We didn't bother with a tree at all last year, but it just didn't feel like Christmas.
I figured this was tree shaped

Bryan looking like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

LOL Tracey. I'm sure you've seen all the ways people have come up with to keep cats out of their Christmas tree -- putting fencing round them, hanging them upside down from the ceiling. One of the best I've seen is a cat tree Christmas tree with a cubby hole for the cat. We haven't put up a tree in years but I know Raiden would be in it in a second. He has to visually inspect each and every new thing that wasn't there the day before. Also, I LOVE the pictures of the kitties in the actual tree! And I recall the one picture posted where the tree was on the ground, with the cat in the picture and the caption, "the tree was up 20 minutes." If you have to choose between the cat and a tree -- you go with the cat every time.

I'm almost always gone for X-mas week so I usually get no tree at all, but one year what I did is go out and buy a Christmas Tree, put it in a stand, gave it water... and that's it! No decorations! And then I basically just said: "Ok cats, go enjoy it however you want to enjoy it". They loved it. They loved sniffing it, hung out near or under the tree, and I got the benefit of at least having a tree with really nice smell etc.

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The little monsters 3

I don't bother with a tree, I haven't had one at all since having Magic and Pearl which is at least 5 years, I did buy a real tree once when I had my previous boy Frosty, he wasn't too naughty so we gave it a go it wasn't too bad but after we lost him to cancer aged 5 I've never put one up again.
I probably would have chanced it this year if I didn't have Pearl but she is only 2 and a right little madam there would be nothing left of it in an hour

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Clare
Magic (brown spotted boy born 31 March 2012)
Pearl (seal Lynx Point girl born 1 October 2015)
Bristol, UK

Brian, it's not a Christmas tree without lights and ornaments! It's just a TREE! LOL