8 smart ways to keep cats out of a Christmas tree – including distraction zones, natural scent repellents and carpet tape

A long haired ginger cat sat on top of two wrapped Christmas presents. There is a green artificial Christmas tree with lights and gold and red baubles in soft focus in the background.

When painstakingly decorating your Christmas tree, the last thing you imagine is watching your festive fir, shaking, wobbling and toppling over. But if you have cats in your home, this is a very distinct possibility.

With their natural propensity and skill for climbing, it’s no surprise cats love the twinkling, exciting and new opportunity climbing your Christmas tree presents. But good news! Our cat behavior and pet-friendly design pros share eight ways to stop your cat rattling or racing up and down your tree.