Under the Christmas Tree

by Mewsette

At Christmas time we always notice how purrty and inviting our Christmas tree is, but of course we all know that the "under" is the fun part. The under part was created just for us cats.

First thing to go under there is a red felt tree skirt trimmed with white yarn. That's your personal place to lay as long as it's there. It makes meowmies happy if you do, too, cause they like to get a camera and take pictures of us under there.

Then they start putting all the purrty things for us to play with under it. Maybe a little snowman and snowlady for you to knock over and investigate. But always presents! We know the little ones that smell like catnip are ours, and those are the ones to play with all night while Mom sleeps. Sometimes you can even disappear one, so she wonders where your other present is. Doesn't matter. You know where. Or there may be the odd kitty who eats the tissue paper wrapping off instead, like my sisfur Phelicity. She considers tissue paper a tasty snack, go figure.

The boxy presents have big round crackly bows on them that can be pulled off real easy, and those bows are great toys! If you are worthy of the name Cat, there shouldn't be a bow left on any present by Christmas morning. In fact, the tags are fun to pull off and bat into a corner, too, if your sisfur didn't eat them. That'll really keep the humans guessing!

What I like best are those presents in stand-up gift bags. You can stick your paw down in there, tip it over, and have a great time digging in it. Who knows, there could be a mouse in there! They usually have tissue paper corners sticking out the top, too, and that's what attracts my sisfur, of course. She'll have all the corners eaten the first day. Chewing on it is fine, but I've been telling her tissue paper is not food for 11 years. So don't swallow it, just chomp and tear. Once you dig down to the gift in the bag, your meowmie has to go ahead and open it early because "The cat already did." She only pretends she didn't mean to - she's really glad you helped.

Then as the days go on, some of the ornaments on the lower branches of the tree find their way into the pile under it, too. You have to help a little; they aren't gonna get there all by themselves. I know in our house, the low branches we can reach always have the soft little pillow-type ornaments my mom makes. That's because she knows they're cat toys. So one by one, those should join your collection of toys under it. It's okay to carry them off and stash them in your closet corner, but it's not okay to chew them up. Your meowmie wants to put them there for you again next year.

On Christmas morning, especially if you have childrens in the house, the whole under-the-tree becomes a wonderful sea of torn up wrapping paper, pretty ribbons, and boxes to sit in. Don't miss that part; that's the best fun of all! And that's the only mess you won't get blamed for making, too. Christmas doesn't come again for a whole year! So take full advantage of your wonderful "under the tree" while it's there. Have a Merry Meowy Christmas!