I have mentioned before we have two new cats in the house that need to learn a few rules. I like the cats. We just have a difference of opinion on a couple things. It would seem a Christmas tree may be one of those things.
Over the weekend, I decided to give the concept of a Christmas tree a try, just to see how it might work. Or not work. I have had cats in the past. Most of them couldn’t care less about the tree. They might sleep under it, but that was about it. We did have one cat who liked to climb the tree. You would see the tree shake a bit, then a cat face would appear amoung the ornaments. It was kind of cute in many ways. But these two are on a different level.
They are still officially kittens. They are just over six months old and are generally quite nice to have around. The male is pretty chill, as young cats go. He likes to eat and sleep and maybe run around a bit when the mood strikes him. But that’s about it. The female is a bit more intense. She seems to tolerate humans, but everything else must die. A very simple philosophy, but effective if you’re a cat. Death to all. That includes Christmas trees.
On Saturday, just as a test, I dragged out an old artificial tree we had around and set it up in the corner of the living room. It was a test run, just to see how they might react. The male sniffed it, curled up and took a nap under it. The female tried to climb it. I persuaded her not to do that and they both generally ignored the tree. At least while I was looking.
Overnight the tree took a few hits. In fact, about six or seven branches were removed. Not bent or pushed out of place. They were disconnected from the tree, rather neatly and surgically.
Since the branches came attached, I wasn’t sure they would go back on, but they did. There’s a knack to it. You have to put the base into a slot, give it a little twist at exactly the right time and place and it will go back on. So I reattached the branches.
Again the cats ignored the tree. During the day. But when I woke up, more branches were missing.
While I have discovered the secret of putting them back, I have no idea how they are getting them off. I don’t know if this is the work of just one cat, or whether they are both teaming up on this. But branch removal has become a thing they are getting very good at.
While the artificial tree seemed like a good idea for training cats, I’m no longer sure what I am training them for. I’m not sure a real tree is a good idea, although it would be much harder for them to actually remove the branches. But they are getting good at branch removal on the fake tree.
Although on the up side, I will have a pole for Festivus this year.
