Fluffy crash test: why cats are partial to Christmas trees
'09.01.2021'
Source: BigPicture.com
Everyone probably knows that cats cannot imagine their life without crash tests of Christmas trees. Fluffy pets, which have never distinguished themselves in this field, probably exist, but almost nothing is known about them. But why does this inanimate attribute of the New Year's holiday awaken a wild beast even in the calmest cat? To understand offers Bigpicture.
To begin with, all felines, regardless of size and habitat, are very curious animals. This trait is common to many predators and allows them to quickly navigate in any situation. The Christmas tree is a new and fairly large object that arouses a well-founded interest among all the inhabitants of the house. So why should a pet ignore him?
It is possible that if decorated Christmas trees stood in our homes all year round, they would lose their attractive novelty for cats and the eternal confrontation came to an end. But we are unlikely to know whether this is so or not, and it is perfectly understandable why.
The second reason for the extreme interest of cats in Christmas trees lies in the hunting instincts. A tree shining, flashing lights and rustling tinsel from the slightest movement of air simply becomes an object of hunting or play - as you please.
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At the same time, the probability of an unfavorable outcome for the Christmas tree is inversely proportional to the age of the animal - the younger the cat, that is, the less often he encountered a New Year's miracle in his life, the more dangerous it is for festive decor.
In most cases, once confronted with a barbed tree, entangled in electric wires and hung with dangerous toys, a cat treats it much cooler the next time. Especially if the owner of the trampled ritual tree conducted an investigation and interrogation of the rowdy with passion.
But it is not at all necessary that the negative experience will be taken into account by the mischievous domestic cattle, so the responsibility for the safety of the cat and the tree still rests with their owner.
There are many ways to partially secure these two from each other, but, alas, only complete isolation can be considered absolutely effective.
To reduce the damage from the expedition of the animal to the tree, you can take a few simple measures. First of all, the maximum stability of the tree should be ensured so that even the most rapid attack could not knock it down.
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Experienced cat owners also advise against using tinsel and all sorts of sparkles and "rains". Of course, this will affect the aesthetic side of the holiday, but it will save you from unscheduled cleanings, which are completely inappropriate in the New Year.
Another way, they say, is very effective - spraying the tree with special aerosols with a citrus scent. Cats do not like these scents and try to stay away from their source.
If you have not had time to stock up on such a remedy, then ordinary tangerine and orange peels, placed right under the tree, may also work. There is another option - to install a Christmas tree, which will simply be too tough for the tailed one due to its size.
