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Short answer: tie the tree to the wall so it cannot tip, cover the water in the stand, skip tinsel, keep breakable ornaments and lights off the lower branches, hide or cover cords, and keep lilies, mistletoe and holly out of reach. For a puppy or a climbing cat, an exercise pen around the base buys you a calm first week.
If your pet eats something it should not: call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not wait for symptoms.
Set up the tree
1. Choose a corner and anchor it
The ASPCA’s first tip is to secure the tree tightly so there is no chance it tips over onto a pet. Put it in a corner, then tie the trunk near the top to a small hook in the wall or the window frame with fishing line or twine. In a rental, a removable adhesive hook rated for the load can work on a smooth painted wall. A heavy, wide stand adds stability.
2. Cover the tree water
Pets love to drink from the stand. The ASPCA recommends that tree water be covered or inaccessible. Choose a stand with a covered reservoir, or use a tree collar or a skirt that blocks the opening, and skip additives in the water, since a pet may still find a way to drink it.
3. Put the tree up, then wait a day
Let your pet investigate a bare tree first, under supervision. Many dogs and cats get bored with it in a day or two. Decorating while a pet is jumping at every branch teaches them the tree is a toy.
4. Fence the base if you need to
For puppies, young cats and determined chewers, an exercise pen or baby gate panels around the tree keep paws away from the stand, the lowest branches and the cords. It is the simplest fix for the first holiday with a new pet.
Decorate safely
5. Skip tinsel completely
Tinsel is one of the most dangerous holiday decorations for cats. The ASPCA warns that swallowed tinsel can cause severe vomiting, a blocked digestive tract and dehydration, and may need surgery. Ribbon on gifts carries the same risk.
6. Keep the lower third bare
Hang ornaments on the upper two thirds of the tree, above nose and paw height. A wagging tail can clear the bottom branches in seconds.
7. Choose shatterproof ornaments
Glass breaks into sharp pieces that cut paws and mouths. Use shatterproof, plastic, felt or wooden ornaments, and keep anything with small parts or batteries out of reach.
8. Attach ornaments securely
Open metal hooks can be swallowed. Tie ornaments on with ribbon or use closed clips, and press each loop tight around the branch so a bat of the paw does not pull it off.
9. No food on the tree
Popcorn strings, candy canes and chocolate ornaments invite chewing and climbing. The ASPCA lists salt-dough ornaments among holiday hazards: even when dry they can tempt pets, and they are very high in salt. Keep edible decorations off the tree in a home with pets.
Cords, candles and plants
10. Hide and protect light cords
The ASPCA warns that a chewed wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock. Run cords along the wall behind furniture or inside a cord cover, unplug the lights when you are not in the room, and keep lights off the lowest branches.
11. Never leave candles unattended
A wagging tail or a curious cat can knock over a candle. Use flameless LED candles in a home with pets, or put real candles where pets cannot reach and blow them out when you leave the room.
12. Keep holiday plants out of reach
| Plant | Risk (ASPCA) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lilies (in bouquets) | Many types can cause kidney failure in cats | Keep out of any home with cats |
| Mistletoe | Stomach upset and heart problems if eaten | Use artificial, or hang well out of reach |
| Holly | Stomach upset and heart problems if eaten | Use artificial, or keep out of reach |
| Poinsettia | Mild to moderate stomach irritation | Keep up high; not the danger many people think, but still not a snack |
Pet-safe tree gear we would buy
Affiliate note: some links in this guide go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. We choose products for fit, safety and specifications, not for the commission.
8 metal panels you can shape around the tree.
Check on AmazonPlastic balls that do not shatter into sharp pieces.
Check on AmazonShopping on Black Friday? Add it to your Amazon cart now so it is ready when deals start.
How we chose
- We started from the sizing and safety guidance in this article and checked each product’s listed dimensions against it.
- We favored long-running, widely bought products with a large volume of owner feedback, and read the complaints as closely as the praise.
- We checked each listing on October 16, 2026 for stock and U.S. delivery.
- We have not tested these products with our own pets. Picks are based on specifications, instructions and owner feedback.
Fence the base: Amazon Basics Foldable Octagonal Exercise Pen
Eight connected metal panels that fold out into a ring or square around the tree, with a door. A long-running best seller.
- Keeps puppies away from the stand, lower branches and cords.
- Folds flat after the holidays.
- Downside: The 24-inch height is for small dogs and does not stop cats from climbing; bigger dogs need a taller pen.
Skip it if you have a large dog or a determined cat; a taller pen or a closed room works better.
Check it on AmazonOrnaments: KI Store 34-Count Shatterproof Ball Ornaments
A set of 34 plastic ball ornaments made to look like glass but not shatter if knocked off.
- No sharp pieces if a ball hits the floor.
- Lots of color for little cost.
- Downside: Shatterproof is not chew-proof: keep ornaments out of reach anyway.
Skip it if you already have plenty of plastic or fabric ornaments.
Check it on AmazonAlso worth adding
- Cord protection: the Secbolt cord protector (10 ft, bite-resistant) wraps light cords along the wall.
- Flameless candles: Homemory flickering LED tea lights (24-pack) instead of real flames.
Pet-safe tree checklist
Before the presents go under the tree
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Frequently asked questions
How do I keep my cat out of the Christmas tree?
Anchor the tree to the wall so it cannot tip, leave the bottom third bare at first, use shatterproof ornaments attached with closed clips rather than open hooks, skip tinsel completely, and give your cat a better place to climb nearby, such as a cat tree. Some cats lose interest after the first week.
Is Christmas tree water bad for dogs and cats?
The ASPCA advises making sure tree water is covered or otherwise inaccessible to pets. Standing water can grow bacteria, and many tree preservatives and fertilizers are not meant to be swallowed. Use a stand with a cover or a tree skirt that blocks access.
Is tinsel dangerous for cats?
Yes. According to the ASPCA, swallowed tinsel can cause severe vomiting, a blocked digestive tract and dehydration, and may require surgery. Cats find it irresistible, so it is safest not to use it at all in a home with cats.
Are real or artificial trees safer for pets?
Both can be made safe. Real trees drop needles that can upset the stomach if eaten and have water in the stand. Artificial trees can shed plastic pieces if chewed. Whichever you choose, anchor it, cover the base and supervise until your pet ignores it.
Which holiday plants are toxic to pets?
The ASPCA warns that mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset and heart problems if eaten, many lilies in holiday bouquets can cause kidney failure in cats, and poinsettias can cause mild to moderate stomach irritation. Keep lilies out of any home with cats.
What should I do if my pet eats an ornament or a plant?
Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.
Paws & Picks is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product details can change; check the current listing before you buy.
