How to Save Your Christmas Tree from Acrobatic Ninja Cats
Julaine Hunter, DVM 2013-12-06
After a silly little FaceBook posting, several folks asked me how to anchor a Christmas tree. As a veterinarian and a Mom, I have experience with failed methods (I did tell you I am a veterinarian and not an experienced contractor, right?) and successful ones to ensure a tree can withstand multiple hits from living projectiles. My best recommendation and tried and true method for protecting my tree from the dedicated efforts pets and children have employed to climb or to systematically destroy it is a combination approach.
By employing all three of the following techniques I saw my own tree survive a fierce onslaught, a rapid fire succession of hits starting with a 12lbs cat followed by a 50lbs dog and ending with a slide tackle by a 20+ lbs toddler without a tree fall!!!
1. Invest in a broad, flat stand, the wider the diameter and the greater the heft the better. No one will be the wiser after you’ve hidden your juggernaut stand beneath a decorative tree skirt. (Weights can be multi-purposed for additional stability.)
2. DO NOT whittle the base of the trunk to fit the stand and always ensure it is straight BEFORE securing (clamping, screwing or cabling) it into place.
3. Tether your tree to a stud in either your wall or ceiling, or both!
I personally endorse the hook secured to a ceiling stud method using high tensile strength, clear, monofilament fishing line. NOTE: Be sure to properly secure and store remaining fishing line as it can create a nasty surgical situation if swallowed by pets!
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A few additional tips to consider…
Once your tree is secured, consider putting off decorating plans until your pets (and toddler) have grown accustomed, and hopefully, bored with the tree itself. Putting in a new environmental enrichment play center, i.e., your tree, and then covering it with sparkling, shiny, interesting objects is like setting a moth to a flame.
Who could resist?!!!
When you do start to decorate, secure ornaments to the upper 2/3rds of the tree to avoid creating tempting, dangling, play items. Using ribbon coated with Bitter Apple which are tied to the treat itself to drastically reduce the chances of ornament removal and transport to parts unknown.
Using bitter apple spray on light cords can help discourage chewing; however, it is best to NEVER leave the lights plugged in when pets are unsupervised near your tree or other decorations.
Merry Christmas from LazyPaw Animal Hospitals!!!
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