The Magic of the Catmas Box Fort

I grabbed some boxes, cut out peek-a-boo holes, and wrapped them in the most festive holiday paper I found. Paired with a cat-safe tree featuring unstrung lights and swat-able toys, my living room has officially transformed into a feline holiday wonderland.

This is actually our fourth year doing “Catmas,” but this year we did something a little different.

The Tree Cutting Adventure

Usually, we just work with what we have, but this year I had some expert help. My friend Molly McKay, a long-time downhill skiing partner and a tree cutting veteran, came to visit. She was the kickstart I needed to embark on my very first tree-cutting adventure for the cats.

We got the tree-cutting permit online and set out the day after Thanksgiving, which we call “The Day of Cat-mas.” The day was magical. We entered the forested area a couple of miles away. Fresh snow covered the ground. Thanks to Molly’s experience as a guide, we located the perfect tree in under an hour!

Getting the tree back and set up was a fun change of pace. Since safety is the number one priority when mixing cats and timber, I set it up using the methods I’ve talked about before. Cat Safe Christmas Tree The tree is decorated with unstrung lights (no wires to chew!) and hanging cat toys. It’s a giant scratching post that sparkles—basically their dream come true.

The Box Fort Castle

Of course, it wouldn’t be Catmas without the boxes.

I have been saving up for this all year. I’ve been stashing away shipping boxes (mostly Chewy, with some Amazon thrown in) downstairs in an unused guest room. It looked a bit crazy down there for a while. When I looked at the pile, I knew I had the raw materials for a masterpiece.

Instead of just hacking away with scissors, I used a hole saw to achieve perfectly smooth circles. This tool made quick work of creating the peek-a-boo holes on the sides of the boxes for the castle.

For an engaging and cozy cat play space, I placed smaller, taped boxes inside a larger box. I cut entrance holes into two sides while leaving the top open, which makes it easy to drop in treats, toys, and catnip. To make it a comfortable napping spot, I added soft cushioning inside some of the wrapped boxes.

After wrapping them in festive paper, I used colored duct tape to secure the edges. This doesn’t just look cool. It reinforces the boxes. They hold up better when the cats are zooming in and out of them.

The fresh scent of the pine fills the air. The dangling toys on the tree catch the cats’ attention. They play with the crinkly wrapping paper boxes and are having the time of their lives. And honestly, watching them explore their holiday kingdom is the best gift I ask for.

Check out our Catmas video of 2025!

Whether you go all out with a hole saw and wrap the boxes, or just toss a few crumpled receipts on the floor for them to bat around, I hope you find some time to relax. Enjoy the chaos this season.

Happy Holidays to all you cat lovers out there, and a very Merry Cat-mas to your furbabies!