How to stop cats from jumping or playing with your Christmas tree

Christmas trees have a way of capturing a cat’s attention, transforming a festive centrepiece into an irresistible target for climbing, playing, and jumping. Shiny ornaments, dangling lights, and rustling branches look like toys and prey, making it nearly impossible for cats to stay away.

For pet owners, this often means damaged decorations and constant monitoring just to keep the tree upright. Instead of resorting to harsh training or avoiding decorating, there’s a surprisingly simple solution that cats dislike. Spraying one common food scent they hate can help keep your Christmas tree safe and your holidays stress-free.

What can keep cats away?

According to experts at Pets At Home, cats are said to dislike the smell of citrus, which includes oranges and lemons. They said: “Citrus spray in or around the tree can act as a deterrent. Cats hate the smell of oranges or other citrus fruits, so this should stop them from causing any mischief.” 

Cats have very sensitive noses, so even the lightest scents can seem very strong to them. Orange and lemon peels contain natural oils with powerful scents, such as limonene, linalool, and citral, reported cat specialists at Kinship: “Avoidance of the scent probably boils down to their protective territorial instincts to keep themselves safe.” 

What else can deter cats? 

Pets at Home also suggests wrapping a layer of tinfoil around the bottom of the tree trunk. This can help stop cats from climbing, since most dislike the strange feeling on their paws and claws.

You can also place a wire gate around the tree to create a barrier that keeps your cat from getting too close.

What else should cat owners avoid?

“When decorating your tree, consider avoiding decorating the lower branches where your cat can easily swat at the baubles with their paws,” said the pet experts.

“This also stops your kitty from using the decorations on the lower branches to launch themselves up into the top of the tree. When decorating, avoid tinsel as it can be pulled on by cats, which can lead to more decorations (and even the tree itself!) being toppled over.

“Tinsel, if ingested, can cause significant digestive problems and may even get stuck in the intestines, so it’s best to avoid it.”