Paws off! How to keep your cat away from the Christmas decor
7.12.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Few decorations are cat-compatible. Don’t want to do without Advent wreaths, tea lights and window decorations during the Christmas season despite having a mewling four-legged friend? Here are some tips for you.
Cats love decorations. Sometimes a little too much. Many a tea light has had the misfortune of making contact with a paw, only to then plummet onto the floor. Even so, I refuse to give up the candlelight and Christmas tree decorations during Advent. The good news is you can indeed have both a cat and Christmas decorations. Here’s how.
First off: every animal is different. Some cats won’t let anything (not even the following tips) stop their reign of terror over your fairy lights and Christmas tree. But my advice might help you if your felines, like mine, aren’t particularly active and playful.
Work with heights
You can solve many problems simply by placing things out of paw’s reach. If your cats aren’t too fond of climbing and jumping, you can decorate higher up. This applies to windows, too. Place artificial snow and Christmas motifs so they don’t reach all the way down to the windowsill.
Source: Maike Jensen
It’s also a good idea to use hanging decor. For example, stretch some wire, wrap it with red ribbon, and attach some accessories to it. You don’t have to do entirely without a Christmas tree either. Opt for a miniature specimen that’ll fit in a hanging pot. It can look quite cute!
Source: Maike Jensen
Source: Maike Jensen
Another handy hack is one from @modernglamhome on Instagram. In a video, she shows herself tensioning a shower curtain rail into an arch and wrapping it with fir branches.
You’ll find [hanging pots](/search?filter=t_18397%3D1276586&q=Hanging pot) and [shower rods](/search?q=shower rod) in our shop.
Stay away from lightweights
Anything your cat can reach should weigh enough that it can’t be easily knocked down or pushed around. So, go for thicker, heavier tea light and candle holders. The same goes for classic decorations such as angel figurines – go for bigger, robust ones.
Source: Maike Jensen
Source: Maike Jensen
Spray vinegar
Cats don’t like vinegar. So, what you can do is mix regular vinegar with a little water and pour it into a spray bottle in a ratio of two thirds apple cider vinegar to one third water. Spray any objects that you want to protect from your cat, such as fir branches, pine cones and Advent wreaths, with a few pumps. This should keep them away. Repeat as often as needed to keep the vinegar smell fresh.
Caution: be careful if you have a Christmas tree or Advent wreath within reach of your cat. The needles and resin may be poisonous to them!
Create boundaries
You’ll also come across funny, though not always feasible, ideas on social media – Christmas trees being guarded by the dreaded vacuum cleaner or placed in a large rabbit cage, for instance. Someone even used a ring of oranges and mandarins to protect their Christmas tree, as their cat was afraid of the brightly coloured fruit; a humorous, harmless boundary. You can view a funny compilation of barricades here.
Offer alternatives
If you have pets, you probably know that they get up to mischief mainly out of boredom. If you keep your cat busy, chances are they’ll show less interest in your Christmas decorations. So, give them something to do. One option for a distraction that’s always good to have around is cat grass. Why is it important for your pets and what you should look out for when buying it? Find out in the article below.
Other than that, play with your cats! Take the time to amuse your furry friends, be it with a cat dancer, laser pointer or feather wand. The more exhausted your feline, the less likely they’ll feel the need to vandalise your decor. You can find lots of toys in our shop. Even the empty boxes which stored your decorations may provide some fun.
Source: Maike Jensen
To end things on a merry note, happy Christmas!
Do you have any tips on how to keep cats away from your Christmas decorations? Let me know in the comments!
Header image: Maike Jensen
Cat lady and coffee lover from up north. Always on the lookout for «News and Trends».
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Christmas
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