By East Meadow Veterinary Center | May 13, 2026

Keep your cat safe by keeping them out of your holiday tree.

The holidays can be a hazardous time of the year for cats. There are trees to climb, cords to chew and decorations to swat at, but that activities can be incredibly dangerous for your cat, so how do you keep them safe over the holiday season? The good news is that our veterinary clinic in North Bellmore is here to help! The following is a list of tips for cat-proofing your holiday tree:

#1. Wrap the base of your tree in tin foil.

Regardless of whether your tree is live or fake, it’s important to discourage your cat from climbing it. Not only could climbing the tree ruin it and make a huge mess, it can also be very dangerous for your cat. One of the best ways to discourage climbing is by wrapping the base of your tree in tinfoil. Cats hate the way that tinfoil feels, so it will help to prevent them from climbing.

#2. Purchase the right tree.

If the tinfoil isn’t a strong enough dissuader for your cat, you may need to be very particular when you pick out your holiday tree. Try to find a tree that is full on the bottom. This will help to prevent the tree from toppling over if your cat does decide to climb it.

#3. Make your tree less accessible for your cat.

Shelves, side tables, entertainment centers, sofas and chairs all make great launching pads for a cat who is determined to get in your holiday tree. That’s why it’s so important for you to set up your tree far away from anything that they could potentially jump off of.

Want to learn about more ways to cat-proof your holiday tree? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

If you’ve ever celebrated the holidays with a cat around, you know that they could easily get into trouble.

The holidays are a tempting time for cats everywhere. With all of the decorations to play with, holiday trees to knock over and wires to chew, the holidays can be a dangerous time for cats. One of the biggest things that cat’s get into trouble with is holiday trees, which is why, in our Levittown veterinarian’s latest post, we went over a few tips to help you cat-proof your holiday tree this year. Keep reading for more helpful tips on how to keep your cat out of trouble and your holiday tree:

#4. Keep electrical cords out of reach.

The holidays come with lots of electrical cords, and these cords happen to be the biggest threat to a cat over the holiday season. Tape around the cords that lead up to your tree or purchase a plastic cover to put over them. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the cords wrapped around your tree are properly hidden or taped to prevent chewing in case your cat is able to climb your tree.

#5. Repel your cat with different smells.

There are many different smells that cats hate, including citrus oils and citronella. Try spraying these things lightly on your tree or around the base of your tree to repel your cat. Keep in mind that you don’t want to overdo it. The goal is to repel your cat, not you!

We have just a few more cat-proofing tips for you. Would you like to learn more? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog!

Keep your cat safe by keeping them out of your holiday tree!

Holiday trees can be very dangerous for cats, especially if your cat loves to climb, play and chew wires. At East Meadow Veterinary Center, we are dedicated to helping your entire family (your pets included) enjoy a holiday that is both fun and safe. In the last post from our veterinary clinic in North Merrick, we went over a couple of helpful tips to keep your cat out of your holiday tree. The following is a list of our last few tips for cat-proofing your holiday tree:

#6. Decorate your tree wisely.

Every pet owner knows that there are some decorations that are irresistible to playful cats. Baubles, edible decorations and breakable decorations should all be kept well out of reach of your cat. Reserve the bottom of your tree for decorations that are a bit more durable, or better yet, avoid hanging decorations at the bottom of your tree altogether. Regardless of where you hang your ornaments, make sure that they are properly secured to your tree.

#7. If possible, anchor your tree.

Although we’ve already talked about investing in a sturdy tree stand and purchasing a tree that is bottom-heavy, it’s also a good idea to take it one step further and actually anchor your tree. One great way to do this is by tying a piece of fishing line to the top of the tree and then securing it to the wall or the ceiling.

#8. Be careful with what you wrap presents with.

For many cats, the boxes under the tree are just as tempting as the tree itself. Tinsel, ribbon and yarn are all used to add style to gift boxes, but you should know that these items are very tempting for cats, and if they are able to ingest them, they can become stuck in their intestines. Either store your boxes somewhere safe until they are ready to be opened or avoid using materials that could be harmful for your cat.