The holiday season, Christmas in particular, brings immense joy to feline friends.
For them, it’s an opportunity to gleefully dismantle your dearest holiday ornaments.
Unsurprisingly, the Christmas tree often bears the brunt of their playful endeavors.
While cat owners might consider this conduct as common feline antics,
professionals explain to Inverse that there exists a scientific explanation for
why cats are irresistibly drawn to Christmas trees.
Reasons Why Cat’s Like Christmas Tree?
1.Toys
Adorned with decorations, often shimmering, Christmas trees exert an undeniable allure on numerous cats.
Glistening ornaments that catch and reflect the tree lights can mimic a laser pointer’s effect on your feline companion, sparking exuberant play sessions.
This phenomenon extends to tinsel as well, creating the illusion within
your tree of an assembly of miniature prey awaiting your cat’s hunting prowess and playful pounces.
2.Climping
Climbing holds an irresistible allure for cats, often ranking above many other activities.
In their natural habitat, they would ascend towering, foliage-rich trees.
Enter the Christmas tree, whether genuine or artificial, which serves as
an ideal feline playground, affording them an elevated vantage to surveil the household activities.
Abundant branches provide perches, while the needles offer cozy hideouts, essentially crafting a
flawless feline retreat complete with all the essentials.
In light of this enticing addition, cats might willingly forsake their former cat trees.
3.A New Hiding Place
A sought-after quality in the perfect Christmas tree is its fullness, devoid of any scraggly appearance.
Interestingly, your cat shares this sentiment.
Cats have a penchant for concealment, a trait that historically aided them in hunting by
enabling surprise attacks on unsuspecting prey or even fellow household pets.
To your feline friend, the Christmas tree isn’t just a festive ornament, but rather a fresh
sanctuary for seeking cover.
Imagine your cat embracing its primal instincts, albeit in a slightly more domesticated manner.
4.Novelty
Whenever a new item enters your home, particularly something as substantial, aromatic,
and ascendable as a Christmas tree, your cat is sure to take notice.
Given their inherently curious disposition, felines will undoubtedly feel compelled to
investigate this recent inclusion.
Christmas trees boast captivating surfaces, needles, and bark that offer scratching
potential, along with outdoor scents that exert an irresistible pull on inquisitive cats.
5.Marking Their Territory
Should your cat engage in the act of scratching your Christmas tree, it’s probable
that it’s engaging in territorial marking.
Numerous creatures employ such signals to communicate to fellow members of their
species that a particular area is already staked out. This practice reduces the need for
direct physical confrontations, offering an evolutionary benefit to both parties.
While seemingly counterintuitive, this behavior is rooted in instinct, even though the
Christmas tree might be an unconventional choice for your pet to display its prowess.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the allure of the Christmas tree for cats is multifaceted.
The festive season provides feline companions with opportunities for playful exploration,
whether through engaging with shiny ornaments that mimic prey or finding
refuge in the tree’s branches.
The tree’s novelty, with its appealing textures and scents, draws cats in,
triggering their curious instincts.
Additionally, the act of scratching the tree can be seen as a natural behavior,
rooted in territorial marking that harks back to evolutionary advantages.
While seemingly unconventional, the Christmas tree becomes a canvas for cats
to express their instincts and engage in a mix of playful antics and primal behaviors
during the holiday season.