A Cats Christmas tree

by Stephanie Samek

Legends surrounding the origin of a cats holiday tree are as numerous as pine needles on the rug after christmas. Since the days when tree loving Celtic cats first scaled sacred oaks to claw down the magic mistletoe, a tree has been something cats looked up to with special reverence.

During their celebration of Caturnalia, ancient roman felines brought forward a tree of life, decorated with woven greens, twigs,dried figs, coins,nuts shells, and carefully selected birds feathers.

Medeival kitties festooned their trees with apples, ribbons, dried herbs, bits of broken armour, magical symbols, and staw mice.

Victorian cats favoured trees that blazed with the lights of real candles and were hung with decorations, such as intricate glass baubles or colourful garlands.

Today there is no rule of dress for a cats christmas tree. Beloved heirlooms, brought down from the attic,slightly tarnished silver bells, Victorian glass balls, birds carved of birch or fashioned from bright feathers, catnip filled canes,red satin mice, strings of light that flash and homemade chains of nostalgia all nestle in the branches harmoniously.

A Cats tree-choosing guide

1. Sniff the tree to see if its friendly.

2. Rub up against the branches to test the trees health.(if its shedding needles, move on)

3. Race around the tree and watch its reactionto your antics(if it sways in amusement, it's a good sign)

4. Bat at some branches to checks the tree 's sense of playfulness.

5. Stretch out on a bough to test the tree's strenght.

6. Hold onto a branch and swing back and forth like an ornament. (If the tree oozes sap onto your paws, it's unhappy)

7. Put your paws around the lower part of the trunk and give the tree a hug. (Does it feel as though you are hugging a familiar forest friend?)

8. Gently scratch at the bark to see if the tree enjoys it.

9. Curl up under the tree and close your eyes. Use your intuition to sense how protective the tree feels towards you.

10. Claw your way up the trunk and try to balance on top like a star. (If the tree doesn't shake you off, bring it home-this tree's for you.)