Christmas trees are often treated as climbing frames by cats, which can be disruptive, to say the least.

But one woman has shared a new perspective on why she doesn't mind and her reason went viral on TikTok, gathering a whopping 8.9 million views at the time of writing.

The text layered over the video of her tabby kitten hiding in the tree says: "Realizing it's her first time celebrating Christmas / experiencing life so I try not to be mad at her for messing with the tree."

In the comments, TikTok user @notlauravo warns: "Please be cautious with your babies and make sure they are being supervised while around the tree."

Indeed, the holiday tree can be hazardous for cats. Newsweek recently spoke to Dr. Anna Foreman, an in-house veterinarian for Everypaw Pet Insurance, about the dangers posed by ribbons, bows and tinsel, which are gaining popularity as alternatives to traditional baubles.

She said: "The shiny or soft nature of ribbon and tinsel makes them very attractive to animals, particularly young or playful cats."

When consumed, these materials can get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially leading to a dangerous blockage.

"The gastrointestinal tract will continue to try to move the material through, leading to a corrugation effect where the intestines become bunched up," Foreman said. Left untreated, this can result in a rupture and life-threatening sepsis.

So far, the December 9 video has over 3.2 million likes and more than 8,200 comments – many from cat owners sharing their experiences.

One comment with 106,000 likes said: "I didn't care about my babies messing with the tree, we left it ornamentless for a reason. But they completely broke it, so we bought a Christmas tree cat tree instead."

"However, it is my cat's 15th, and he is STILL eating the tree to get my attention," said another user.

"I'm so glad my cat is too lazy for this; he just lays under the tree like the gift to the world that he is," said a third commenter, and a fourth asked: "What do you do if it's their 3rd and are still dropping ornaments left and right[?]"

"You just made me feel bad but I'm tired of coming home to my little tree hanging upside down on the table," said a fifth user.

But it isn't just the decorations that can be harmful to cats, according to Purina, fir trees are mildly toxic to cats. They can potentially cause mouth and stomach irritation, though serious harm is unlikely.

Fallen needles pose a risk of puncturing the gastrointestinal tract if swallowed. For safety, consider an artificial tree or a non-drop variety if using a real tree.

Newsweek reached out to @notlauravo for comment. We couldn't verify the details of the case.

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