10 Cat-Friendly Christmas Tree Options To Consider For Your Home

Decorating for Christmas is a delightful time to spread merry vibes throughout your home. Yet, if you have a cat, sometimes it's less about the merriment, and more about having to play referee and removing the cat from various decorations, be it your Christmas tree or a nativity scene. You may already know that despite their small size, pets, especially cats, can topple a tree with enough force: 72% of pet owners reported that their pets knocked down their Christmas tree or ornaments in a survey by ValuePenguin. Most feline friends are instantly intrigued with the arrival of something new in the home, and Christmas trees are the ultimate package. Standing tall with sparkling lights, dazzling ornaments, and plenty of branches to climb, the tree seems more like a jungle gym to your cat than a decoration. Fear not — you don't have to avoid putting up a Christmas tree just because you have a cat. You can either protect your traditional tree or try a few cat-friendly Christmas tree ideas. 

Maybe you've already looked at tips to help keep your pets from destroying your Christmas tree to no avail and want to try a different route. If so, discover how you can DIY a wall Christmas tree, or find the best option for a climbing enthusiast, with the 10 alternative tree ideas we've selected that are sure to give you the Christmas spirit without the feline chaos. 

Why can't your kitty join in the Christmas fun? Gift them a new Christmas-themed cat tree, and they might, hopefully, leave your holiday tree alone. If they don't, then you can at least have a motif of Christmas in your space with an adorable soft tree. Consider a tall "tree" climber like the QTEEONES Christmas Cat Tree Tower. The design features two cat condos and is topped with its very own star. A bonus is the reinforced anti-tipping base. 

While some cats are notorious for preferring anything to a cat bed, they might make an exception with a plush and cozy Christmas tree bed. If they're a bit finicky at first, try using a bit of catnip spray or loose catnip leaves to entice them. Choosing an option like the Bolycen DIY Christmas Tree Cat Bed for Indoor Cats means you get a craft project and a new cat bed in one — plus you can put your own touch on it as you choose the color and ornament placement. 

Cats vary in how much they try to damage, er, inspect, your tree. If you have a cat that only likes to bat at the low-hanging ornaments, try protecting your Christmas tree with a fence. The MNKXL 16 Inch Fence for Christmas Tree features plastic fence pieces that snap together to guard your tree against curious cats, dogs, and toddlers. The decorative fence features Christmas tree motifs stamped throughout, so it looks more festive in the house. 

Dollar Tree is often a must-stop for budget-friendly Christmas projects, such as repurposing a tomato cage into an adorable Christmas tree. So, why not use pool noodles to construct a vibrant, fun Christmas tree with decorations? Grab a few green pool noodles from your local Dollar Tree, or you can purchase a five pack Oodles of Noodles Foam Pool Swim Noodles from Amazon, and arrange them together in a cluster before gluing them together to form a tree. Add assorted ball shatterproof ornaments from Dollar Tree and a yellow painted wooden star from the Crafter's Square DIY Wooden Hanging Ornaments.

To make a whimsical tree off the ground, mount an adjustable curtain rod draped with garland in your doorframe or above a window. Twist your garland around the rod, then add your lights and decorations as you like. If you have a space with limited outlets, try using a pre-lit battery-operated garland so you don't have to fuss with a plug. For example, the ENVEN 9FT Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Garland with 50 LED Lights and Realistic Nordic Spruce offers several light modes with a timer. 

When skipping a Christmas tree isn't preferred, one with raised branches might be a compromise. These look like twinkling Christmas trees, but they keep your lights and ornaments safe. Unless your cat is a very frequent high jumper, choosing this seasonal decoration can be a safe bet. The HOMCOM 6ft Tall Prelit Pencil Artificial Christmas Tree Holiday Décor with 442 Branches is well-reviewed by pet parents and might be the solution to your problems. Some commenters also mention it as a good pick when considering holiday decorating ideas for small spaces.

Cats love to scratch horizontally, and this innate instinct can cause them to use your Christmas tree like their own personal scratching post. A tree scratcher may delight them and present an alternative to your Christmas tree. Instead of cardboard, you can give your kitties something durable to (hopefully) last throughout the holiday season. Scratching posts with sisal help mimic the feel of bark with products like the BOLUO Cat Scratching Post Tall Cedar Christmas Cat Trees for Adult Large Cats a prime example of festive scratching posts.  

Cats love to climb Christmas trees, so if you take away the branches for them to climb, you might be able to salvage your Christmas tree after all. You can arrange garland, zigzagging it across the wall in a tree shape you mark out with nails or hooks for hanging. Once you've formed the tree, hang lights and shatterproof ornaments on it, then admire your clever new tree. Not feeling crafty? You can buy the prelit Sheghy 16.4 FT Wall Christmas Tree with Lights for a similar effect.

Keeping your Christmas tree safe from cats sometimes can require you to turn your thinking upside down — along with the tree. Literally! Inverted, or upside down, trees are still trendy and can be an excellent way to secure your decorations. You can hang either an artificial or real tree, though using a real tree will require drilling in the tree trunk. It might be easier to just string up the faux tree with wire and a hook from the ceiling, but just be sure your ceiling can support the tree's weight.

Instead of trying to do a traditional Christmas tree that your cat will inevitably knock over, you can focus your attention on decorating your mantle with a small tree or two. You can still adorn the mantle with lights, figurines, and even a Christmas village for a festive accent. Try adding a series of small wooden trees or tabletop fake trees that you can decorate, then you'll have a seasonal tree, only miniature. Each year, you can change the setup for some variety. Of course, if your cat regularly uses the mantle as a bed, this might not be a suitable option.