Target (left) and Tic Tac like pastry. — Photos: ELLEN WHYTE
We surprised the cats with a Christmas tree! It’s been fun but as usual, the cats have kept us on our toes.
At Christmas, we usually have festive mince pies and see friends, but we’ve not had a tree, lights or decorations.
However, when snow graced us last week, we had a rethink.
Christmas is a lot of fun and we like to be happy. But what really clinched the deal was the idea of the cats enjoying a tree.
We picture Target lounging on the heated sofa, gazing at the lights while Tic Tac and Inkie explore the indoor tree, revelling in exciting new smells and patting shiny ornaments.
Some people go out to tree farms and cut their own, making a day of it. As stuffing a six-foot (1.82m) tree into a ride isn’t for everyone, we opted for a delivery service.
Call me an eco nut, but there’s something about cutting down a tree and then ditching it after a few weeks that doesn’t sit right.
I was delighted to discover that you can buy organic trees and then send them to a goat as a snack. However, I don't have any local goat friends.
Also, there’s Inkie. I bought a lovely little Japanese lilac last spring. As it was tender, I set it on the window sill in the kitchen where it could bask in the early morning sun.
To my puzzlement, the plant wasted away. I consulted friends, googled frantically – and then walked in on Inkie happily chewing off the leaves.
We love our junior cat but he is definitely on Santa’s naughty-but-nice list. Reflecting that Inkie might just channel his inner goat, a real Christmas tree might be dangerous.
Target, the senior executive snoopervisor.
Cats' antics
What’s more, Tic Tac sees herself as a feline Lhakpa Sherpa. It would be great fun to see her scale a sturdy tree but sadly I have a spot of back trouble. Proper solid trees weigh a tonne and are not easy to pick up.
Although it gave me a pang, I set aside the eco dream. We picked a six-foot artificial tree and shiny red and gold smash-proof cat safe baubles, perfect for playful pawing and batting.
The first part of the surprise went well because parcels are an event at our house.
The cats are always on watch, so when the postman walks up the path, they sneak along the windows, totally confident that they are completely invisible behind the glass.
When he waves at them, they flee with a thrill of horror. It’s a game that never fails to excite.
So when the baubles arrived, the cats gathered. With their ears perked and whiskers twirling, it felt like Christmas.
As senior cat, Target had a quick sniff before retiring to his heated sofa seat. Sitting at my elbow like a small furry emperor, his green eyes were fixed on the action and he watched the event in comfort.
Tic Tac and Inkie jumped onto the footstool, both purring with excitement. I opened the box and waited expectantly.
The furries sniffed but their true attention was on the tape and the paper. When I asked Tic Tac to take a second look at a fabulous golden teardrop, she sniffed again.
Then she jumped to the floor and joyfully ripped up the wrapping paper while Inkie ran around with sticky tape stuck to his paw.
Cats, right?
Inkie checking out our Christmas tree.
When the postman returned with the tree, all three cats sniffed the packaging, smelling the cold and wet parcel. While Inkie clawed at the parcel tape, Tic Tac climbed on the box and crowed triumphantly from the top.
I would have ripped everything open straight away but Tom is much more deliberate. Also, as the do-it-yourself
factor strains even the strongest relationships, the cats and I were temporarily banished so he could construct the tree in peace.
When Tom called us back in, we fully expected the cats to be super excited. Instead, they glanced at the tree and vanished.
To encourage them to explore, we fetched a treat. Tic Tac danced with joy and gobbled it down, leaving an outraged Inkie protesting furiously.
Since then, Target has inspected the tree with a few good sniffs. Inkie patted a bauble and Tic Tac checked out the lower branches.
But it’s the wrapping paper and the box that has held their attention. They climbed the boxes and turned the paper into confetti. Typical cats!
Settling down to enjoy the lights, I opened a box of fancy festive mince pies. Instant response! Tic Tac rushed over, Inkie on her heels, both hoping for more treats. Target sat up and meowed imperiously, demanding to see.
Raisins and rum are highly toxic to cats so they can’t have any. However, as executive snoopervisor cats, they inspected the goods.
While Inkie took the box to play with, Target and Tic Tac, who are fiends for pastry, had a crumb off the side.
The tree hasn’t offered the cats the festive cheer I had hoped but they have shown me exactly what they want.
For Christmas Day we’re going to have boxes, wrapping paper and double treats. Also, we’ll have their absolute favourite meal, roast chicken. It’s going to be absolutely pawsome!
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter and a smidge of cat mischief!
