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My cat ate Christmas tree, now sick and won't eat. What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Male | neutered | 13.5 lbs

I believe that my cat chewed on the Christmas tree. He vomited up clear liquid (no needles), but he is uncomfortable and does not want to eat. He allows me to pick him up, but is preferring to lie in front of the woodstove.He is a chewer when he gets hungry, and this is the first day the tree has been up. Is this an urgent situation or can I observe him and see if he improves in a certain amount of time? He is 10 years old and healthy. Just had all his blood work done.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Debi Matlack

Veterinary Technician

Published on December 21st, 2019

Since he is uncomfortable and unwilling to eat, I think it would be a good idea to get him seen as soon as possible. Oils from fir trees can irritate the inside of their mouths, causing drooling and vomiting and ingested pine needles can collect together creating an intestinal obstruction or potentially puncture the intestine, leading to a painful condition called peritonitis. I feel it would be best to get him seen in case he gets worse or perhaps ate something else you weren't aware of. As you probably know, cats cannot go for long without eating before developing hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. Your vet will do an exam, possibly x-rays and labwork, and based on these results, will be better able to tell you what is wrong and how best to treat it.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 25th, 2018

    If Gilligan ate some of the Christmas tree, this could be the cause of his symptoms. Do not worry about the dry nose, it's not considered a sign of illness in cats. A cat's nose can go from wet to dry just by sitting next to a heat source or laying in the sun. I would have him seen by a vet immediately for these other problems, however, as they may be very serious. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck and happy holidays.

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