Is Noble Fir (Abies procera) Toxic to Cats?

Is noble fir Toxic to Cats?

Abies Procera (Noble fir) is non-toxic to cats and is safe to keep as a Christmas tree or an ornamental plant in the garden.

What is Noble fir?

• Botanical name: Abies Procera
• Common names: Noble fir, Red fir, Christmas tree
  
• Needle retention: Excellent
• Scent: Earthy, citrus
• Toxicity: Non-toxic to cats
• Toxic parts: None
• Severity: –
• Toxic principle: –

Noble fir is a large evergreen tree up that grows up to 70 metres tall and is native to the Cascade Range and the Coast Ranges of the Pacific Northwest of Washington and Oregon and in southwestern Canada.

The Noble fir is easy to recognise with its unique 6 – 9 inch cones that sit upright on the top of the branches. The soft blue-grey needles are arranged in spirals on the shoots and are blunt at the end.

Its conical shape, low needle shedding and hardiness make the Noble fir one of the most popular varieties of Christmas tree in the United States.

Safety

• Fertilisers and pest control used on or around the plant may 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 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 common Christmas plants