Mike and I discussed this morning about putting up a tree this year. I can’t believe it is getting so close to making the decision- but WalMart already has Christmas decorations!
With the abundance of kittens, even if we do anchor the tree down like we do each year, we are certain that the kittens will not stay on the floor admiring our work, but will be climbing the tree on a regular basis.
Can’t blame them, cats are supposed to climb trees. There have been some years where we have put a tree in here, completely bare of decorations for one purpose only- to teach the kittens in the home how to climb up and down trees correctly, just in case they found themselves outside and needing to climb.
Without mom in the picture, kittens don’t know how to climb trees right. Oh sure, they can scamper up a tree with the best of them, it is getting down they find challenging.
Mom would show them how to back down slowly, and they would follow by her lead. But without a mom, the impulse in them is to head down head first which can result in two things- either they climb so high that looking down scares the paws right out of them, and they stay stuck in the tree. Or, they try to head down head-first and end up falling and hurting themselves (depending on the height of the tree.
So we could put a tall one in here and show each kitten the proper way to climb up and down, or we could just forget putting a tree in here at all. I do know that if we decide to put a tree in the living room, the only decorations on it will be the kittens!
The hazards of decorated trees are tinsel (poisonous to cats if they eat it) Glass ornaments that get knocked on the floor and shatter- pine needles after they are dry, falling off and being eaten can pierce internal organs- even the tree water poses a danger to cats if they drink it (and they always try) They can get tangled up in lights and strangle, they can nibble on the cords and get electrocuted- yep lots to think about if you have kittens in your home at Christmas time. Even presents can be dangerous. Ribbons are choking hazards and decorative adornments can be toxic.
Hello again! A tree decorated with kittens sounds great! 🙂
Just last year, my 4 youngest cats were 2 1/2 years old and I braved having a tree for the first time since I adopted them. I only did a 4′ tree anchored to a round table so there was nothing to swat at for the bottom 18″ or so. I was amazed that the biggest thrill was who got to stake out the “hidey” spot that was created by the tablecloth drape I used. It made a cool “tent” as it hung all the way to the floor. There was great fun when one would get under there then watch other kitty feet pass by and then suddenly pop out to ambush them!
One year I just had the fake evergreen garland and mounted it around my living room window. I put lights in it and decorations on that and it was like having a Christmas tree valence rather than an upright tree!
Best of luck with what ever you decide.