Not sure what to do about a Christmas Tree

We just adopted a cat 2 weeks ago. She is still learning the environment and is still adjusting to people. We got her from Save A Pet in Port Jeff, and they said that she came out of a foreclosure where there were 50 cats . She's spent the last 5 months in shelters, between Brookhaven shelter and Save a Pet (they did a joint rescue on the 50 cats), and you know in an environment like she came from she couldn't have had much human contact. She's roughly a year old, so half of her life has been in shelters. We're still trying to teach her that it is ok to be pet...we're not even close to working on cuddling.

We're nervous about getting a tree this year because we feel that she will a) have another place to try and hide from us and b) we will be changing up her whole world after just 2 weeks...not even getting into the whole climbing in it/eating the needles part. On the other hand, we're nervous about having her wait until next year to see a tree for the first time, because by that time we will also have a 9 month old that will be trying to get to the tree every time we turn away .

What would you do? DH is against getting a tree, and I keep going back and forth on it. We aren't going to have Christmas at our house this year, and it is just the two of us (and the two furry ones). Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

ETA: DH is leaving the ball in my court though on the tree issue. He doesn't want to upset the pregnant woman

Message edited 12/9/2010 8:41:00 PM.

Re: Not sure what to do about a Christmas Tree

I can't believe you didn't get any replies on this.

I probably would not get the tree up this year if I were you. But no one really knows how the cat would behave.

Congrats on the kittye btw. 50 cats, how awful. Glad you rescued this one.

Re: Not sure what to do about a Christmas Tree

Posted by Goobster

I can't believe you didn't get any replies on this.

I probably would not get the tree up this year if I were you. But no one really knows how the cat would behave.

Congrats on the kittye btw. 50 cats, how awful. Glad you rescued this one.

Re: Not sure what to do about a Christmas Tree

It was so nice of you to rescue her. I wouldn't put up a treet this year.. let her get used to her surroundings, and let her come to terms with having people around her and "marking" your home as her new home and feeling safe.. she will come around. My little boy was a rescue as well.. and he really did change our lives for the best with us.

Like Lisa said, tie up your tree. Regardless of when you get it, she will explore, especially a young one like yours.

Re: Not sure what to do about a Christmas Tree

Thanks for your replies!! (I had actually given up on this post, and just happened to look at the board today)

Abby has done an amazing amount of adjusting since I originally posted about this. She gets into everything, but she doesn't necessarily hide from us anymore. She actually demands petting sessions from DH in the mornings and from me at night now. We are going to get a tree today - and definitely tie it up! I found the cat on the kitchen counter yesterday....I'm SURE she'll be in the tree

We aren't going to put any really fragile ornaments up this year, and we aren't putting it in our usual spot, since that is in front of the window, and she loves to sit in the window and watch traffic go by.

DH also started researching tree stands, and found one that seems a bit more supportive than anything we've had in the past, so with any luck that will help too.

I'll definitely post the moment she knocks the tree over though

ETA: One of the things that really sold me on the tree and her adjustment too, is that we had people over yesterday that she never met before and didn't even attempt to hide...she was even chasing the laser pointer right through people's legs last night.

Message edited 12/19/2010 12:03:31 PM.