Chonky Forest Kitty - Cross Stitch Pattern On Sale Today Only for Just $11.19!! Sale ends in 6 hours and 9 minutes

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My cat Tiger is the Ultimate Christmas Tree Destroyer. I put up a 3 ft tree, which he always knocked over, which is fine. Last year, I barely got the tree out, no ornaments on it yet, and he had already chewed it so much he brought up 2 globs of plastic pine needles. I put it away, no tree last year. I missed so much, but his safety far surpasses my wants.

So I am going to make a tree from a tomato cage and variegated green yarn. My question is, what should I use for a base? Since it's upside down, it's just 4 tiny posts from the bottom ring. It'll stand up, but is 'ugly'. A green plastic shallow dish?

TIA,
Jane

I would use floral foam in a pot and some rocks to stabilize it. Others may have better ideas.

Catherine

You would also need the u pins to attach the cage to the foam…..forgot to add to previous post.

Catherine

Glad to hear that Tiger survived his Christmas tree "treats". Perhaps this year you could get a ceramic tree and put it where he can't reach it?

Good luck!

Debbie

Don't cats love getting into yarn? It's been a long time since I've had a cat. Maybe wrap the cage with ribbon or bias fabric? As for a base, maybe try a small pot deep enough to be stabilized with a brick for weight. You could wind some string around the small part of the cage, go around the brick and tie off. I think it's important to try to use items that the cat can't or wouldn't ingest given his prior history of eating the needles.

If your cat knows not to jump up on hard surface furniture, or not to swing from the chandeliers :), perhaps whatever you make you could put on a table top that he can't access.

I like the suggestion above about using a ceramic Christmas tree. They come in several sizes and while you wouldn't be able to put your ornaments on them, at least it'd be a Christmas look. The other suggestion would be to get some of those metal or wood photo stands with various arms to display non-breakable ornaments from, again displayed in a non-accessible location.

Good luck with whatever you create. I hope it works out well.

Consider me a worrier. I’d be afraid the cat might attempt to climb the tree and turn it over. Those prongs meant to stick in the ground might injure your cat. Good luck finding a way to have a Christmas tree that you can enjoy and will be safe for your cat.
BTW like Ellie it has been years since I had a cat but I recall one of them loved yarn.

Lynn

I think ornaments are tempting to cats also. My cats did not climb the trees, but some would sit underneath and bat at the ornaments. I would hang unbreakable ones on the lower limbs.

I would not attempt a tree of any kind if I had a cat who liked to get into things. Is there a room that is off-limits to the cat but you would still be able to enjoy the tree? My daughter gave up having a tree because her cats cry at the door if she shuts them out.

If your cat is not a jumper, maybe you have room on a wall to create something festive.

Lynn, good point about the prongs. It's also been a long time since I used tomato cages.

Thanks all. He does not bother yarn or floss, only ANYTHING plastic. Pens in a cup, corners of plastic binders, plastic bags, corners of plastic bins, my computer, all things plastic are all gnawed on. I have stitched ornaments out near his level, he does not bother them. If I make this tree, I will monitor what he does.

I do have a small ceramic tree. I feared he'd gnaw on that, so far he hasn't.

It's a full time job cat proofing a house!

Jane

If he only chews on plastic stuff, why couldn't you get a small real tree?

Sounds like you do have a full time job cat proofing your home.
We’ve had our fair share of that with a kitten once and a few puppies too. One puppy loved chewing the carpet up from doorways.
Hope your tree works out well for both of you. 🌲

Lynn

jane,maybe instead of yarn gather scraps of different green fabrics,cut/tear into strips,and do a rag tree,it would be a lot fuller than a yarn tree.Have you ever seen the rag wreaths,same principle.Then after xmas you just put the whole thing in a plastic trash bag and store until next year.
Kathi

Fabric sounds like a better choice than yarn, I agree. Yarn will probably get fuzzy looking with use.

Kathi,

I love the idea of the fabric scraps. Would look more dimensional.

He could not climb the tomato cage "tree". It's too short. Tiger, stretched out, is taller than the fake tree.

I'd love a real tree. However, I do not have any plants on the house (tried growing catnip, he ate it right down to the dirt). Don't know how he'd react to the evergreen tree, and pine needles are toxic for cats.

Tabletop, he jumps up everywhere, including the fridge & dryer.

Former cats were so much calmer; they'd lay under the tree and never bothered it. Tiger is busy, Busy, BUSY !! and he's perfect.

Jane

Chonky Forest Kitty - Cross Stitch Pattern On Sale Today Only for Just $11.19!! Sale ends in 6 hours and 9 minutes