not that much, but my sister's cat always climed into the christmas tree. Probably thinking it was a real tree

OH my what a disaster! I bet those kitties won't venture into another house ever again! So much for what all the house cats had told them about how wonderful it was being a house cat without any worries!
My story of our cat and dog knocking grandma's tree over and the disaster it caused is minor in comparison to your poor sister in law's Christmas excitement!

I can't even imagine, Bev.........ferals are so different, even when they are domesticated........they never lose that "wild" and easily startled part........

My new corgi puppy, Teddy, discovered the red blossoms on the tip of the branches of my Brazilizn Flame Bush outside. He found that if he jumped up and grabbed the branch, that he could grab the flower and tear it off. We put up our Christmas tree with some red balls. He saw the red balls on the tips of the Christmas tree and started grabbing them. Two small red glass balls and one styrafoam got destroyed. Teddy was none the worse for wear, thank goodness!

This rings mighty close as I fed a feral for several years and provided him a warm pet bed in my garage. I never did name him. He was "garage kitty". Occasional he invited himself inside using the doggy door and I had to coax him out with a container of cat food. The bad part was that he sprayed on everything he could before I could get him out. My sweetie wanted me to call animal control to pick him up but I knew that was death to him as he was not adoptable. He is in cat heaven now , but I probably gave him a good five years that he would have not had otherwise. Kay

Oh my gosh, I can imagine the pandemonium in your SIL's home !! I have had a male vervet monkey paying me a visit 2ce this month. He comes in through the back door, (the dogs head off to hide under the bed) and helps himself to whatever he finds in the kitchen. I could not believe my eyes when I caught him in the act. My first thought was that if I scared him he would be jumping all over the house trying to escape. I found myself wondering what valuables he would break or run off with.....where had a left my fone!! I got a bath towel and took cover behind it (in case he attacked me) and flapped it at him telling him to get out. He was eating chocolates from my bowl - spitting out the foil wrappers!! I got quite close and he just looked at me, stuffed his mouth and filled one hand with chocs and ever-so nonchalantly jumped down and ambled back out the door and sat down. I had to tell him to "move along now" and he merely ambled off. The very next day I was putting dishes away and I heard a crunching sound and there he was again - with apple in hand watching me!! I told him he was very cheeky and not welcome and he put the apple back in the bowl and left!! I now keep the door closed. In hindsight, I now have to apologise to the neighbour's cat as I had thought the little footprints I had been finding on my counter tops were from her. Mystery solved and luckily no damage incurred.

This is and will be funny to her later on...oh but not so much now! It sounds very similar to my aunt's story. They lived on a farm and outside barn cats only...one got in, freaked, tore around the house like a tornado, of course she is chasing it with a broom! Found the tree, climbed it rattled the tree tipped it over, not once but three separate times. My aunt was fit to be tied and the uncle made the mistake of laughing...she threatened to throw him and the cat out in the barn that evening to sleep. What made it even worst is that I was taking my mom to her house for Christmas and she had everything the way she wanted it to be...It was an interesting Christmas day to say the least. Thanks for bringing the memory to mind, Bev. :)

These stories are so funny! We don't have cats (or dogs now) but today one little prissy cat walked up to the front porch, started "talking" to me. I told her to go home (she had a cute collar & bell on) but she REALLY wanted to come inside! We had to quickly shut the door to keep her from walking right in...still talking! As she was "belled" I don't think she can catch my birds, so she can hang around.

Quite a few years ago we had a real Christmas tree up in the lounge . It was in a bucket filled with sand and next doors kitty came over and dug a hole and did poos in the sand . UGGGGGGGG ,,Had artificial trees since , can laugh now but kids were not very happy needless to say either was I. I think they tell every one now about Mums tree .

Yes, staying with my daughter who has a 4 month old puppy. We left a few presents out one night and the puppy 'opened' all the parcels. Luckily nothing was destroyed we just had to wrap them again.