Cherrio, and others with 'attentive' kitties, this has always worked for me, even w/dogs. Get some jingle bells, use ribbon to make a hanger and hang them on the bottom branches, use several - kinda consider them an ornament. When they go under the tree, they'll hit the bells and somehow they learn to leave it alone. Now I have an old kitty that insists on getting UNDER my tree skirt! It's just a suggestion, it works for my brood...lol