Christmas with a Cat

Christmas trees and cats are like oil and vinegar. The minute our tree was up this weekend, Atticus was in it. Of course it's an animal and his instinct is to climb, I understand that and can't be that mad at him. However, knocking ornaments off to make toys, chewing the tree and it's lights, while also simulating the Olympic games at the base, is unacceptable.

One would think 30 times in timeout in a span of 15 minutes would teach a cat something. Not so. Therefore, in comes Google and its famous searches. Mine? "Keeping cats out of Christmas trees."

Some "proven" suggestions:

1. Sprinkle pepper on the tree skirt and that cat will dislike the smell.
Outcome: No change. Not bothered.

2. Place Irish Spring soap underneath the tree skirt. Again, scent will deter cat from coming near tree.
Outcome: The one open bar was just to see if sans box would make a difference. You can guess it did not.

3. Spray the tree with citrus scented perfume.
Outcome: I did not even try. I am not spraying raspberry body spray on our pine scented tree that already has whiffs of Irish Spring.

I decided to go back to the squirt bottle and add some lemon juice. Well, now the cat just smells like lemon scented water when wet. And I'm convinced he thinks it's a game when I lie down like a soldier with a squirt bottle pointed at him.

I am fighting a losing battle.