dnk@ihuxq.UUCP (12/08/83)
I have read two different opinions regarding real Xmas trees and cats: 1) (from All My Patients are Under the Bed) never, ever have a real Xmas tree; both the needles and the water in the base are very dangerous. 2) real trees are fine, however the water in the base can be fatal if ingested. The water in the base should be protected very carefully. By the way, we just got a real tree last night (for the first time), and so far, our two cats (indoor only) don't seem to like it to much. I can vouch for the fact that tinsel is irresistible and will make most cats very ill.
rbc@houxu.UUCP (R.CONNAGHAN) (12/09/83)
On Christmas trees and cats. If you are afraid of the cat pulling down the tree you can use a different style of tree stand. Instead of using a metal tri-legged stand that can tip over and offers exsposed water to the cat, I use a large plastic bucket filled with sand. This has two advantages: 1. The cat can't tip it over. After the bucket was filled, I could hardly move it. 2. The bucket full of sand and water needs less refilling and keeps the tree looking good for a very, very long time. My cats actually thought the tree was the great cat-killer from Mars and stayed well away from it. Except the year I didn't have any sand and used Kitty-litter instead. Don't make that mistake. Robert Connaghan ATT Bel Labs houxw!rbc
joyce@ihuxp.UUCP (joyce) (12/12/83)
Reading that the water in the base of a Christmas tree is dangerous to cats surprised me. Is this true only if you add chemicals or is it the tree sap that's bad? My two cats drink from mine (last year and the year before too) with no apparent effects. They also like to play with the tinsel but it hasn't made them sick (I don't think they eat it though). The only real problem I've had with them is that they steal ornaments off the lower branches and hide them.
wombat@uicsl.UUCP (12/23/83)
#R:ihuxq:-40700:uicsl:19200007:000:178 uicsl!wombat Dec 22 15:48:00 1983 I used to have a cat that drank the tree water every year (and usually slept under the tree, but never ate tinsel). She lasted 14 years, so I don't think it's that bad for them.