I am a proud cat parent of two, and self-proclaimed cat-vocate. Cats and their paths of destruction go hand in hand—it’s why we love them.
But when the holiday decor comes out, all hell breaks loose. The glitter, metallics, glass, garland, ribbon, you name it, provide a rush of major sensory overload for my felines. On one hand, I’m excited to see this annual spot of joy in their otherwise routine lives.
On the other, I’m secretly calculating the over/under in my head of how long it’s going to take for one of them to tackle or destroy something, specifically my tree.
I don’t know what it is, but the Christmas tree has a hold on them. It becomes, by default, a new toy. I imagine little thought bubbles full of exclamation points appearing in their heads when they first spot it.
Why? First, it’s tall, and if I’m a cat, I like tall things because they provide a vantage point for spotting prey and relaxing without vulnerability.
Second, with the multitude of dangling ornaments, this thing might as well just be a thousand wand toys all rolled into one. Now, let’s top it with with even more shiny things, like lights and tinsel. It’s the literal cat’s meow.
This year, I decided I’m just going to fully lean into their tree obsession. I found a fun toy to include them in the tree decorating rather than excluding them and hoping for the best.
FelRelWel Cat Tunnel Bed
Amazon
After seeing a few (more like a million) cat videos on social media, I decided to add this cat tunnel tree skirt to my Amazon cart. Historically, my older cat has always enjoyed tunnels so I thought this would be an enticing fix.
Want more of our favorite products? Sign up for our free shopping newsletter for our top finds, best sales, and more!
And was it ever! It keeps my cats totally preoccupied simply by existing. It stimulates my cats with dangling toys at both entrances and other fun widgets like bells. The fuzzy covering makes it a comfy little plopping spot. Seeing my cats’ little faces pop out offers me endless entertainment as well.
Now, my cats are more enthused about what’s beneath the tree and less about the tree itself. There is an occasional tunnel chase or two that makes the base of the tree shake, but you have to choose your battles, I guess. The best part? As of today, my tree is still fully intact and there is no damage to report.
The tunnel also comes in fun holiday prints but I am going for longevity here, so I chose something more neutral.
Once the tree goes away, this tunnel doubles as a cat bed in the off season. You simply attach the middle round piece so it becomes less of a doughnut and more of a danish. If you’re short on space though, it’s also collapsible for easy storage.
