Your cat’s sense of smell is indeed exceptional. Cats have stronger senses than humans and their nose is way more sensitive than ours, so it’s definitely possible that scents you might find calming and wonderful, can be extremely strong and overwhelming for your cat.
If you have a domestic pet cat and you want to use essential oils, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure the safety of your pet.
This article is a complete guide for cat owners to understand how to ensure the safety of their pets because essential oils are becoming an invaluable commodity in our homes. A variety of ways you maybe already are incorporating essential oils into your daily life, include herbal remedies, aromatherapy, liquid potpourri, body care products, and natural home cleaning products.
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Knowing the basics about the potential effects of essential oils to your cat is vital. When it boils down to the questions of the toxicity of these oils to your cats, the bottom line assures that it all depends on the quality and specific chemical elements of the oil being used.
Is it Safe to Use Oils on Cats?
The first question that always comes to mind when using essential oils on cats is in regards to the safety of using them on your pet. The answer, though, is both a “yes” and a “no.”
While it is true that there are some essential oils that cats could tolerate and in fact help fight several health conditions, some oils likewise affect cats by showing signs of toxicity, leading you to the veterinarian most of the time. Cats are wired very differently from humans so what may be safe for you may impact your cat in a totally different way.
Nevertheless, science has provided research on the potential benefits of several essential oils on our cats if used with caution and in adequate dosages.
I have to distinguish here, that there is a difference between using essential oils topically on your cat, vs. diffusing them around your home for your own well-being and/or that of your feline friend.
Essential oils are much more potent when applied directly to the skin (yours or that of your cat). Essential oils diffused in a room that your cat may frequent, is much less of a safety hazard than trying to treat your cat with oils by applying them to his or her body. Special consideration do go to using essential oils on your own body by way of DIY essential oil body care products, lotions or creams; since your pet may have physical contact with you and potentially lick the oil contents off your skin.
How to Use Essential Oils around Your Cat (Quick Guide)
- Start slowly. Don’t diffuse heavily to begin with, to air on the cautious side.
- Every pet is different. Observe your feline friend closely as you introduce essential oils. Look for behavior changes or other oddities.
- Avoid eyes, nose, mouth and paws. Be sure to avoid those sensitive areas on your domestic cat. Store bottles out of reach or behind cupboards to ensure your cat can’t accidentally chew on them.
- Wash your hands. Never pet your cat after having applied essential oils to yourself.
- Know your oils. Work without oils high in phenols (such as Oregano or Thyme).
- Don’t use Citrus oils. Cats normally avoid citrus oils.
- Do NOT use Tea Tree oil. (Melaleuca alternifolia). It is deadly to cats.
Essential Oils that are Toxic to Cats
Scanning through testimonies and research studies, science elaborates on the possible effects of several essential oils to the feline species. The internet is bombarded by articles saying how their cats are killed by essential oils but clarifications are yet to be made. There is always further information to be examined before coming to a conclusion. And, every pet and household is different. No wonder people often are confused regarding this matter.
Most important to know, is, that essential oils are highly concentrated and contain phenols and other phenolic substances that are considered toxic to cats. If your cats ingest these substances, their intestines and liver don’t have the necessary enzymes capable of eliminating, absorbing, or even digesting the oils leading to various health complications in the animal.
Essential Oils to Avoid
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This is not a comprehensive list
Toxicity and Danger Symptoms of Essential Oils to Cats
What are the symptoms that would indicate that essential oils have poisoned your cat? The symptoms of cat poisoning through an essential oil depends on the kind of oil administered around the cat. However, in general and summarized, these symptoms include¹:
- Aches and pains during breathing
- Coughing, wheezing, fast breathing, and gasping for breath
- Salivating or drooling
- Low heart rate
- Liver failure
- Shivering and shaking
- Low body temperature
- Nausea or vomiting
- Inability to walk or ataxia
Consult your veterinary doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs; they are suggestive of essential oil poisoning.
Which Oils Are Safe To Use Around Cats?
Essential Oils You Can Use Around Cats:
- Effective as antiseptic, disinfectant, and anti-inflammatory, Frankincense oil may also assist in addressing the cat’s digestive problems.
- Helichrysum oil detoxifies and contains properties which are antibiotic and antifungal.
- To reduce stress and depression in your cats, which is surprisingly common to the feline species, Clary Sage oil can shift your cat’s hormones into a balance and even boost its mood and emotions.
- Help your shy cat develop more courage with Sweet Pea essential oil.
- Use Roman or German Chamomile for anti-inflammatory help.
- A few effective flea repellents are Rosemary oil and Cedarwood oil, if diluted or diffused properly.
- For balancing, calming and relaxing your cat, Lavender or Valerian are ok to use.
Using Oils on Cats: Dilution Rates
Even natural and 100% pure essential oils need to be diluted before using them on felines.
You can dilute your oils using pure vegetable oil, make sure this is high grade, as recommended by Dr. Mary Hess, DVM. Dilute at a ratio of 50:1 which means you dilute a drop of your essential oil to 50 drops of dilution oil. Use just a drop of this diluted oil and apply to your cat from ear to tail.
Another way to dilute your oils is to add 3-5 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle filled with water (can be halfway or less), shake the sprayer then finally, spray gently on your cat.
The most common technique to receive the benefits of aromatherapy on cats though, is through diffusing essential oils through a diffuser. Over time, while humans have enjoyed the beneficial results of oils in improving overall health, people also started using them on animals to see if they also create wonderful impacts on animals. Using essential oils through the diffusion method has been one effective way to do so.
It is very important that you only use therapeutic grade essential oils as many of the problems arise when you buy products marketed with high prices but low quality and use them on your cat.
Things to be Wary Of When Using Oils on Cats
Common scenarios reveal essential oils to cause toxicity in cats, and that is something that you should watch out for. Cats may show signs through changing their habits in sleeping and eating; behavior changes such as tiredness, and lack of energy; digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea or vomiting; and light-headedness.
In conclusion, essential oils generate various effects on your pet, but the general conception is that, as long as you only choose oils acceptable to cats, and these oils are kept in concentrations and levels which are low to moderate only, chances are your cat will be safe from any possibility of toxicity.
Make sure that you store essential oils properly and unreachable by your cat. If your pet cat has a serious medical problem and you deem essential oils to be useful, it is necessary for you to check with a veterinarian first as they may know better and may even recommend professionally blended oils that you can use.
How To Diffuse Essential Oils In Your Home
There are few different types of diffusers available on the market, all of which release essential oils into the air in a different way.
- Ultrasonic diffusers: These function using electricity, water and the unit. The power produces vibrations of an ultrasonic disk centered at the bottom inside the diffuser unit’s water tank. The ultrasonic vibration creates a cold mist air, and if the water has been mixed with essential oils, the diffuser releases the scents and compounds your essential oil into the air quickly.
- Nebulizing diffusers: Function without water, 100% essential oil is placed into the diffuser and dispersed into the air when in use.
- Passive diffusers: Such as reed diffusers or essential oil jewelry. Passive diffusers function using simple evaporation, thereby causing the fragrance to be emitted accordingly.
- Heat diffusers: Examples are candle burners or tabletop warmers. Heat diffusers are not generally recommended for aromatherapy because the heat alters the therapeutic properties of essential oils. None the less, people do use them around their homes and should use caution with them if their home is home to a cat.
Resources
- ¹ Pet Poison Helpline
- AnimalEO.info
- Essential Oils for Cats: Uncommon Ways To Safely Use Cat Essential Oils With Natural Cat Remedies For Optimal Health – by Tonny Ford RN
Paula Andrews
Hi, what about Jasmine essential oils in a diffuser. Is that okay?
Xanthe
I use Eucalyptus oil in my wash and also in water to clean floors. Always highly diluted, my cat is fine with it.
Anna Redman
I killed 3 of my cats using peppermint oil!!!!! They were very ill and yellow ears and skin before I figured it out.
Christina
I don’t diffuse essential oils, nor do I apply them to my cat, EVER! But I do use essential oils on myself for skin care by mixing them with water or carrier oil, I use tea tree oil a lot… I wash my hands when I’m finished to ensure none gets accidentally on my cat or my baby… Should I be worried about using EO in the same room as my cat?
Emma Carter
Hi Christina, thank you for your question! As long as your cat has a way to escape the room, I wouldn’t worry about him or her in the same room. Surely certain essential oils aren’t good for our feline friends, but I believe they are smart enough to leave the vicinity should something be bothering them. Remember that their sense of smell is incredibly good. If your cat is healthy and well, and has a way out of the room you’re in with your tea tree oil applied, you should be ok.
Colby Hardison
I had read that all essential oils could cause liver damage to cats so I stopped diffusing them around my house. Is this true, or will they avoid the room if the oil is too much for them?
Kayzo Freeman
Thank you for your article Emma. I was hoping for an answer to this question but didn’t find it. So I will ask here in hopes of getting an answer. I would like to buy scented pet odor neutralizing soy candles with essential oil fragrances and no paraffin or petroleum sources. I’m wondering if this method is safe for my cats or should I only choose since from the good oil list? Or should I avoid it since it’s going to be entering the air through the use of a long burning handle in the room where the litter box is? I had understood that using a diffuser with essential oils is always bad for cats because the oil settles on to their fur and when they groom themselves it gets into their digestive system and gums up the works which can kill them slowly over time.
Mary Carey
please tell me if BAY LAUREL oil is bad for cats
Thanks
Mary
Elizabeth
Peppermint is VERY toxic to cats and so is Lemongrass!
Jennifer
I thought peppermint was also toxic to cats?
Deborah Adams
I need to use a disinfectant because of mice invasion
Thyme is in the mixture, will the smell harm my cat?
Maria
There are too many conflicting reports on essential oils that are safe and others that are fatal for cats that I threw all of mine out. We lost our cat two years ago. I had 2 diffusers and two or three rolling ball bottles with a combination of 3 types of essential oils and the bottles themselves that I would use a drop or two for health or cleaning several times a day. I didn’t know essential oils could be fatal for cats until after we lost her. I still read articles about this because people just don’t know. I think essential oils are great but not at the cost of our pets. If you have a cat and use essential oils I would tell you to pick one and get rid of the other because it’s not worth the risk. I still accidentally see the symptoms fatal for cats from essential oils and it breaks my heart because she had each one and I wonder what other symptoms she had that aren’t listed simply because we don’t know. Legit articles that veterinarians post have lists that contradict each other. If you love your cat I would say better safe than sorry.
Sharon
Peppermint oil has been found to be toxic to cats as it contains both oxygenated compounds called ketones and phenols. Cats are the only animal that do NOT produce a liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase that is responsible for breaking down, metabolizing and eliminating these toxic compounds found in many essential oils from a cats system.
cindy g
I use an insect spray that is natural and has eucalyptus oils. Is this ok? So far no issues with my cat. I spray the air with this to prevent insects.
Thanks
Sophia
It literally says that eucalyptus is TOXIC to cats in this exact article.
Nancy Zier
Can I still use the citrus oils in my Ultrasonic diffuser? How would I dilute them to make them non toxic? Most recipes for the diffuser only use a few drops, but what would be a safe amount? I never put oils on my cat, and I wash my hands over and over again after I use them.
K
It’s still airborne, and it still gets in their system, and it can fill the whole house even if you don’t smell it. The diffuser spreads the molecules everywhere. Don’t use citrus, or anything that is on the “no” list. Also, Roman chamomile is not considered safe, and Valerian is not considered relaxing to cats but quite the opposite. Better to be safe than sorry.
Rosa
Precisely what I was searching for, thanks for putting up this article!
Rosa
Thank you for the wonderful information!
I see that citrus oils are a no-go around cats. You list several, but I’m wondering about Neroli. It’s from orange blossoms instead of the fruit, but I want to make sure before I use it in my room diffuser.
Thanks in advance!
Pat Chichester
Can you recommend an essential oil for my cat with kidney disease
Stephanie
Oh my god. Peppermint oil is NOT SAFE for cats. Your first resource even states this, as do numerous other places.
Sharon M.
It’s a fairly well written piece, but misses the mark when talking about some of the hazards to our cats.
It’s not just the application of oils directly, but the also some of the home diffuser and cleaning products that can pose risks.
From Canadian Veterinary Medical Ass’n:
“This list has been pooled from various sources and is not exhaustive (and it is not presented in any order of toxicity):
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia; Citrus Aurantium)
Bitter almond (Peumus boldus)
Calamus essential oil (Acorus calamus)
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Clove (Syzgium aromaticum)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.)
European Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Geranium oil (Pelargonium sp.)
Horseradish (Amoracia rusticana)
Japanese yew (Taxus spp.)
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
Lemon oil (Citrus Lemonia) citronella
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lime oils (Citrus aurantifolia)
Mustard
Orange oils (Citrus sinensis)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum)
Pennyroyal; American false pennyroyal (Haedeoma pulegioides)
Pine, spruce, juniper oils
Rose
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Sassafras
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Thyme
Wintergreen, peppermint, spearmint, mint (Mentha sp.)
Wormseed
Ylang Ylang
Essential oils come in many forms and are found in some household products. Toxicity has been reported due to exposure to certain home cleaning products, as well as direct exposure to essential oils.”
Joyce M. Rivera
I have read such conflicting information regarding essential oil in cats. I feel better about reading your article since you are training in aromatherapy. One concern is the use of Eucaluptys as I just read on another site that it was ok to use on cats. What about Lavender, I read on one site it was fine for cats but I don’t remember reading about it on your site here.
Thanks for this awesome article. I’ve been using oils for a couple of years and have 2 cats & 1 dog but 1 of our cats has an autoimmune disease of the skin.
Peggi
I see that tea tree oil is deadly to cats. Can I use tea tree oil shampoo on my hair? My cats are all cuddlers and like being around my head.