Dear Sinéad, Siouxsie and Thomas:
Help! I think that my 2-year-old tabby cat is having an allergic reaction to our Frasier Fir Christmas tree. Last Christmas (first year we had him after adoption) he got very sick a few days before Christmas, completely stopped eating and drinking. We took him to the emergency vet and they couldn't find the problem, but kept him overnight and flushed all his fluids, and $2,500 later we brought him home Christmas morning and he seemed like a happy cat again.

This year we got another live tree and right on cue Jack does not seem well again. The first sign that he's not well is that he has wet fur around his mouth from drooling. I inspected his lips and some areas seemed like they could have been irritated with small scabby areas but I'm not sure. He still has a slight appetite but is pickier than usual
about what and when he eats.

We have two cats and the other one is completely fine. We're getting ready to throw the tree out already but we'd really like to avoid another $2,500 vet bill when they never really determined the problem in the first place. Any advice you can give is appreciated.

Thanks,
Margaret

Sinéad: Margaret, it is possible that your cat is having an allergic reaction to your Christmas tree. According to this article, pine needles (and perhaps, by extension, the needles of other evergreen trees) can be poisonous to cats.

Siouxsie: But we have to say, our Mama gets a balsam fir tree every Christmas, and we sometimes chew on the needles. They make us a little sick to our tummies, and we might throw up, but Mama's had plants in her house -- such as spider plants -- that really make our stomachs hurt if we try to eat them.

Thomas: There are holiday-season plants known to be poisonous to cats, such as poinsettia and mistletoe. Could your cat be getting into some other type of seasonal plant?

Sinéad: Another possibility is that if you're putting any kind of chemical fertilizer or preservative in the water you're feeding the live tree, this could be what's making your kitty sick. Chemical fertilizers are infamous for being toxic to cats.

Siouxsie: One way you might be able to determine what it is that's making your tabby cat sick is to observe his behavior and compare it to that of your other cat. Is there something the tabby is exploring that the other one isn't?

Thomas: If not, maybe this kitty is simply allergic to Frasier firs. You could try getting another type of live tree -- Mama recommends the balsam fir because it smells so nice and wonderful -- or a red pine, or anything else.

Sinéad: Sometimes cats drool when they chew on something that irritates their mouth and tongue. I've had that happen to me before. Once I chewed down on my worm pill by accident ..... yecch! Take it from me, fellow cats: Don't ever, EVER chew on worm pills.

Siouxsie: And I drooled and foamed at the mouth after chewing on that spider plant I was talking about earlier. Man, that was bitter and yucky!

Thomas: I never eat anything I'm not supposed to!

Sinéad: Yeah, except for licking the leftover butter off Mama's breakfast knife, trying to cadge food from Mama while she's eating ....

Thomas: That's different. I'm hungry!

Siouxsie: Whatever.

Thomas: You should talk, Siouxsie. You're the one who taught me how to get into Mama's food as soon as she's finished eating.

Sinéad: Anyway, Margaret: If you don't want to take the risk of your cat having another severe allergic reaction, but you'd still like to enjoy the smell of a live tree in your home, consider purchasing or making a garland, decoration or wreath to hang somewhere out of your cats' reach.

Siouxsie: If you think your cat is chewing on the tree because he needs some roughage in his diet (and believe it or not, this is possible), consider making him a garden for Christmas. You can find "cat grass" -- usually wheat grass or other thin-stemmed grass -- seeds at most pet stores. As an extra treat, plant some catnip, too.

Thomas: And if your tabby guy hasn't stopped eating completely, you may be able to avoid that trip to the emergency vet if you get rid of your tree right away.

Sinéad: Make sure you give him plenty of fresh water, preferably without chlorine or other additives. We'd recommend you use a pitcher filter for the water that your kitties (and you, of course) drink.

Siouxsie: To tempt his appetite, give him canned food of a flavor you know he likes. In this article, we give some tips on how to get a finicky (or unwell) cat to start eating again.

Thomas: Here are some other articles you and other pet parents might find helpful for keeping your cats safe during the holiday season:

• Enjoy the holiday season without CATtastrophes
• Common toxic plants and information about the animal poison control center
• A complete list of plants known to be toxic to cats

Sinéad: Good luck, Margaret. We hope you have a great Christmas and that your kitties stay well and happy.

Siouxsie: And best wishes to all our readers. May whatever holiday you celebrate -- Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, International Materialistic Gift-Giving Day, whatever -- be wonderful and filled with joy.

Thomas: Our special love to all the people who spend their time and effort rescuing stray, abused and abandoned animals. We send out a special purr to all of you for your kindness and caring. Thanks especially to the people who worked -- and are still working -- so hard to help the people and animals displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the earthquakes in the Himalayas, the war in Iraq, and all the other natural and man-made disasters afflicting the world. We wish for peace and a loving home for all living things.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.