The Feline Verdict on Christmas Trees
While TikTok would have you believe that Christmas is all about cats launching themselves at towering trees to Mariah Carey's festive tunes, many cat owners know this isn't always reality. For years, I wondered what I was doing wrong as my previous cat, Iggy, showed complete indifference to my Christmas decorations, despite his face featuring prominently on my baubles.
Enter Lumen, a semi-feral rescue cat who has helped fill the void left by Iggy's passing. This two-year-old, who spent much of her life outdoors not by choice, became the unexpected star of my comprehensive artificial Christmas tree test conducted in October. Our living room transformed into a forest of fake fir, pretend pine and simulated spruce, creating the perfect environment to see which trees could withstand feline enthusiasm.
Putting Trees to the Ultimate Test
Lumen's involvement proved genuinely insightful. She demonstrated each tree's ability to withstand balance challenges, particularly when a delighted cat decided to hang from its lower branches. Her taste-testing revealed which greenery appealed most to feline palates, with the chewy Habitat mixed tip and bristly Christmas Tree World pine emerging as particular favourites until I gently discouraged further sampling.
Her presence made me more sensitive to potential hazards that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. The fake snow, plastic needles and other debris that dropped from less durable trees became immediate concerns with a curious cat in the house. The testing revealed that not all artificial trees are created equal when it comes to both feline appeal and safety considerations.
Beyond the tree testing itself, the packaging proved equally important. The Habitat tree scored highly for easy repackaging, while the snowy Dunelm tree seemed to have expanded to Stay Puft Marshmallow Man proportions by the time we attempted to return it to its box. The Christmas Tree World's boxed pine was so substantial it required two people to carry it to the charity collection vehicle.
Spreading Christmas Cheer Through Sustainable Donations
My October Christmas tree display certainly raised eyebrows among neighbours accustomed to seeing various review samples arriving at my door. Fully decorated trees in October pushed even their tolerant boundaries, though everything was packed away before Strictly Come Dancing reached its Halloween special.
Rather than storing the tested trees, all ten found new homes through Southampton hardship charity Scratch, one of many organisations desperately seeking donations during the festive season. This follows a previous donation of weighted blankets to Southampton Hospitals Charity after another product test.
For those considering upgrading their Christmas tree after reading reviews, donating your old tree to charity represents a sustainable option that could genuinely bring sparkle to someone's Christmas who might otherwise go without.
