Cat's Failed Attempt at Clawing Christmas Tree Has Internet Howling

The internet has been left in stitches by footage of a cat relentlessly trying its very best to scratch a Christmas tree—it fails to reach the shiny baubles as its savvy owners have placed plastic protection around the tree.

Over 14 million people watched the video posted by @lilyandenzostory on November 19. The cat can be seen scratching at a plastic screen in a bid to get to the tree.

The viral clip has racked up 2 million likes and been commented on more than 12,000 times.

In the comments, the owner from New Brunswick, Canada, points out they tried every trick in the book to stop their furry friend from scratching their tree such as squeezing lemon on the tree, aluminum foil and essential oils spray, but nothing worked. The TikToker said: "We needed the big solution."

According to Lombardo Homes, a construction company, 84 percent of 1,000 Americans said they decorate their homes at Christmas. And people spend about three hours decorating on average, and $70 on new decorations, so it is no surprise this owner wants to protect the tree.

But keeping our four-legged companions away can be difficult, especially for curious cat owners.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggests the following tactics to keep cats away from the tree this Christmas.

• Go for smaller. A smaller tree is safer for your feline friends, especially if they try to make sneak attacks on it. If the tree falls over, it's less likely to hurt them—and it'll be easier for you to decorate and clean up, too.
• Make sure that the tree has a solid base. As mentioned above, cats love jumping on trees, so be sure to set the tree up so that it won't easily topple over. Securing it to a wall with some wire near the top can help keep it upright.
• Keep the tree away from launching zones (e.g., furniture) that your cat uses, in order to reduce the temptation to pounce on your tree.
• Tie ornaments and Focus on the top half of the tree. Place ornaments where it's harder for your cat to reach them—at the top and toward the center of the tree (instead of on the ends of the branches).
• Avoid other holiday hazards. Don't risk using decorations such as real candles, small ornaments that your cat could choke on, or fake snow (which may contain harmful chemicals).

While these are all incredibly useful tips, they may not be as effective as the Plexiglass sheet that has been placed around the tree in the viral video.

The owner has pointed out it is the third year using the sheet and her tree remains undamaged.

One comment has received more than 12,000 likes, it said: "That look at the end … that tree is coming down one way or another."

Another comment said: "I think this is the only cat-proofing of a tree that I've seen work!"

A cat owner said: "My cat killed all my trees so haven't had a tree for 5 years."

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