
Yes. Standing tree water grows bacteria that can upset a cat’s stomach, and additives make it worse. Cover the stand.
Is tinsel dangerous for cats?
Yes. Swallowed tinsel can block the digestive tract and may need surgery. Leave it off the tree in a home with cats.
Are real Christmas trees toxic to cats?
Fir, spruce and pine needles and sap can irritate the mouth and stomach if chewed, and sharp needles can cause injury. Sweep up fallen needles and call your vet if your cat vomits repeatedly or stops eating.
Does aluminum foil keep cats away from the tree?
Sometimes. Some cats avoid the feel and sound of foil, and others ignore it. Use it with anchoring and a cat tree, not instead of them.
Will my cat grow out of climbing the tree?
Often. Kittens and young cats are the most persistent, and many adult cats lose interest once the tree stops being new.