How do I cat-proof my tree?

Try putting some peppermint oil on the tree.

You will need to block the path of the cat, I suppose. Put something to make noise in the tree, like wind chimes. Throw up some chicken wire around the tree. Put on some long strips of duct or wide packing tape with the sticky part out. Now douse vinegar against and around the tree. Repeat every day with the vinegar. Maybe this will protect the tree from that crazy cat. Best wishes 😇

You can buy motion detector cat deterrents on Amazon, they make a air can sprayer or better yet get the one that uses you hose to train the cat to avoid your tree, yard, garden etc. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cat+deterrents+hose&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Acat+deterrents+hose

As I informed another person here...if there is something your cat is doing that is not to your liking, you can fill a spray bottle full of water and then spray the cat when they go near what you don't want them to destroy. It will only take once or twice and then you wont have a problem.

There is a product called "Bitter Apple," that's available in a spray. Move the tree outside first, if at all possible ... you don't want to be smelling or especially, inhaling this stuff! Worst case, move to bathroom shower stall. If you have to use inside, I recommend wearing a dust mask (and safety goggles if you've got them) ... or take a BIG deep inhale before you start spraying!

This is VERY effective, though it does wear off after awhile. This kept one of my cats from chewing on the leaves on a Ponytail Palm/Elephant's Foot. These leaves have a serrated edge (a kind of "sawgrass"), which my cat loved to chew to get relief from hairballs, plus found irresistible since the tendrils were loose and swayed with the slightest air movement.

Alternatively, you could try spraying vinegar, but this may harm your tree. The Bitter Apple Spray doesn't. This plus a motion detector spray device would likely end the problem. Otherwise, you are probably stuck with some type of wire cage, such as some people have to use to protect a Christmas tree.

Have you got other things your cat might like to climb, such as a cat tree, near a window? If not, get one and run/spray catnip on it ... the natural tree will likely get ignored if you can make this kind of tree very enticing.

Oh ... to some extent ... if you can spray it a few times/week, depending on your weather, it could become a permanent turn-off. The BA comes in a paste that can be applied to cords ... maybe this applied to the lower trunk would help, too.

The other thing that cats hate is anything sticky. Garden supply stores (online, too), sell a sticky spray that's used on trees to prevent fruit from being damaged by birds and insects. It comes already applied to objects that resemble real apples, as well as something you can re-apply or apply in other ways.

If that's not practical for you, I'd try a very strong garlic spray from a couple of feet all around the base of tree, and up as far as you can reach. You can purchase super-strong spray or try making your own ... gobs of chopped garlic, steeped in a jug or two of water ... keep warm for several days ... filter/strain out the garlic and spray away. You probably want to wear protective clothing, a hat, a dust mask, and goggles -- it will STINK. For added punch, add a bottle of hot sauce.

I wouldn't expect it to harm your tree, but vinegar sure is likely to. You can also try hanging net bags with barely chopped/smashed raw garlic cloves on lower branches. Maybe deer deterrent would also work.