Christmas Lover

Skooter testing the lights.
The very first Kitties Blue, Skooter, loved Christmas more than any of our other cats have. He enjoyed decorating, the thrill of unwrapping gifts and playing with the discarded paper and empty boxes. His new toys came in a distant fifth place.
But his favorite pursuit was sleeping beneath the Christmas tree. In those days, we still put a live tree in the foyer each year. Skooter had constant access and spent most of his days and evenings beneath the tree with lights warming his fur. As novice kitty caregivers, we never considered this could be a problem, even when we were both away at work all day. As Dad Tom would say, “What could go wrong?”
Christmas Cat-astrophe

Skooter looking angelic while admiring the tree.
On one particular Christmas just about everything went awry. The ornaments from the bottom of the tree were always on the floor, which I now know we should have expected. The worst event occurred, however, as guests were coming up our front walk. We were in the midst of yelling at Skooter and trying to prevent the nine-foot-tall tree from crashing to the floor. Our big boy had caught his head in a string of lights as he was sprinting from beneath the tree. In his desperation to run upstairs prior to interlopers entering his house, he struggled to get away with those lights wrapped around his neck. As we tried to assist him the tree was on the fast track toward the floor.*
Being younger, faster and nimbler in those days (1990, I think), Dad Tom and I caught the tree just before it hit the rug.

Skooter plays with his new toy before he unwraps it. (That’s Louise in the background.)
Even after that near cat-astrophe, the tree remained in the foyer and at least semi-upright for several more years. From that day forward, it was attached to the stair railings with bungee cords! It wasn’t a full-proof method for protecting tree and ornaments, as the kitties were able to tip the tree and partially dislodge its base from the floor. But the tree never again came close to crashing!
Behind Closed Doors
After MacKenzie‘s first Christmas in 2001, however, the only time a tree was erected other than behind closed doors, was when it was covered with non-breakable ornaments. As I am capable of breaking the glass ornaments without any help, the tree-pouncing pusses no longer need to offer their expertise. By that time I had also given in and purchased an artificial tree. Sharpening claws on the trunk is no longer an option.

“What new toy? I thought this was the toy!”
But back to Skooter…I have included several photos of his yuletide delights.
* No cats or humans were harmed during the fiasco, but a few ornaments did not survive.
That is an excellent way to cull the excess ornaments
Cute photos and what a story. I am glad our kitties have behaved with the tree. XO
Skooter sure was a Catmess Kitty!!!
WOW what a cray-cray story Aunty Janet. Poor Skooter gettin tangulled. Poor you an Unkell tryin to help Skooter an keep THE tree from crashin to THE floor….
BellaSita Mum meowed to mee shee had to Bungee Cord Catmess tree to THE wall ’cause Pyewacket wuud ‘ground’ them if shee cuud 😉
Thanx fore sharin Skooter’ss story with all of us.
~~~head rubss~~~ BellaDharma~~~ an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
What a fun memory. Scooter was a cutie pie!
The Florida Furkids with love and whisker kisses to Sawyer from Noelle
Scooter sure brought his own style of excitement to Christmas! What a cutie!
We all have so much to learn with our “firsts” whether they are cats or dogs or little people! Thanks for sharing these memories that, I’m sure, are burned into your brain, LOL! Scooter was a pretty kitty and looks like he has some mischief in him.
Skooter looks totally innocent in the photos…..cats always look either totally guilty or totally innocent! Good job Skooter.
Hugs, Teddy
We’ve had a few trees come down…though none were nine-footers!!
Scooter sure kept you on your toes!
ADORABLE that Scooter!!! Lovely to have a ‘Christmas Kitty’.
Scooter…You’re wagging cute! Love the tree story. We use to have a cat that just loved climbing the Tree! We had many, many crashes!
Maggie
Scooter was so cute! It’s sweet how he enjoyed Christmas!