As much as I roll my eyes at the monthlong march of prefabricated holiday cheer that begins before the Thanksgiving turkey is even cold, I can’t deny that I love shiny things and twinkle lights, two things that come together most perfectly on a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, my cats love the tree as much as I do — except in their feline minds, it’s not a celebration of the season, it is a GIANT NEW TOY JUST FOR THEM.

I stopped putting up decorations altogether about 10 years ago, when my cat Bubba Lee Kinsey tackled my tiny tree like a linebacker, cutting his foot on a glass ornament in the process. (Holiday safety tip: Plastic ornaments are safer than glass.) Bubba isn’t the only cat who starts acting like a furry little Grinch the moment the garland comes out of the box. Here are five cats who destroy Christmas in the most adorable ways possible.

1. Christmas tree disaster

This furry little jerk has excellent climbing skills, but he really should have stopped about halfway to the top. I think it’s safe to say his ambition outweighed his ability.

2. Caught on camera

This man couldn’t figure out why his Christmas tree ornaments were scattered all over the room every time he got home, since his cat, Andy, never seemed to touch the tree — “He just sits there and acts like a perfect little angel,” he says in the video. To solve the mystery, he set up a camera to catch Andy in the act — and sure enough, the moment he left the house, Andy was all up in that tree’s business.

3. A cat’s guide to Christmas

Adorable kitties Cole and Marmalade demonstrate how to help humans get into the holiday spirit, showing the proper way to wrap gifts, decorate the tree, and endure humiliating Christmas costumes. (Pro tip: Do not kill the human.)

4. Cat hijacks tree

This pretty calico girl made it all the way up the tree — and she’s not giving it up without a fight.

5. Waffles ruins Christmas

The moment Waffles, a pretty white kitty, spots the Christmas tree, she knows it must die. Her human captured her slowly but surely ruining Christmas, one ornament at a time.

Watch more cat videos:

• 5 Important Life Lessons You Can Learn From Cat Videos
• Everything We Know About Confidence We Learned From These Siamese Cats
• This Cat Is Better at Jenga Than You Are, and Other Harsh Truths
• 5 Actionable Steps to Improve Your Bottom Line (Just Kidding! Here’s a Music Video About Kittens in Space!)
• Tips for Professional Development: Stop Working and Look at These Cats!

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• I’m Willing to Bet That Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box — Here’s Why
• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• Our Best Tips for Getting Your Cat to Let You Sleep

About Angela: This not-crazy-at-all cat lady loves to lint-roll her favorite dress and go out dancing. She also frequents the gym, the vegan coffee joint, and the warm patch of sunlight on the living room floor. She enjoys a good cat rescue story about kindness and decency overcoming the odds, and she’s an enthusiastic recipient of headbutts and purrs from her two cats, Bubba Lee Kinsey and Phoenix.