Cat eating Christmas Tree!

[danam314]

Hi all.

Just a question since the holiday season is upon us....

My hubby and I put up the Christmas tree this weekend, and the cat will not leave it alone! I'm constantly doing the "Mikey... get away from the tree!!" dance. It is artificial, my allergies wont allow us to have a real one, so I'm worried about him digesting the plastic "needles". Aside from soaking the tree in hot sauce or locking the cat in his room, what can I do?? I've already moved the furniture away from the tree so he can't just sit and nibble all night, but now he just sits on his hind legs like a gopher eating it

Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill here, or is my concern valid? Is this tree eating behavior common?

This is the suspect in question: