Hot Tip: Deter Cats From Your Christmas Tree With Citrus

updated Jul 15, 2020
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Cats and christmas trees are like salt and chocolate: they just belong together. If you have a furry feline who insists on scoping out your living room from half way up your Blue Spruce, here’s an easy way to keep them grounded for good!

Try placing citrus peels like oranges and lemons under your tree skirt. In general most cats detest citrus and will keep their distance. As an added bonus, it will make your living quarters smell lovely and won’t harm anyone (albeit 2 or 4 legs).

Place a trash bag on your floor and then place the peels on top and simply slide it right under your skirt. Or, you could try this simple basket idea and just fill the basket as you go throughout the season. You can also use citrus oil sprays if you’re not into collecting peels, but either way it will keep your tree cat free and put your mind at ease.

Just to be safe, make sure if you have an animal in the home you always wire your tree to the wall. Even though citrus is a proven deterrent for them, that doesn’t mean they won’t plot other ways around it while you sleep.

Do you have another suggestion for keeping your trees kitty free? Let us know in the comments below!

(Image: flickr member Susan E Adams licensed for use by Creative Commons)