Pitter Patter Pandemonium
You know how cute it is to see a kitten playfully swat the balls and ornaments on a Christmas tree? It’s such a Currier and Ives moment. Until the cat pulls down the entire tree.
If this were a court of law I'd never have a case because we actually never witnessed the tree falling.
But yesterday afternoon we heard a deafening thud, followed by the sound of running. The boys were watching football and heard nothing. And Lily wasn’t home. Richard and I went into the living room and found the tree lying across the coffee table with scattered silver and gold balls everywhere. I let out a very un-holiday-like reaction, none of which I can print here.
The good news is only half the tree had been decorated (we were planning to do the rest that afternoon). But the thought of starting from scratch made me whimper in a pathetic way. Richard immediately jumped into action and called the boys. Thanks goodness Ben came home from college just in time - he and Gabe, along with Richard, were able to re-set the tree in the stand and after shaking it a few times to make sure it was stable, we swept up broken ornaments and plopped down on the couch.
That’s when the finger-pointing began … Richard immediately jumped to the conclusion that “it had to be one of our darn cats”. Although I knew he was probably right, I became very defensive, suggesting it could have been something as simple as “a gust of wind”. Both boys stared at me in disbelief ("it’s not like we live in a barn, Mom"), which took any wind out of my sails.
So the question became: “Do we bother to decorate this tree at all given the fact that Felipe and Sweet Pea are always on the prowl?” I decided it was worth taking the chance. I told everybody they were better off leaving, and for the next few hours I restrung the lights and tried to recreate what had been. And guess what? When I stepped back to look at the tree, it actually looked better than it had after I first decorated it.
So maybe I owe those frisky felines a thank you. Well, I’m not sure I should go that far. But this is the holiday season — so I’ll cut them some slack. But if I get home after finishing this blog and that tree is down again, they’d better run. And they’d better hide.
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At least your tree was able to be used. Our daughter had a fiber optic tree and their monster totally distroyed it. It had to be flat thrown away.
Our tree is not a real one this year. But my cat and one of our two shih tzu's manage to dismantle the lower branches on the tree, no the whole tree is notin the floor. But we will go in and find the lower half in pieces, with ornaments astrew on the floor. They both seem to have such a good time, and they look at us like " we did it".
Hi Meredith,
Oh man does that bring back alot of memories of when our cats were little and so full of it. Ashes our 15 year old cat was up our tree so many times when she was a youngster, the first time it happened I could hear her but I could't find her until I finally looked into the tree and saw two green eyes looking back at me. I had to reach in and get her and when I pulled her out I brought along a lot of ornaments. Tuffy, the male of our 3 cats was the worse one of the bunch,. he would lay underneath the tree and hit at anything that he could reach and then bat it all over the living room once he got it off of the branch, he is now at our shop with 4 other cats that my husband has rescued and spayed and neutered. Mama Kitty has really been the best when it comes to the tree but she does lay underneath on the tree skirt and gets it all full of hair and she has yakked up more then once on it and I just had it dry cleaned. Every year it gets a little better, thank goodness.
Love ya Meredith
Joan K.
Wi
Hi Again Meredith,
I forgot to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year. Have a great Christmas, Meredith
Love ya
Joan K.
Wisconsin
It's too bad you don't read the "WWTBAM Bored". We had a discussion there about this very thing about a month ago. Some of us have resorted to fences and pet-off spray.
After a few wobbly Xmas trees, I put a small eye hook into one wall about 4' off of the floor behind where the tree is set up. I use lightweight wire, which I wrap around the trunk--also about 4' high--and attach to the eye hook. Voila, no more fallen trees!
I also put cat-friendly, cat-themed ornaments on the bottom underside of the tree so they have some decorations to play with to their heart's content.
Once, while decorating the tree, I actually had it topple over on top of me. The cats just stared at me, and I could tell they were thinking, "Cool...more cat toys to play with," while I was buried under an Xmas tree. Good thing trees aren't that heavy!
This is the first time I've written back but I have three very important words - plastic Christmas balls. They look exactly like the glass ones, no one will ever know the difference! I got them at Walmart last year and it was the best purchase. Also, I recommend not decorating the bottom branches of the tree. We have three cats and they are more interested in laying on the soft tree skirt than playing. I'm knocking on wood - the tree will probably be all over when I get home. :) Happy Holidays to all!
Meredith, I sent a letter to you and your producer inviting you to have lunch with Dr. Richard Mayeaux at Columbia Univ. Medical Center - he and Dr. Shelanski direct Alzheimer's Disease Research here at CUMC - and after your segment about Sandra Day O'Connor's husband, it seemed you might have interest in the very large subject of Alzheimer's disease- and, other dementias. Certainly it impacts a large segment of your audience. We were hoping that you might be interested in learning what is happening in research on aging brains and then consider inviting someone from the Taub Institute to be on the Today Show. Hope to hear from you. thank you. Jane
Been-thAre, Done-thAt ! I had to get rope like on the blinds and 3 coffee hooks. Tying off the tree has made it evan more fun. We now have 3 lines to hang Christmas cards from.Looks a bit wierd, but the tree stays up, and Miss Beau-Jon "Bo Bo Monster",can climb all she wants to. Wingnut Manx-1/2 Wild Bob Cat, plays under knocking everything off, so we put plastic things that dont break for him.Dog owners have no clue what their missing. 1 of my sons cat would knock the Angel off the top. Put it back up, he went up and down it came again. Anns sister had to hang the tree from the cealing becouse 3 cats wanted the top, and down it came. Made the Paper to, Christmas Up Side Down.2-3 rope ties will keep it up, and then its just putting everything back up. Have unbreakable ones now. Like a bag of chips, opened and we cant leave em alone. Trees up and its play-time with some cats. We learned how to make it safe & fun so nobody gets hurt, and hide the rope. We love em and all thAre Anitcs ! Keep-Shaking-Hands !
I had a huge tree fall over one year, and I had no pets to blame. We decided that it was just unstable.
Why not tie the tree up with a wire or something, just in case it WAS the cats? That way you will not have to keep waiting for disaster?
Ever since our mess, I have always wired the tree to a window frame or two.
At least your cat ran and hid. My 16 pound cat was stuck in the tree after climbing into it. Priceless moments...
Hi Meredith, Happy holidays. How was that wine this morning?
Anyway if you use those plastic zip ties and can anchor the tree the cats will not be albe to knock it over again
You've brought a smile to my life everyday since I found you after my husband's death. I don't think "The View" will ever recover with your absence. The Today show dissolves when you leave in the morning. I read Richard's book when my granddaughter, "the doctor", 's husband was diagnosed with MS.. very enlightening for me, but I felt too much for him to handle now (although they are similar intellectial and egotistical personalities). It was additional info about you that broadened my admiration.
Anyway, morning and evening, you're a part of my day...so, tonight it surprised me for the first time to see you rather intolerant of a personality...the senior female, I don't remember her name,.. but, you had an attitude with her....and you are so gratious with the senior males.
Just thought I'd point that out in case you didn't realize.
Meredith; until a couple years ago, my mom's tree was a victim of my sister's rabbit, not the "could care less" Maine Coon. Oh how the bunny loved to lay under the tree and nibble on the branches.
I don't have a tree. Gave up once the orange tabby, aka "delinquent", came to live here in '99. Good thing the apartment is too small for a tree. Now I just do fake flowers & lights!
It's so great to read you have cats. They're worth it, even if they knock the tree down. I have a cat who loves to gnaw on shoelaces.
Hi Meredith,
We had a similar experience with a tree being pulled over when no one saw it happening. It wasn't a cat, though, it was my son-18 months old at the time. That particular Christmas season my husband, my little boy Dan, and I were visiting with my husband's sister and her family in New Hampshire. Everyone except Dan and I were sick wiht a stomach bug and sleeping in different parts of the house. I was nearby Dan but before I knew it I heard a crash, looked up and there he was, standing with the fallen Christmas tree all around him, his little body popping up through the branches. The sick folk came running upon hearing the crash. Dan and I were stunned! I wish I had had a video camera going to capture that moment. 14 ornaments were broken. My sister-in-law was not happy. Maybe this is the reason she barely speaks to me, 17 years later!!
Totally agree with Jen! Only instead of wire with the eye-hook, we always used fishing line so you couldn't see it at all. Never had a problem again after one close call.
Hi Meredith...I am not a blogger so this is first for me however after reading your blog I just had to say that you were never one of my favorites on the Today Show UNTIL the Martha Stewart episode where the two of you were making gingerbread and you told her to "eat it" after she seemed somewhat intolerant of your less than perfect creation. Finally someone put that woman in her place on the air and it was YOU. I bow to you now..
Sandy
Meredith
You sound so much happier having having Ben back in the fold! I know we all expect and hope for them to spread their wings and soar, but I'll bet it's been harder than you thought to have one little chick flying outta the coop?
My Friday question is: How as a journalist do you feel about reporting on silly things when serious issues abound? I am not criticizing the lighter pieces in the TODAY show but when you open the news in the morning with some ridiculous story about Brittany Spears, it does make you wonder how this shift happened. We have young men and women who are dying daily in Iraq and we are focused on the silly antics of Brittany? Genocide in Darfur and we are worried about Anna Nicoleâs drug use? Hostages in Columbia missing for years and we are curious about L. Lohanâs greatest escapade? I am sure the next few days of news will be focused on Jamie Spearsâ pregnancy.I am currently in graduate school and just finished an interesting class on leadership. A good leader steps up and does what is right, even if unpopular. NBC should take pride in their news division & report on issues that matter. Crime is rampant in our cities, we have hungry children, a healthcare crisis... the list goes on. Someone needs to do what is right.
Hi Meredith, it is so good to know that you have a blog, I've always loved your great spirit. Have Merry Christmas with your family.
Hi! Best regards!
At my house growing up, we had the tree tied in two place with fishing line so it was hard to see and would not fall. Only thing is to remember where the Line is so you don't walk into. Oh and Our put the tree through the living room window. So all and all you were lucky.
Gotta love those crazy cats when the "Christmas spirit" gets into them...My two, Boots and Lily, have made a tree fall once and attack ornaments every single year. We have switched to plastic ornanments because of their playfulness. As frustrating as it can be while decorating, it never fails to bring a smile to my face when I see a adorable cat "attacking" the tree...
P.S. - My cats think the christmas tree water is another water bowl so I have to put out a obstacle course so they won't drink it!
Love you and your family -- human, feline and canine! A question -- is your Richard Cohen the same Richard Cohen who writes for the Washington Post and other publications. May your holiday season and 2008 be filled with blessings and joy.
Hi Meredith,
Happy holidays to you and all.
Joe
Fishing line to tie the tree up helps. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 birds but they don't count because they are caged. The cats love those curley ribbons on packages and frequently unwrap them in their zeal to get to them. Our dogs are just sweet and friendly and sweet. I cannnot tell you how many decoration we have lost because of wagging tails. We learned the trick of fising line when our then 1year old almost pulled the ress over tring to get a decoration or something. So you cannot always blame the cats.
Friday question: Do you read all the commments that you get in response to your blogs? Do you ever reply to them?
Hey Meredith
Did you know that you have been referenced on Sesame Street? I saw the episode this morning with Anderson Cooper. He was interviewing grouch correspondents "Dan Rathernot" and "Walter Cranky". At the end of the segment, Oscar said to tune in tomorrow to see "Meredith Beware-a" and "Diane Spoilah". It was cute. Just wondered if you had seen it.
Hi Meredith,
How do I submit show ideas to your Today Show producers?
I've sent many emails to today@nbc.com and received no response.
Help
Thanks,
Andy
infohelp[at]comcast[dot]net
Good thing my friends and I won't be coming to your house for dinner. Any of us would appreciate the scented candle (featured in the hostess gift segment). It made you sound elitist when you said that you wouldn't consider it enough if someone only brought that.
Another bothersome thing was the way you and David Gregory first reported the pregnancy of the 16 year old Spears girl. You were smug and smirked about a sad situation. It doesn't matter that in subsequent segments you addressed how it would affect young girls and appeared to be concerned. Your initial comments revealed that you consider a teen pregnancy and the well being of the baby a joking matter.
When journalists show their true colors they negate carefully calculated images.
Adriana, get a life.
I put very small nails in the walls (my tree is in a corner) and use fish line to tie the tree to the nails. The fish line is virtually invisible unless you are up very close to the tree. I have a 6-month old kitten and he has been in the tree many times this season (and I put the tree up in mid November) and the tree has never fallen. Ornaments, on the other hand...I find them daily on the floor. My best advice, buy non-breakable ornaments. They look great and are so much easier to pack away.
I'm just catching up and reading this and the other comments and had to giggle. Our cats? Not a problem. It's the Lab and Corgi. Last year the Lab, all 100 lbs. of him, grabbed a ball and pulled tree over. By the time I made it to the living room, he, with the help of the Corgi, was in the process of dragging the tree into my daughter's bedroom. This year, I bought a "kiddie korral" - works well. This wasn't as bad as the goats getting in the house and attacking the tree, but that's another story in itself. Gotta luv 'em.
My New Year's Resolutions for 2008:
No contestant auditioning for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire--chances are, Fall 2008 will be MV's final season on that show;
The only MV project I am to participate in is the songwriting for her two CDs;
Finish autobiography;
Sign petition to have CBS cancel Price Is Right (oops, already done!);
Let MV know immediately of any plans GW Bush may have of cancelling the 2008 elections and appointing himself President for life;
Finally, no welshing on infamous "Simpsons" bet from last summer (see Thanksgiving blog)!
That happened to our tree a year ago and Toby the precious cat did it. The first time it happened, my reactions were words
that I can not repeat and after the second time it came down,
I probably lost it. When it happened, it was like I can not believe this is happened to me. It was just shocking.
I watch the "Today" show daily and I am so GLAD that you are part of the show. You do a GREAT job and I love your sense of humor, which I think is so important. I also watched you when you were on the "View" which I enjoyed and still do. I watch your other show, I have a memory problem, but you know what I am referring to.
May 2008 be a year of GOOD HEALTH, PEACE, & LAUGHTER for you and your family.