Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    Hi Karen.  The first year I had Sebastion, Christmas came just
    before it was time to have him neutered and he was beginning to get
    wild.  I had a real tree, and since it was also my first tree living on
    my own, I had few ornaments (luckily).  Well, we had a little contest
    going.  It was a small tree, (about 4 1/2 feet) and he thought it was
    funny to knock it over (Sebastion is a big cat, and at six months was
    already a respectable size).  So, I'd leave in the morning and come
    back to find the tree on it's side. Sometimes, if I'd go out at
    night, and leave the tree lights on so you could see it through
    the sliding balcony doors of my apartment, I'd return to find a
    sideways Christmas tree in the window.  The neighbors must have
    thought I was weird.  
    
    He has been much less interested in them since he has been fixed, but
    his trick is still to sabotage the bottom string of lights by chewing
    through the wires (Little brat).  Now that I have Claude, too, he has a
    partner in crime.  One thing I have tried that seems to work is to
    put hot pepper sauce on the wires to keep them away. (In fact, you
    should do this with any wires you have around that are accessible to
    them.) Our cats only attack phone cords and cords that are plugged into
    a switched outlet.  I think it's because they can sense the current in
    other wires as soon as they bite down so they stay away. The switch
    shuts off the current at the outlet, and phone cords only have current
    when the phone rings.  My POINT is that the problem with Christmas tree
    lights is that they are either unplugged during the day or are plugged
    into a switched outlet so some cats like to chew on them.  This is a
    great way to start a fire!  (Once our switched lamp cord was chewed
    through and when I went to switch it on, it popped and scorched the
    carpet -not cute).  Just something to think about...
    
    Also, tinsel is VERY BAD for animals if it is ingested.  I don't
    like it myself personally, so I never use it anyway.  I assume the
    same goes for tinselly garlands.  Both of my cats are attracted
    to ribbons- the plastic (not cloth) kind... I guess they have a
    sweet taste.  They can be dangerous too.  I have to sacrifice having
    presents under the tree for this reason, or Sebastion helps to decorate
    them by chewing up the ribbons.
    
    The other thing you will probably have to do is water your tree twice
    as much.  It seems they take twice as much water if you have cats in
    your house.  Gee, I couldn't imagine why, but at the same time, my cats
    hardly ever drink the water in their dish during Christmas tree season
    ;-). 
                                                                      
    Amy.
        

    I've heard that Christmas trees are dangerous to cats because the
    needles can get lodged in their throats, etc.  So, I haven't had
    a tree since I got my cats.  Anyone know if this is a legitimate
    concern or not?
    

    
    I have never heard of that problem, but that doesn't mean it's not a
    possibility... Then again, there is such a thing as being overly
    cautious... I doubt a cat would actually chew on the branches, but
    perhaps you should be extra careful to make sure any fallen needles are
    vacuumed up right away.  There are certain varieties that shed less, I
    think, too. 
    
    If you are really concerned about this, you could also plan to get one a
    few days before Christmas, and remove it shortly afterwards to minimize
    the possibility of it drying out and losing needles.  
                
    I think it depends on your cats and how they would react to a tree,
    some are very interested, and others just ignore them, still others,
    I would imagine, might be frightened of them and stay completely
    away from them! 
    
    Amy.

    
    You know, the more I think of that, I think it would be very unlikely
    that a cat would be attracted to a pine needle enough to take it
    into it's mouth for very long.  Also, outdoor cats are around pine
    trees all the time as well as dead pine needles, and I really don't
    think this is a threat to them.  Anything is possible with cats,
    but I think the chances that your cats would get into something
    far more hazardous around your home, like plain old plastic bags
    or poisonous cleansers, are greater than being injured by a pine
    needle... especially if you are careful with your tree, and aware
    of the possible dangers...
    
    I just love Christmas trees, and think it would be too bad if you
    denied yourself the pleasure of having one because of needless
    (needles?) worry! :-) 
                           
    

                One solution to the tipsy tree issue is to tie the tree
        up. What I mean is put the tree up in a normal manner and then
        take some wire and run it out from the top of the tree in enough
        directions so that the tree can't be tipped. Good anchor points
        are the tops of the windows and doors.
                
                /s/     Bob
                
                
                

    I'll echo the sentiments about the tinsel, no good. Aja and every
    cat my folks owned had an unnatural attraction to the stuff.
    Although none of them ever got sick due to tinsel ingestion, I
    can't believe it's harmless. LOTS of time was spent chasing them
    away from the tree. The litter box bore evidence that we weren't
    always successfull....
    
    If you stick a plant hanger in the ceiling directly over the tree,
    you can tie the tree to it with a couple lengths of clear fishline.
    The tree can't fall over and the support is fairly invisible.
    
    Edd

    Hi,
    
    Xmas trees are beautiful but intriguing for my cats.  I had two
    cats that just loved to pull the tree down and decorate the whole
    house with the garland and balls from the tree.  They even managed
    to decorate the closets too.
    
    The cats I have now just love to lay under the tree, on top of the
    gifts of course.  They have been known to open up a few gifts. 
    I guess they just want to see what everyone is getting for Xmas.
    
    Sandi Offen
    

    Perhaps a pointer to the old note (No. 175) on this topic, and its 26
    replies would be in order here.  I've enjoyed those stories so much, I
    wouldn't want any relative newcomers to miss 'em.  There is also
    some useful advice too.

    
    The only problem I've had w/ Nippa is she liked to climb the tree, 
    although once my dad caught her....she has not done it since.  We 
    put bells on the bottom branches, and that seems to keep her amused for a
    while(and divert her attention from the lights and other ornaments).
    We also have to water the treea lot  more, why I couldn't even begin
    to imagine ;-). 

    
    Sy was approx. 6 months old for his first Christmas.  He just loved
    attacking the bulbs and making the tree shake.  The funniest was
    when on one day the tree lights had fallen off of the tree (cannot
    immage why they weren't where I had put them), and Sy was playing
    underneath.  His collar caught on the hanging lights, I heard the
    crash and came running.  The tree started at the far end of the
    front room and ended up in the kitchen.  That was one scared kitty.
    
    Linda
    

    Bob, you & I must have similar devils - I also tie the tree but
    I tie it at the top and the bottom.  I put hanging plant hooks
    in the wall & left them there to use each year with VERY STRONG
    ROPE.  Covering the base of the tree where you put the water
    also helps - bricks on the legs of the tree stand will help
    then cover the bricks with a tree skirt.  Bricks are great
    things - I also use them at the bottom of my kitchen trash
    container - a plastic pail inside of a wicker pail - bricks
    on the bottom of the wicker one.
    
    I also don't decorate the bottom 1/4 of the tree - no lights
    or ornaments - it helps a little.  Absolutely NO TINSEL.  It's
    deadly.  Also, glass ornaments fall and break - little pieces
    of glass can very easily work their way into tiny paw pads.
    Using wood or stuffed ornaments helps.  I can't have a tree
    this year - temporary apt. is too small - but, next year will
    be really fun with the 12 kids!
    
    E.T. + 12 ZhivagoCats  !!  
    

    Honey was only 6 months old for his first Christmas...and his first
    Christmas tree.  He had the lower 1/4 undecorated in a matter of
    hours.  And then he got the brilliant idea of grabbing the garland
    in his mouth and pulling until the tree toppled over.  Well, I thought
    that would scare him enough to keep him away!  HAH!  I returned
    home from work the next day and found him asleep in one of the boughs.
    Sigh...  And of course, all the packages underneath had to be
    re-ribboned...he would sit and chew and chew and chew, then move
    on to a new package.
    
    Because I was too stupid to learn from Year 1, his second Christmas
    found him with skills gained over the previous year.  The tree came
    down three days after it went up.  Last year, with the addition
    of kitten Chauncey, there was no tree.  I don't know about this
    year...I'd love to have one, but so would Honey!!  I can just imagine
    what new skills he's learned!
    
    Oh, there was one thing I did learn...never wrap the cat's new catnip
    toys and put them under the tree...dumb...
    
    Mary
    

    These stories are Great!  I used to think that I was the only
    one who groaned through Christmas.  I am so sorry that I don't
    have room for a tree - I have 8 ZhivagoCats under the age of 
    2 years and 6 of those 8 are under a year old.  Boy, it 
    sure would be interesting to see what creative things
    the babies would do to a tree!  I think that I will just
    sit back and read and enjoy all the stories you all write
    about your Christmas fun.
    
    E.T.

    Karen, that's really a wonderful idea - if any of you ever see
    any of my babies, please, please don't tell them what Karen has
    suggested because I don't have the courage to do it!  What a mess
    they would make.  If they don't hear about it they won't know
    what they are missing! Boy, am I a mean mom.  Actually, this
    temporary living room is so small, the stuff I have in it fits
    by the skin of its teeth!  Lucky that I have a basement and
    that the bedroom are on the 2nd floor - that gives the kids
    2 flights of stairs for chasing and the feeling of more space
    than we have - hope to be in the new house by spring.  The new
    house should be about 30 feet by 60 feet - lots of space for 
    them to spread out (me too)!  They are getting 2 new trees
    (carpeted) for their Christmas present, so they won't feel
    too badly not to have a real tree to destroy & enjoy!
    
    E.T.
    
    
    

    These stories are great!  Reminds me of a couple, too.
    
    My friend in Florida has a cat, Charly, that not only loved the
    Christmas tree, but the packages underneath, AND the closet, too!
    Jan came home to find the tree on its side, the packages ripped
    open, and her umbrella missing from the closet.  She has a sliding
    glass door with a curtain over it, and Charly had dragged ornaments,
    ribbons, tissue paper, old pantyhose, AND the umbrella back there!!
    
    My cat, Billie, is fairly well behaved about Christmas.  I never
    use tinsel either, and we keep the light cords high up on the tree
    (although she has never chewed a cord).  We keep all the crocheted
    ornaments and bells on the lower branches for her--unless she's
    REALLY wound-up, she just bats those around once and a while.  But
    last Christmas was a doozy.  In one afternoon (I left her, the tree,
    and my SO alone together to finish shopping), she jumped up on the
    counter (a big no-no), tipped over the garbage, took a nap on Pete's
    jacket (I TOLD him never to leave clothes on the bed! :-)  ), and;
    for a grand finale, took a flying leap at the tree.  She landed
    somewhere between the Christmas angel [which she is not], and an
    extremely fragile glass ornament....I guess he was ready to sell
    her to the circus at that point, because she snaked down the tree
    and dove under the bed--and stayed there til I got home.  
    
    When he told me all this, I said, "What--MY little darling?  NEVER!"
    ;-)
    
    Can't wait til this year!
    
    Jane
    

    
    This morning I wished that I had gotten a puppy instead of a kitty
    (almost).
    
    Yesterday I put up the most beautiful Christmas tree I've ever had.
    A seven foot Douglas Fir without a bare spot to be found.  Keeping
    the kitty in mind, I decorated it with lights, bulbs and bows and
    no tinsel so he wouldn't get sick.  I sat T.C. down and explained
    to him the meaning of Christmas and also all about Santa Claus and how
    he only brought catnip and Pounce to good little kittens who didn't get in
    the Christmas tree.  He told me he understood and wouldn't even
    consider going near our beautiful tree. I can't believe he lied
    to me!!  I guess after much consideration he figured that Santa
    could never resist leaving nice things for such a handsome lovable
    guy such as himself even if he did play with the tree.  After all,
    he was just playing, he wasn't doing anything bad. (He's probably
    right!)
    
    Obviously spending the evening with the spary bottle in my hand
    furiously sparying the little devil didn't teach him a thing except
    to avoid the tree when mom is around.  After I went to bed last
    night I heard him in the tree hitting the bulbs.  I sprang from
    bed and he sprang from the tree and jumped across the room and
    landed in the dining room chair before I could hit the light.
    When I turned on the lights, he was sitting there with his eyes
    half closed pretending he was sleeping and wondering how I could
    be so rude as to disturb him.  I put the bulbs back on the tree
    gave him a loud NO and went back to bed.
    
    When I got up this morning I had bulbs all over the place and he
    had taken every single light off the botton of the tree and tangled
    them up!  I found it very hard to love him at that moment.  When
    I asked him what happened all I got was an "I dunno" and an "excuse
    me I have to use the box".
    
    Oh well .... 1 day down and 25 to go .....
    
    Merry Christmas!
    
    

    
    	My two kids have been having a jolly time undecorating the tree
    	too.  They can't climb it because it is aftificial and the limbs
    	wouldn't hold them up.  But every morning some little gremlins
    	have taken about 10 ornaments off the tree!!  They don't do
    	it when I'm awake though!  Last night I had just gone to bed
    	and I could hear them downstairs having a great time batting
    	ornaments around the floor but I just ignored it.  This morning
    	I got down stairs and there wasn't a single ornament on the
    	front of the tree!!  The lights were still intact but the front
    	of the tree was undecorated.  Then I realized I was looking
    	at the BACK of the tree.  Since it is artificial it spins easily
    	on its base.  They must have a great time batting the tree and
    	watching it whiz around and around!!  
    
    	Karen

    	My cats get curious about the Chanukah candles but as soon as
    their noses get hot they loose interest.

    This is our first Christmas in our new family room and our first
    Christmas with Mercedes (12 weeks old now).  Hubby is a holiday nut and
    bought a 9 1/2 foot tall tree, which Mercedes has found to be most
    enjoyable to climb.  What surprised me is that he is soooo quiet when
    he climbs, we hardly noticed!  Now we have to keep a close eye on him. 
    
    Figaro, who's six, completely ignores the tree.  When she was younger
    she didn't attempt to climb the tree - just mutilated every bow
    on every present under it.               
                              
    We too, don't use tinsel.  We spend the time (and yes, I mean
    time) to string popcorn.  At least then, if they get into it, it
    won't hurt them.          
                              
    Merry Christmas to all!
    
      ^_^
     (>.<)
      ) ( Jeannie

    After Milo collapsed last night from an apparent over-dose of attacking
    his Canada Goose feather, Rick looked up from his hot chocolate
    and requirments document and said, "I think we should put the Tree
    up this Saturday morning...[sip, pause, think, write a little bit]
    ...and hunt around for the high-test fishing line after we finish
    lunch."
    
    *sigh*...and the most Maggie _ever_ did was sleep on the presents.
    
    Annie
    

    I don't have my Christmas tree up yet, but I don't anticipate any
    problems ( Ha! )  so this story is about my sister's cat.
    
    Peepers is about 10 months old, and spoiled rotten (aren't they
    always? ;-) )  I should enter stories about her in the "fetching"
    note, but that's another story.  Anyway, my sister and her husband
    live in a condo in a populated area, and Peepers has never been
    outside - even though she bolts through the door everytime they
    come home, she's never gotten out of the hall (their condo is a
    converted apartment, by the way)
    
    When they came home from work yesterday, Peepers was no where to
    be found - they were frantic!  The were very much afraid that she'd
    ducked out the door when they'd left for work several hours before,
    and that she'd been  abducted, lost, whatever.  They searched their
    whole apartment, the basement of the building - everywhere.  
    
    	They thought.
    
    After a half hour or so of panic, they noticed a spot of orange
    nestled about half way up the Christmas tree.   A very scared spot
    of orange, who had climbed up there sometime while they were at
    work, and was too scared to climb down or even to move a whisker,
    for fear of crashing to "certain doom".
    

    Only a cat lover would spend a half hour with brush in hand,
    painting hot sauce on her Christmas tree lights to keep the
    little "gremlins" from chewing this year (it works so far!!)

    Things were going well after we put the tree up.  Trouble was leaving
    everything alone (just like I thought the lazy cat would).  Then,
    one morning, I discovered a Christmas bow on the floor near the
    tree.  Upon closer inspection I found it was chewed, and not by
    human teeth.  Well, this was somewhat disconcerting but not too
    bad.  Then I discovered more bows that she had chewed; all green.
    OK, I thought I'll just move the packages with green bows and we'll
    be all set.  HA!  She next started on gold bows, tonight it was
    a red bow.  Now, I'm not really complaining mind you, I just wish
    they wouldn't upset her stomache like they do.  Anybody have a good
    idea on how to remove stains from a light carpet?  
    
    Bernice
    
    P.S.  She still hasn't bothered the tree.

    Well I haven't had a tree for 9 years now since I always go
    home for the holidays. The nice people that live upstairs brought
    me one all decorated. I though well this will last about 4 hours.
    Suprise-it is fine. Each cat proceeded to sniff,look at it.One
    (Punky) started to swat at it and I said No and she gave me a look
    and said OK.
    
    I have always had stockings for the cats and we have cat christmas
    after I get back. Well I put the stockings up with new fur mice
    (the stockings are hung on a door sill- and one of the cats (Fiver)
    got a stocking down and got the mouse. So I have hidden the rest
    of the cats presents and taken the mice out of the other stockings
    until cat christmas day.
                                                  

    This is my very first Christmas that I have lived in a big enough
    apartment that I could fit a tree in and my first Christmas with
    Asia.  Well, I brought the tree home, about a 6 1/2 footer, and
    decorated it.  Everything was fine until the Sunday before last
    when...not a single creature was stirring, except for Asia.  When
    I woke up Monday morning...what do my wondering eyes should appear,
    but the tree on the floor!  I was in shock.  How could this little
    monster attack a tree to the ground???  I thought about it and laughed.
    It was her first Christmas too and if she wanted to ruin the tree
    well....

    Maggie has completely ignored the tree her entire life.  Well, to
    be more accurate she has quite pointedly refused to acknowledge that
    there has ever been a tree.
    
    Considering his rather adventuresome habits, I was more than a little
    concerned for Milo and a tree.  Rick put one up while Milo was napping.
    About an hour later, Milo tracked me down and informed me that there
    was an _utterly_ abnormal tree growing in the living room. For a
    few days every time he noticed the tree he would ponder it for a
    moment, come over and inform me that there was still a tree growing in
    the living room, even hinting -- as I was apparently much more
    unintelligent than at first he surmised -- that it did not belong
    there and that perhaps I should remove it.
    
    When the brightly colored 'boulders' began appearing under the tree,
    Milo began to get into the spirit.  Now he runs and runs in circles
    around the base of the tree, hiding behind packages and protecting
    us from each and every killer pine needle that falls to the plastic.
    Occasionally, he remembers that he is now a 3.2-lb. Macho Cat and
    nonchalantly inspects himself in the oval mirror ornament so
    conveniently placed at eye level.

    re .22 and .28
    
    Milo is definitely one special cat. I have greatly enjoyed reading
    about him, and wish I could remember all the notes in which he was
    mentioned. Could the moderators please start a MILO keyword and
    perhaps Annie could remember to add references in it when she relates
    the further adventures of Milo.
    
    Merry Christmas All,
    Tom

We're surprised!! Our tree is still standing.

Well, up went our tree -- each day I come home, I cringe ..... but so far so
good ... the kittens have their ornaments on the bottom of the tree (or at
least they were there) and the only thing they have done is pull the silver
trim off ... yesterday morning this happened and along came Midnight the
"keeper" of the tree and beat them ... of course, since then he's been
in front of the tree guarding it!!  He is under it looking for his presents 
when the kittens are not around, at which time, he pulls them altogether in a 
pile and sits on them .. he knows Christmas Eve is approaching and he's waiting
for those catnip mice Mommy makes!!

A Happy Holiday to all and a Peaceful New Year...

A special thank you to Kim for all her efforts and also for helping us obtain
our new additions.

		From:

		Boo Boo
		Beau Beau 
		Midnight
		Mickey
		Snowball
				J&M

    Snuggles just loves the tree.  He loves to sit under it, even when
    there are so many presents under it that he can hardly fit.  He
    also loves to tear the presents open, play with the ornaments and
    bows and pull off the lights and garland.  What a joy!  At least he
    hasn't knocked over the tree.  He hasn't even tryed climbing it.  I
    think it's too thick.
    
    Re: .25
    How come chewing the bows makes them sick?  A couple of days ago
    Snuggles was in the corner of the hall making weird meow sounds
    and then started choking.  I brought him in the kitchen and he threw
    up.  I couldn't figure out why he threw up.  It wasn't a hair ball,
    but if it was from swallowing pieces of garland or bow I would think
    it would have come up and I didn't see anything when I cleaned it
    up.  Anyway, he didn't threw up again and he hasn't since so I'm
    not worried.  I'm just wondering why chewing on bows makes him sick.
    Maybe it was a hair ball.  Usually Snuggles hair balls come out
    in  a moist lump.   This came out like throw up.  Gross!!  
    
    Kathy

    RE: .32
    
    Hi Kathy,
    
    Actually, I'm not really SURE it was chewing the bows.  Trouble had
    just finished eating, but she had also been chewing bows shortly
    before that.  Of course by having just eaten, it was mostly undigested
    food, but it still stained the carpet.  She also has not stopped
    chewing bows (not eating mind you, just chews), but has not gotten
    sick either -- just spanked and yelled at a lot.  I guess I should
    feel fortunate she hasn't bothered the tree, but then she's a real
    lazy cat.  
    
    Merry Christmas all,
    
    Bernice & Trouble

    
    	Well, its that time of year again and time for all you
    	noters to share your funny stories about christmas trees
    	and your feline friends.
    
    	This year is certainly much calmer than last year.  Two kittens
    	with a tree was just too much.  Now, with three cats, two of
    	them don't even care about the tree.  T.K., on the other hand,
    	thinks he is still a kitten and can't leave the tree alone.
    	Not only that, but if I get mad at him he just turns around
    	and does it again.  I was sitting on the couch and I looked
    	over to see T.K. gnawing at the end of a branch.  I yelled at
    	him to stop, waved my arms around, and finally found the 
    	water bottle.  He just watched me the whole time out of the
    	corner of his eye while continuing to gnaw the branch.  Not
    	until he saw the water bottle did he split.  
    
    	Sunday morning I woke up to find half the ornaments on the floor.
    	I was trying to put them back on, T.K. was pulling them back
    	off.  I finally discouraged this, but a while later he was
    	back at the ornaments again.  I made the mistake of spanking
    	him I was so mad.  Now, when you spank T.K. he gets very 
    	spiteful and every time I turned my back he was merrily swatting
    	at the ornaments again.  
    
    	I really don't think I can stop T.K. from attacking my tree
    	like this.  It does absolutely no good to get mad at him because
    	he just does it again to tick you off.  He is like a small
    	child, into absolutely everything, always looking for trouble.
    	The only tactic that I can think of that might work is to just
    	pick him up when he is being bad and show him something better
    	to do.  But all that does is distracts him and doesn't teach
    	him that he is being bad.
    
    	Gee, this note sounds like I'm asking for help.  But I don't
    	think that anything will help.  I think that I just have to
    	accept T.K. as the little monkey that he is.  He is generally
    	pretty amusing when he gets into trouble.
    
    	Karen

    Surprisingly enough, the four cats have, for the most part ignored
    the tree, except as a really neat thing to play underneath.  They
    will chase each other and hide behind the tree, but no one has made
    any attempt to climb it.  In fact, except for a few exploratory
    sniffs, no one has paid much attention to it.  Of course, I haven't
    finished decorating it yet, either!! ;-)  
    
    They seem to be much more interested in the little peppermint candies
    and the M & M's I have in bowls around the living room.  I have
    come home to find these items scattered throughout the house, and
    four innocent looking little cats!!
    
    Mary-Michael, Niniane, Charm, Boogie, and Dream

	Yesterday was just like any other day.  I got up, went to work, 
	I drove home.  I only had one hour to eat and iron my fabric
	before my quilting class and I couldn't waste any time.  No problem.

	Well, I walked in the door totally unprepared for the sight
	that met my eyes!  My artificial Christmas tree was flat on
	the floor!  Ornaments are everywhere, half the branches are
	off the tree, and two very innocent looking cats are greeting
	me.  Immediately, I knew who the culprits were and I was
	furious.  They followed me into the bathroom as if nothing 
	happened and wanted to be petted.  I was having nothing to
	do with that!  "Well you see Mom, there was this big wind
	and Woosh!, down came the tree!  You're lucky we were'nt near
	it or we might have been hurt!".

	My roommate came home a few minutes later to find me holding
	the tree up (half the branches were missing and the weight
	of the rest of the tree was pulling it back over) plucking 
	off ornaments and lights.  I'm standing there laughing but on
	the verge of tears and T.K. and Bandit are having a blast
	with all the ornaments on the floor!  They must have had some
	hockey game while I was gone!  There were ornaments everywhere!

        Well, we fixed up the tree and only 2 nice ornaments were broken
        and several cheap shiny glass balls.  T.K. hasn't learned his
        lesson yet.  Within minutes of the tree being finished, he was
        back at his dirty deeds! T.K. and Bandit have found a new home
        in the basement when I'm not there to supervise.  And, yes, I
        was late to quilting class and my fabric wasn't ironed (but at
        least I had dinner). 

	And the tree has a slight lean to it....  


	:-)

	Karen

I'm not stupid enough to go thru the tree ordeal, especially with Julie the
Monster kitty and Robin the Confused kitty.  But wreaths seemed to be a safe
bet.  Right.  I bought two plain wreaths with the intent of using my vast
artistic capabilities to decorate them.  In other words, I had this picture
and a the best of intentions.  The wreaths were a bit frozen and wet, so I
placed them on top of newspaper on the living room floor and went off to a
Christmas party.  When I got home, my pretty little Robin was asleep in the
middle of what had been wreath #1 and wreath #2 had become wreath #2.1, 2.2,
etc.  I even found a piece of it in my bed!

So, if you drive by my house in Nashua and see scraps of wreath hanging out
front, you know what happened....

Mary

    Mary,
    I almost faltered yesterday, but when I came home from the damn
    mall last night and saw the house - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
    They ate EVERY Christmas card that has come in so far (yes,
    Nance, yours too, which was GREAT (a red boy)) - lordy, they
    are wild brats.  I just can't face it.  I'm not worried about
    it falling over - just the mess to deal with nightly. How much
    of the stuff (needles) will they eat, etc. puking up the needles.
    sigh - more mess I don't need.  They think they have to play
    with everything and eat anything that doesn't move.  One would
    think that I don't FEED the brats !!
    
    As of today, it NO TREE - I have until Saturday to change my
    mind.  I usually put it up about a week and a half before Christmas.
    I will really miss seeing the ornaments - I do so enjoy them - have
    been collecting them for quite a while.  Any one wanna cat sit in
    THEIR home for 17 cats until 1-1-90 ????? Just think of all the fun
    and companionship you would have hee hee hee.
    
    E.T.

    I'll send you another card E.T.  I think I have one of those left.
    
    How about running some string along the wall and hanging ornaments
    from it, hopefully, out of reach.
      Nancy

    
    	E.T. - a couple of years ago, when we first got Rosie, we
    	decided, `no tree'. Instead, I went out and got the heavy
    	pine-like garland stuff and hung it from the archway between
    	the dining and living room, then hung all the ornaments from
    	it. You could even put lights on it. I put it up using tack-
    	nails and ribbon, put the nails in about 8" apart, tie the 
    	ribbon (6" sections) to it, then tie the garland up. It
    	really does look nice, in fact, I still put it up now along
    	with a tree!
    
    	Sherry, Rosie, Missy & Squeek (who stole her first ornament
    				       last night!!!)
    

    I was worried about putting up my manger this year with Zula around.
    I made all of the nativity set in Ceramic.  It took 6 months to
    finish it.  It's trimmed in 14 carot gold.  It's valued at about
    $600.  I used to find Chewy sleeping in the loft of the manger which
    is only a 3"x3" opening.  Had no idea how she used to fit into it.
    She was 6 months old at the time.  She used to always jump up inside
    the manger behind all of the pieces and sleep in the hay.  She never
    knocked over one piece.  I put up the manger last night and Zula
    doesn't seem to even notice it.  He's happy just hiding underneath
    the cabinet.  I'll be putting up a tree in the next day or two.
    I'm more worried about him tearing up the wrapped gifts underneath.
    As long as he doesn't touch the gifts or knock the tree down, I
    won't mind.  I don't have any extremely expensive ornaments yet.
    I'm going to try the flea spray and orange peels.  
    
    Pam

    E.T. -
    
    There must be something wrong with ALL my cats, because they
    investigate anything moving OR non moving ...
    
    Since you have half the problem licked, put the tree on a revolving
    platform and line up the cards underneath.  I think my crew would
    then pay to have a copy shipped to their house, they love those moving
    targets!
    
    Cathy

    Great ideas - all I can think of is the dead stick, which was a
    former tree before Christmas.  Needles every where, ornaments
    every where, a MESS every where.  My kid is really pressuring
    me to get one - BUT, I'm still considering the mess.  Another
    worry for me would be that Lil is finally bred, and I would
    worry that she would eat something she shouldn't - if there
    is a pan soaking in the sink, she will drink the water in
    the pan and ignore the large stainless steel bowl of fresh
    water on the counter and the one on the floor.  I may go and
    look at some Scotch Pines and see just how full and tight
    they are to see if that will work.  Last year Timothy planted
    his small self (15 lbs.) under the tree like it was his new
    home!  Pashenks thought that his home was the top of the tree -
    to get there, he went up the middle, Katenka draped herself from
    any limb and did cute.  I can just see my classic tabby demons -
    Terror, Pashenka, and Misha - this trio are really baby boy brats!
    They are very close - when one is in trouble, all three are usually
    involved!  Boy, all this remembering could really convince me not
    to get one - sigh.  maybe....  I'll have to hang those cards very
    much higher - and Lil's ribbons are now back in a drawer until I
    can hang them higher - someone got them 2 nights ago.  Maybe I will
    just open the back door.....  Just kidding..
    
    E.

    E.T. that is quite a catchy phrase.. the Trachman Tree Terrorists..
    heh-heh.. I can see it engraved on their little jackets, knapsacks
    and the like.. I  have put up my ceramic tree.. so far so good,,
    the navitity set is still o.k.. my " walking santa." has confused
    Happy a bit.. she "likes him..".. she is not sure what he is,,
    Pookie however.. just stares at him.. she tried to give him
    her Christmas List..  and of course he was "unreceptive".. heh-heh..
    Regars
    Kate

    Well, so far so good at my house.  We got a very *full*
    tree which may inhibit climibing for the short term (ie,
    by the time they figure it out, it may be time to take it
    down).  Of course, they don't have access to the tree when
    we're not home, which certainly helps ;-)
    
    Mips is the only one so far showing interest in the tree.
    She "attacks" the tree from across the room, running up 
    to it, batting the branches and then running away. She has
    also commandeered several ornaments off the lower branches.
    
    The manger is safe for the moment on top of the entertainment
    center which stands alone along the wall (no chairs or tables
    nearby to help kitties jump).
    
    We shall see.....
    
    Mary-Michael

    Hey.....did you guys miss it!!!!!??????  Re-read E.T.'s note.
    LIL IS PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Yay Lil!!
    
    Nancy who_knew_about_this_last_Saturday_but_waited_for_E.T._to_say_
             Something  DC
    

    Tee-hee.. Pookie is  excited cuz that means she may get to "consult"
    on the nursery, she has called Shreve,Crump, lowe, Bloomingdales,
    etc.. Happy is "kneading" (translates to knitting "little furry
    somethings.. the kity shower is being planned.. tee-hee
    regards
    Kate

Hey, rather you than me!!!!  Congrats, Grandma Elaine!!!!

Wanna take bets on how many kittens Elaine keeps????

Mary (who's non-pregnant baby just got spayed!)

    Congratulations E.T.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Dream has offered consulting on the 
    nursery as well, if Lil would like.
    Dream is my self-appointed expert
    on everything!!! ;-)
    
    Oh, and if I see any six foot tall
    steel reinforced Christmas trees, I'll
    let you know for next year..... ;-)

    
    Mary-Michael and the crew

    Thanks!  Yup, we think she is.
    We bred her to the prettiest little red persian boy with a wonderful
    face, great coat, very extreme boy - huge eyes, like Lil's.  Her
    babies should be real cuties!
    
    Gee Mary, glad your latest is not prego - that's good news!
      
    Well, as to how many I keep?  I would like to have two more breeders
    for a total of three.  That seems to be about as many as I can 
    handle right now.  I'm not planning on keeping a boy unless I
    get one that is so wonderful (some of you know how that goes).
    Three litters a year ought to really drive me crazy.
    
    We ought to start a baby pool - how many shorthairs will Lil have?
    Or, how many longhairs and will there be at least one shorthair????
    I told Cin if she has only shorthairs that she was going to be
    spending lots of time in the backyard after I open the back door
    and let all the other brats out !!  (just kidding)
    
    oh yeah, Mary, how about sending me your home phone number - you
    don't live too far away and you have had experience as a kittywife -
    boy, if I make it through the first time, the rest must be downhill!
    
    Grandma E.T._who_is_psyched_she_thinks !

    Elaine, I'll bet you dollars to donuts you will think the kittens
    are so cute you'll want to keep them all for yourself!!  The breeder
    I got Kelsey and Kirby from had good intentions of selling the pet
    quality kittens... but thought they were so cute she ended up keeping
    most of them and showing them in HHP class!!  I can't even refer
    people at shows to her... she never has any kittens to sell!!
    
    Gee, I hope you'll be able to part with those babies and let some
    of us feliners enjoy them too!!
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    Boy, I hope I get a couple of NICE girls - I would like two
    more breeders.  More pets, I think I dun't need with 17 
    tearing around the house.  Boy, waiting 65 days sure is
    hard the first time.  
    
    

Hannah and her Christmas tree...chapter 2.

Last night when I got home a very agitated Hannah met me at the door and
started yelling...running into the living room and back to me in the
kitchen.  I expected the worst.  When I went into the living room, nothing
was amiss, but the tree had not yet been turned on so I turned it on...
and Hannah immediately slipped under the tree and stopped yelling.  It
seems Marge failed to turn on her tree and that made "Missy Hannah"
upset...she expects more from her help, you know...it IS hard to get
quality servants these days....

			D-and-the-surprisingly-well-mannered-crew

Dian,
     sounds  like your Hannah is a lot like my Hannah - demanding.  Mine
     fully  believes  that  I  (and  everyone else) was put on the earth
     strictly  to  cater  to  her  every  whim.   To heck with the other
     felines in the house. What Hannah WANTS, Hannah MUST HAVE.

    re: .54  Don't you know that's in their contract!  Its even before
    the part about always throwing up on the rugs, never the floor.
    EVERYTHING in the house is theirs.  What they don't like, you may
    use.  AND everyone was put on this earth to cater to the superior
    (feline) species  ;-) 
    

    RE: .55
    
    Rugs, Nancy, yours use the rugs?  Boy are you lucky!!! Try cleaning
    up the forced hot air vents!!!   I mean, I wanted them
    to miss the rugs but..... ;-) ;-)
    
    Mary-Michael (who has heat-seeking kitties this time of year)

    I have a friend with forced hot air and the same problem. She has some
    cheese cloth masking-taped over the vents. Cheese cloth allows the heat
    to come through, but contains any mess that the cat might make.
    
    Deb

    RE: .57
    
    Hey!  That's a great idea!  I think we'll try that!
    I wonder if it keeps dust down too?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Mary-Michael

    
    
    	Thank God I haven't had that happen!!...yet!!
    
    	Brandi just loves to lay right on top of them and block
    	the heat for the rest of us!!
    	"Well as long as I'm warm Mom that's all that counts!!"
    
    	JJ
    

    Have you ever heard the 'sound', race into the bedroom, and try
    to catch her/him before he deposits it on 'your' bed?  sigh
    It's called:  RUN, LOOK, shove down to the floor.

    And doesn't it make you feel like a meany, to be trying to
    save the rug/bed/whatever when the baby is sick.
    

    If they have to do it could they please not do it under the
    bed...anyplace but under the bed.  At least I can reach the rest
    of the room for cleanup.
    
    Also, I am the deepest of sleepers but nothing brings me out of
    my coma faster than that noise.  I can be out of bed, into the
    bathroom to grab tissues and have them on the floor under the
    front of the cat (as long as she's not under the bed) in a matter
    of seconds.
    
    Jan

    
    I have to laugh reading these notes.  A few weeks ago I woke to that
    sound up on the pillow near my head.  I felt badly about it afterwards,
    but my first instinct was to grab the cat and put it on the floor.  
    Since I didn't know who was doing it, all three of them were kinda
    uncermoniously dumped off the bed :^}
    
    Sandy
    

    re: 61
    
    He*l no - it DOES NOT make me feel mean to dump them of MY BED.
    It really made me mad the other night when I had the nerve to
    walk barefoot out the hall and lo and behold, one of them had
    done the deed while I was in the tub and I missed hearing the
    'sound' - guess I don't need to describe the details.........
    
    E.

    The night we got our kitten last week, I slept through the first
    deposit (left on the comforter right next to my head) but after
    I realized he was sick, I woke up after that at the first sound
    I couldn't decide if I was mad - I had to have the comforter cleaned-
    or just sad that the poor baby was sick.
    
    Michelle

    ..the worst is when you somehow failed to hear 'the sound' ..and
    climb out from under the warm down comforter into the cold New
    England morning ...and slide your foot into your slippers only
    to find ...well, you know...
                                                             
    Linda

    Yeah, Linda, I DO know !! 
    
    E.

    I know, I am also  A "sound sleeper, but I do "hear" the kids..
    Daddy was not feeling well one nite..and I did not hear him, but I
    do hear the kids.. tee-hee.. "the one time Pookie was ill in bedroom,
    she was "ill" on his side of the bed.. heh-heh..it was "kinda funny"
    cuz he was not amused,and Pookie just looked "balefully" at him,
    like  *(*()..I am not well, and if you keep it up, I will do
    this again.. even IF I have to stick my paw down my throat..
    Sigh..
    Kate