MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Because of our new kitty, we decided to not get a tree this year. When I asked DH and DS if they would mind, both assured me they couldn't care less (apparently neither of them is fond of having one anyway). So.... no tree it is. So now where do we put presents? Can't put them by the stove because we use it so it's hot, and presents would be weirdly in the middle of our living room floor. It feels weird to just stack them in a corner, or fill a basket. One thing we've always liked to do is slowly tuck a present here and there under the tree when no one is watching. It's silly and fun but now...? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mominco Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 How about by the fireplace/Mantel ?I have seen a lot of ideas on Pinterest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 36 minutes ago, mominco said: How about by the fireplace/Mantel ?I have seen a lot of ideas on Pinterest. We have a pellet stove that we use for heating the house. Not a safe place to stack gifts all over the floor. I do decorate the mantle, but the problem is not having a natural place for presents without a tree (and of course it must be kitty proof, otherwise we'd have a tree). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I'd be tempted to get/make one or two of those palette Christmas trees (made from scrap wood and painted to look nice - sturdy and kitty-proof). Then stack presents in a basket nearby. That way you have a festive focal point. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Kitty proof? Kitty proof is not a thing. Wrapping paper is so much fun to rip with sharp kitty teeth... 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 13 minutes ago, maize said: Kitty proof? Kitty proof is not a thing. Wrapping paper is so much fun to rip with sharp kitty teeth... Point taken. :) I guess what I meant is that the ideas I've seen involves making a tree substitute/sticking washi tape all over the wall in a tree shape/ hanging ornaments from branches on a wall/ getting a smaller tree...all fine ideas but just as tempting for kitty. And now to add insult to injury my family apparently doesn't even care. I don't decorate much for the holidays and even a tree is super no fuss for me. But I'd never considered just not having *anything* in that corner so I'm at a loss. First world problem for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Perhaps stack the presents in the shape of a tree. Do a test box for kitty first to see if you have to wait until Christmas Eve. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) 1. Do you have a staircase that's nice? Could you line one side of the staircase with presents? 2. Get various sized empty boxes--some of them should be very big--almost the size of a small end table. Wrap them in Christmas paper. Stack up those big boxes wherever you'd normally put the tree. The big ones will be a focal point. Sure, a lot of the boxes are fake presents, but it'll still be a place to put the real presents. Unless you're getting some big items, the real presents will probably look skimpy if you put them wherever the tree used to go. 3. Is there a piece of furniture that isn't used much? A sideboard? A table somewhere? Can you stack the presents on that piece of furniture? How about a chair in a corner somewhere? Can you stack presents on and around a chair? Put a Christmas blanket on the chair. Edited November 20, 2018 by Garga 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 IME they are less interested in fake trees. Get a small cheap one from Walmart or something (not high quality, keep forever kind), or even one of those tiny trees people put in kids rooms these days. Put it on a small table like a potted plant. Put presents beneath table. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamonlyone Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) Maybe Google "PVC pipe Christmas tree"? Those look fun, and you could even set some of your favorite ornaments in the tree. Edited November 21, 2018 by iamonlyone 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Katy said: IME they are less interested in fake trees. Get a small cheap one from Walmart or something (not high quality, keep forever kind), or even one of those tiny trees people put in kids rooms these days. Put it on a small table like a potted plant. Put presents beneath table. Yeah, that was going to be my suggestion. They have such amazing, cheap artificial trees now. I got a white one from Walmart last year to give color to dd's room when she came home from college, and it was super fun. Here's one at 4' for only $25. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Holiday-Time-4ft-Pre-Lit-Indiana-Spruce-Artificial-Christmas-Tree-with-105-Multicolored-Lights-White/457474848 I wouldn't even screw around with ornaments. Just put up the tree and maybe a skirt and enjoy. Edited November 20, 2018 by PeterPan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 My thoughts ~ Hang a wreath on the wall where you normally have the tree. Then put a table underneath on which you can stack gifts. Regards, Kareni 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 A couple of times when we've travelled over Christmas we didn't get a tree. We put a couple of wicker baskets where we generally have the tree, and placed the presents in them. But, a kitty would probably love wicker baskets and ribbons too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 8 hours ago, Katy said: IME they are less interested in fake trees. Get a small cheap one from Walmart or something (not high quality, keep forever kind), or even one of those tiny trees people put in kids rooms these days. Put it on a small table like a potted plant. Put presents beneath table. I'd definitely use a small fake tree if kitties don't care about them. Maybe I'll try that; I do have the perfect side table for one. I just figured it would be as interesting as a real one (we've done both and I have no preference). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I would do your tree as usual. I’ve had 3 kittens since I was an adult. I prefer fake trees and made sure I had ornaments on the bottom of the tree that were safe for kitty or that I didn’t care about. All of mine ended up playing with a few ornaments on the bottom of the tree or laying underneath the tree on the tree skirt. They much preferred the sticky bows on the presents to anything on the tree. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2att Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Our cats have never bothered the tree, even as kittens. Basically, they see it as a nice place to nap underneath. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, MEmama said: I'd definitely use a small fake tree if kitties don't care about them. Maybe I'll try that; I do have the perfect side table for one. I just figured it would be as interesting as a real one (we've done both and I have no preference). My mother always uses a fake tree and has a cat with no problem. I think they don't put the most breakable ornaments toward the bottom, but it's more just the swishing of the tale thing. Their tree is also pretty dense, one of those skinny/narrow trees, so the cat can't just jump inside. Someone else I know had a more open fake tree and the cat did like to perch in it. I think if you go with a short tree on a table or a dense tree and do no ornaments, you'll probably be safe. A lot of the trees now are pre-lit and pretty with nothing else added. And then, depending on how that goes, you could do something more the next year. Edited November 20, 2018 by PeterPan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) Around the nativity set. ETA: cats can't stand the smell of cayenne pepper. I've put a ring of pepper around my tree before. Edited November 20, 2018 by shawthorne44 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 My cat liked the fake tree just fine. We actually got a cat tree a couple years ago and decorated it with kitty proof ornaments/ toys. Wrapped gifts were actually more tempting for our kitty than a tree. We weren’t able to put them out ahead of time because kitty would open them. But, cats vary on that. We kept them in a closet and brought them out Christmas Eve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 A couple of years ago when we had a puppy who I knew would be tempted to play with the ornaments on the tree, we got a smaller tree and moved the coffee table to the where the tree goes and put the tree on the coffee table. It worked well! In fact, I thought it was easier to water and there was plenty of space for presents under the table. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Get a shelf and stack the presents to make a tree. Put a star or angel figurine on top. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Just don't display the presents ahead of time and bring them out on Christmas morning. I imagine a young kitty won't be able to resist a pile of packages with interesting wrapping paper and ribbons 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Qualifier: we always have an artificial tree. For our first kitten year, I purchased a bucket of generic plastic ornaments at Target and used those instead of our regular ornaments. I think I used them for two years, then went back to using our regular ornaments. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 2 hours ago, TechWife said: Qualifier: we always have an artificial tree. For our first kitten year, I purchased a bucket of generic plastic ornaments at Target and used those instead of our regular ornaments. I think I used them for two years, then went back to using our regular ornaments. Yeah, I should clarify....I've had a cat pretty much my entire life. Occasionally one would bat at an especially tempting, low hanging ornament, but we never had a cat go into the tree or mess with ornaments until we got Obama, and he almost killed himself climbing the tree and getting himself all tangled up in the lights. He was screaming and I don't know how he got so tangled so fast, but it was a MESS. My husband and I were covered in scratches from trying to rescue him, and if we hadn't been home when it happened, he really could have been strangled. That's when we dumped the fake tree and went with the festive cat tree instead. But my point is not every cat is tempted by the tree. To be fair, when my first cat was young, we lived in a small apartment and didn't have one, and by the time we got Christmas trees, she was middle aged. But we also had a young cat at that time who had no interest. It just depends on the cat. However, EVERY cat has been tempted by wrapped presents. Cardboard, paper, ribbons.... (We had one cat who loved eating ribbon, which is very dangerous. We would think she had no access to ribbon and then she'd cough up a hairball with ribbon in it. It was crazy.) Displaying gifts, in my experience, has been far more difficult than trees (although when they ARE tempted by the tree, it's not like you can redirect them). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 3 hours ago, KungFuPanda said: Get a shelf and stack the presents to make a tree. Put a star or angel figurine on top. I like the graphic! 😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 3 minutes ago, MEmama said: I like the graphic! 😂 You’ll be shocked to learn that I’m not a professional artist. 😬 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I'd still do the tree, but only with lights on it. I have a couple of strings of bubble lights that I use sometimes, and I'd probably add them to the mix to substitute for the missing ornaments. I'd skip the preservative fluid in the water in case the kitten drank it, and I'd put a length of green or red velvet around the stand for her to cuddle up on. Then I'd enjoy the cat enjoying Christmas with us. No presents until I was ready to open them, or possibly I'd pile them up on a table or tea cart. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) We have two kittens in our home this year. One started climbing the tree the moment we had it up. Edited November 20, 2018 by maize 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 1 minute ago, maize said: We have two kittens in our home this year. One started climbing the tree the moment we had it up. Ummmmm.... CUTE!! 😻😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 18 hours ago, iamonlyone said: Maybe Google "PVC pipe Christmas tree"? Those look fun, and you could even set a some of your favorite ornaments in the tree. Look what I found when I did that, and no, I am not even the OP. Amazing. I bet mine would not look nearly as good if I tried this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Oh, my. The ladder version at this link is cute, but look at the one made with books! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 39 minutes ago, Angie in VA said: Oh, my. The ladder version at this link is cute, but look at the one made with books! Those really are great, Angie. Of course, were I to build the book one, I'd immediately NEED to read that book on the second tier from the bottom .... Regards, Kareni 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 47 minutes ago, Kareni said: Those really are great, Angie. Of course, were I to build the book one, I'd immediately NEED to read that book on the second tier from the bottom .... Regards, Kareni Oh, who are we kidding, Kareni? Neither of us would ever finish assembling the book tree because we'd have to stop and read or re-read passages out of all of them! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 5 hours ago, Carol in Cal. said: I'd still do the tree, but only with lights on it. I have a couple of strings of bubble lights that I use sometimes, and I'd probably add them to the mix to substitute for the missing ornaments. I'd skip the preservative fluid in the water in case the kitten drank it, and I'd put a length of green or red velvet around the stand for her to cuddle up on. Then I'd enjoy the cat enjoying Christmas with us. No presents until I was ready to open them, or possibly I'd pile them up on a table or tea cart. Ditto! I've always just adapted our tree to our kittens, cats, and kids. My first cat holds the family record for knocking the tree over (in under 3 minutes) so for a few years I used twine to steady it to a wooden base. Usually the lights go up and then I leave some time for them to get used to it, then mostly unbreakable ornaments. One year I did have to remove lights because a toddler was taking them out and popping them into his mouth! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Angie in VA said: Oh, who are we kidding, Kareni? Neither of us would ever finish assembling the book tree because we'd have to stop and read or re-read passages out of all of them! Shh, Angie. You're giving away our secrets .... I suspect you are quite right. Regards, Kareni 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I think we are all just missing the OBVIOUS solution: just go buy a CAT TREE and put the presents under it. 😄 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 We put up our artificial tree for our sweet kitty's first Christmas, & we got as far as the lights when she decided to claim it all as her own. Since then we haven't attempted any ornaments. She leaves the wrapped gifts alone and just scoots up and sits in the tree. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 7 hours ago, maize said: We have two kittens in our home this year. One started climbing the tree the moment we had it up. The cutest ornament I've ever seen!!! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 (edited) 13 hours ago, Pippen said: Ditto! I've always just adapted our tree to our kittens, cats, and kids. My first cat holds the family record for knocking the tree over (in under 3 minutes) so for a few years I used twine to steady it to a wooden base. Usually the lights go up and then I leave some time for them to get used to it, then mostly unbreakable ornaments. One year I did have to remove lights because a toddler was taking them out and popping them into his mouth! At one point I'd given up and was just using a little tree about 3' tall on a round table. The round antique table that I'd borrowed from my mother. I was so clever. I solidly attached the tree to the table with twine wrapped around the table's center post, then the stem of the tree, (repeat). The darn cat knocked the whole table over and broke a table leg. Mom's pretty antique table. ETA: There are some pretty darn cute 'ornaments' on this thread. Edited November 21, 2018 by shawthorne44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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