Is Douglas fir toxic to cats?
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is non-toxic to cats.
What is Douglas fir?
- Botanical name: Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Common names: Douglas fir, Oregon fir, Oregon pine, Oregon, Green Douglas fir, Blue Douglas fir, Columbian pine, Common Douglas, Coast Douglas-fir
- Needle retention: Excellent
- Scent: Woody
- Toxicity: Non-toxic to cats
- Toxic parts: None
- Severity: –
- Toxic principle: –
Douglas fir is an evergreen conifer native to North America. The common name honours Scottish botanist David Douglas who first reported the potential of the species.
Douglas fir makes a beautiful Christmas tree, with dark green to blue-green thick, soft needles which are not prone to shedding, symmetry and citrus-like scent. The versatile timber is used in furnituremaking, ship building and house frames, the oil are used to make eau de vie, a colourless brandy, and the needles are a popular tea.
Despite the name, Douglas fir is not a true fir, meaning it is not a member of the genus Abies.
Safety
- Fertilisers and pest control used on Douglas fir can be potentially toxic to cats.
- Ingestion of large volumes of needles can potentially lead to a gastrointestinal obstruction but this is unlikely. If you do have a cat who is interested in eating the plant, consider moving it to another location the cat cannot access and bring in some cat-friendly plants such as catnip or cat grass.
- Secure the Christmas tree to a wall by attaching a wire or fishing line to prevent the tree from accidentally toppling over.
- Avoid the use of tinsel in homes with cats as ingestion can cause gastrointestinal obstruction or telescoping of the intestines, which are both life-threatening.
- Place breakable ornaments high on the tree to prevent the cat from pulling them off and breaking them.
Toxicity of other Christmas trees
Common name |
Scientific name |
Toxicity level |
Norway spruce | Picea abies | Non-toxic |
Blue spruce | Picea pungens | Non-toxic |
Serbian spruce | Picea omorika | Non-toxic |
White spruce | Picea glauca | Non-toxic |
Nordmann fir | Abies nordmanniana | Non-toxic |
Fraser fir | Abies fraseri | Non-toxic |
Douglas fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii | Non-toxic |
Noble fir | Abies procera | Non-toxic |
Balsam fir | Abies balsamea | Non-toxic |
Grand fir | Abies grandis | Non-toxic |
Scotch pine | Pinus sylvestris | No information available |
White pine | Pinus strobus | No information available |
Virginian pine | Pinus virginiana | Listed as toxic to dogs, no information on cats |
Norfolk Island pine, house pine |
Araucaria heterophylla | Non-toxic |
Feature image: Robert Thiemann/Unsplash