Ivy says:
Rachel wanted to know how to keep the cats out of the Christmas tree. I only wish this worked as well for curious toddlers as it does for cats! Cats hate the smell of citrus- particularly oranges, but lemons work as well. I spray an orange based cleaning product like Orange Clean on my tree. The cats are appalled and will steer clear. You have to reapply every couple of days, but eventually, they will probably steer clear.
Also, make sure there aren’t any ornaments dangling from bottom branches and don’t use that drapey tinsel on your tree. These prove irresistible to cats and they’ll brave the orange scent to be able to play with those items.
The same works well for keeping cats away from any plant you want to keep in the house. Ironically, my cats would NOT stay away from my orange tree when I brought it in this winter and I sprayed the outside of the pot with Orange Clean and it keeps them away.
Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
Here’s some more great info for cat owners:
- How can I make my cat’s litter box smell better?
- How to deal with a cat marking its territory
- How to remove cat hair from furniture
Not all cats avoid citrus. Mine, unfortunately, were never deterred by the citrus sprays.
There’s also a version of the Scat Mat that’s round for Christmas trees. The Scat Mat is usually used on counters and gives the equivalent of a static electricity shock to the cat. It was rec’d on a pet call in show I listen to.
Do you think this might work for electrical cords? I’ve tried everything I can think of to keep mine away, and I keep finding new chew marks. I’ve tried tabasco sauce, but they liked it. I’ve also tried taping them, but the crackling sound makes the cords even more attractive.