Is Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika) Toxic to Cats?

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  • Is Serbian spruce toxic to cats?

    Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) is non-toxic to cats and is safe to keep as an indoor Christmas tree or garden ornamental, with care.

    What is Serbian spruce?

    Family Pinaceae – Pine
    Botanical name Picea omorika
    Common names Serbian spruce, Bosnian spruce, Omorica, Pančić spruce
    Popular cultivars ‘Nana’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Pendula’, ‘Pendula Bruns’, ‘Peve
    Tijn’
    Mature height 20 – 40 metres
    Needle retention Fair
    Scent Citrus
    Native to Southeastern Europe
    Toxicity Non-toxic to cats

    Serbian spruce is a medium-sized distinctive species native to the limestone mountains of Southeastern Europe. This graceful species has thin arching branches and a slender trunk with 1-2 cm flat needles that are dark blue-green above and blue-white below. When crushed, the needles emit a citrusy odour.

    The Serbian spruce was named after Serbian botanist Josif Pančić, omorica is the Serbian word for tree.

    Care

    Serbian spruce grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils.

    Safety

    Despite their non-toxic status, all Christmas trees can still pose a risk to cats and dogs in the home.

    • The Serbian spruce generally holds its needles better than other trees but ingestion of large volumes is still a risk, especially later in the season.  Ingestion of spruce needles can potentially lead to a gastrointestinal obstruction. If you do have a cat who is interested in eating the plant, consider moving it to another location the cat cannot access.
    • Never add aspirin to Christmas tree water as cats are unable to metabolise aspirin effectively, which can lead to a fatal overdose in as little as a single tablet.
    • Always secure the Christmas tree to a wall by attaching a wire or fishing line to prevent the tree from accidentally toppling over.
    • Do not use long strands of tinsel (angel hair or lametta tinsel) in homes with cats as ingestion can cause telescoping of the intestines. This life-threatening condition occurs when a linear foreign body becomes lodged in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract while the loose segment travels further down the GI tract. Wavelike contractions (peristalsis) creep up the trapped foreign body and can slide into the section immediately ahead of it (like a telescope). Blood vessels become trapped between the layers, which compromises blood flow and leads to edema (swelling). Strangulation of the blood vessels leads to (necrosis) death of the affected tissue and disruption of the mucosal barrier which allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream (sepsis).
    • Place non-breakable ornaments at the bottom of the tree and delicate, breakables towards the top to prevent cats and children from pulling them down and breaking them.

    Toxicity of common 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

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio