Our animal friends don’t really understand the meaning of Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter. How could they? Everyday is a holiday for them! They get to do the things I enjoy doing on my holidays all the time… nap around the house all day, get tasty treats, don’t have to worry about being anywhere at any particular time, etc. So the only thing that really makes Christmas any different or special is the fact that there is a tree INSIDE the house! Yes, I said INSIDE!!! Oh the joy!
Dogs get gitty and cats go bonkers when you first bring that fresh, pine smelling piece of the outdoors into your home. They know you got it just for them and their pleasure. So as you’re laying flat on your stomach, trying to secure the screws in the stand, you’re also batting away the furry bodies. Then, as you’re stringing the lights round and round, you’re tripping over the same furry bodies as they’re attempting to get closer to the gift you brought them. Once the lights are up and the tree is in place, you think perhaps they’ve learned their lesson about getting near the tree, as you’ve kicked, stepped on, and back-handed each of them at least 15 times already.
You would be wrong.
As soon as you turn your back, you have 3 cats doing acrobatics in the tree and a dog thinking you brought him a new indoor potty. Well, at least, in my case, since I have 3 cats and a dog. The dog you can scold and he’ll get the idea that he shouldn’t mess with the tree. The cats, on the other hand, will be in and out of the tree all evening no matter what you do. This is why I have found it best to put up the tree for at least a day or two before trying to adorn it with any ornaments. Let the cats have their fun before putting anything breakable on it. Usually the novelty of it wears off in a day or so and they will calm down a good bit. Not to say they will leave it completely alone, but the worst of the shenanigans are out of their system.
Another trick I have learned is strategic ornament placement and securing. Anything within three feet of the floor should be your least precious and non-breakable ornaments. Also, you will need to secure these to the tree with twisty ties. They make green and black twisty ties that work perfectly for this, you don’t even see them. Also take the time to secure any especially precious and breakable ornaments with twisty ties as well, no matter how far from the floor they are. This is like an insurance policy. Of course there’s not much you can do if all three cats are in the tree at the same time and then shift all their weight to one side and manage to take the whole tree down. It’s pretty much a guarantee that your favorite ornament will be at the bottom of the wreckage broken into tiny little pieces.
Sorry about that.
