Can You Have a Real Christmas Tree With Cats or Dogs?

Yes. Plenty of our customers have a real tree and a house full of pets. But one longtime customer told me this fall that she skipped a tree after adopting two kittens. She was afraid she'd wake up to the tree on the floor, or everything on it on the floor. That's a fair worry.
Below are ideas we've picked up from customers, friends and other pet owners over the years. We haven't tested all of them ourselves, and every cat and dog is different. Think of these as suggestions to try, not promises.

Start with a tree that won't tip

• Use a heavy, wide stand. A stand that's too small is the number one reason any tree leans, pets or not. Our size and stand guide shows which stand fits which tree.
• Anchor the trunk. Many pet owners tie clear fishing line from the trunk to a small hook in the wall or window frame. It's nearly invisible and keeps the tree upright if a cat climbs it.
• Pick a corner. Two walls means fewer sides to climb from and fewer directions to fall.
• Move the launch pads. Keep couches, shelves and tables a few feet away so cats can't jump straight into the branches.
• Start smaller. If this is your pet's first Christmas, a shorter tree, or a tabletop tree on a sturdy surface, is an easy way to test the waters.

Give them a day or two

Some owners leave the tree bare for a day or two before decorating. The idea is that the tree stops being new and exciting, and you see whether your cat treats it as a climbing gym before your ornaments are on it.

Decorate with paws in mind

• Keep the bottom third clear of anything breakable or edible: glass ornaments, salt dough, popcorn strings, candy canes.
• Tie ornaments on with ribbon or twist ties instead of metal hooks. Batted ornaments stay put, and there are no loose hooks on the floor.
• Skip tinsel and loose ribbon garland. They're tempting to cats and a problem if swallowed.
• Use LED lights, which stay cool, and tape cords along the floor or run them through a cord cover.

Cover the water

Ideas some owners swear by

• Aluminum foil or double sided tape around the base or on the stand, since many cats dislike the feel.
• Motion activated deterrents that release a puff of air when a pet gets close, sold online.
• A scratching post or a pile of cut branches nearby, so there's something they're allowed to play with.

Dogs too

• Puppies chew. A small gate or exercise pen around the tree helps the first season.
• Happy tails clear low branches fast, so hang ornaments higher.

If you have health questions

How we can help

Tell us about your pets in the order notes. We'll place the tree where you want it, set it straight and secure in the stand, and clean up the needles before we leave, so you're not wrestling a tree with a cat underfoot. When the season's over, we'll take it away too. See our trees.