Essential Oil Safety With Cats

In researching essential oils that are toxic for cats, there is some conflicting information, however every source is in agreement regarding phenol and citrus oils. Several other sources have warned against Thyme being high phenol and also Rosemary being risky(not sure of the reason for this one). Some sources have oddly recommended Thieves for cats which appears extremely dangerous due to it's ingredients of Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, all highly warned against and also Lemon being citrus. Rosemary is also questionable according to some sources.

Here is a quote from the article "Aromatherapy for Animals" regarding an experienced veterinarian, Dr. Nancy Brandt, DVM:

"In response to questions regarding cats — Dr. Brandt says NO PHENOLS on cats. PHENOLS are a naturally occurring constituent in many essential oils and should NOT be used on cats and other small animals.

Examples of oils high in PHENOLS:

Oregano
Clove
Thyme
cinnamon
Mountain Savory
Tarragon

DO NOT use these on cats.

She makes no bones about NOT using any other oils but Young Living Essential Oils. This is because of the quality of the oils. Young Living's oils have no dangerous adulterants, which would also be dangerous to cats and other animals."

Evelyn,

Thanks for your comment and list of oils. There is a lot of conflicting information and all other factors put aside, I agree with the experts that phenols and citrus oils should be avoided with cats.

The Essential Oil Diva

My cat loves shea butter. When I open the container he comes running fron where ever he is. Is it harmful for him to lick it from my skin? Will it help with hair balls as he is long haired?

Nancy,

As far as I know, a small amount of shea butter shouldn't be a problem for your cat and might help with hairballs.

Shea butter is made from the nuts of an African tree called the Karite Nut tree, so it is a nut. In general, nuts are not good for cats or dogs because they contain high levels phosphorus and nut proteins. This is especially true for dogs. However, researchers have found that shea butter contains less than 1/30th the amount of protein found in cashews and even less than the amount found in peanuts, and that most people who are allergic to nuts don't react to shea butter. Whether this research holds for cats is unknown.

But on the whole, a small amount of shea butter now and then obtained from licking your hands probably won't hurt your cat. But I wouldn't let your cat lick the shea butter from the container.

The Essential Oil Diva

Hello. I'm looking for some help with a mystery. My 9 yo cat was staying with a friend, she noticed he was limping with a swollen foot. She put two drops of highest quality myrrh oil on his fur which he licked off immediately. He started to salivate profusely and she rushed him to the vet. He was admitted and by the next morning he was in severe respiratory distress. Xrays showed no signs of heart or lung problems, no fluid either. Blood work was all normal. Breathin got worse, was sent to a specialist where they kept him on IV fluids and oxygen. My sweet cat died a couple of hours later. No one knows what caused it and poison control does not think it was related to the myrrh oil. I have been a vet nurse for 28 years and this is a mystery to me. My gut says it was the oil…he was a very healthy yet very sensitive cat. Any thoughts you could share would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Jill,

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. It is so difficult when a beloved pet passes suddenly.

I can't say if it was the myrrh oil or not, but two drops of any undiluted oil is too much for a cat. Essential oils MUST ALWAYS be diluted when used on small animals such as cats and dogs.

The amount of oil used needs to be in proportion to the size and weight of the animal. While 2 to 3 drops of oil may be perfect for a human being that is 150 to 160 lbs, you'd need 10 times less for an animal that is only 15 lbs, and 10 times more for a horse that is 1,500 lbs.

For cats, dogs and other small animals, the oils need to be diluted 80 to 90 percent for optimal safety. Cats metabolize oils (and most everything) differently than dogs and other animals. Much more caution is needed.

Another issue with cats is that they tend to lick the oil off, getting it into their system where it can be far too strong.

Cats are especially sensitive to oils with high phenol or citrus oils. Myrrh is neither, but the fact that it was undiluted may be the issue, although, again, I can't really say.

An excellent ointment to put on all animals that is gentle and formulated to help healing is Animal Scents Ointment.
It's really wonderful for every bruise, scratch, wound animals (and humans) get. But I would apply very little on a cat – just a tiny dab – 1/8 or 1/10 of a teaspoon.

Another thing is that although some oils are marked therapeutic-grade, they are actually not. There is so much counterfeiting and "doctoring" of oils and passing them off as therapeutic-grade today, that its very hard to tell what is real and what isn't. Most companies do not take the extra steps that Young Living does to insure that the oils are completely pure. Cats are extraordinarily sensitive to toxins, and that could have had something to do with it.

Like people, cats are different and some cats actually love a variety of oils being put on them with no ill effects. Other cats are more sensitive and react strongly with just a little oil. Its important to know you cat before trying any oil.

I hope you can find another sweet kitty in the near future to take the place of your loss.

The Essential Oil Diva

Hello again and thank you for the information. I work as a veterinary nurse and for 8 of those years I was head nurse in a Holistic practice. We worked with chinese herbs and homeopathics but I have no experience with essential oils. I do know that cats are quite sensitive and my gut was telling me that the respiratory problem was indeed caused by the oil being used full strength and then him licking it off. Unfortunately, he was living with a friend who was taking care of him while I was out of the country. She meant well and its just a horrible tragic mistake. The thing I was most upset about was that when she called animal poison control, they told her the respiratory problem could not have been brought on by the oil and the vets didn't get it either. They kept insisting he must have fluid in his chest and when they attempted to tap his chest he died. The tap was negative for fluid. It was so hard for me to not be there to help the doctors make better decisions. But nothing will bring him back and I've lost my beloved cat.

Thank you again for the information. Perhaps someone will read this and think twice before using essential oils full strength on their cat.

Kind regards,

Jill

Jill,

I'm so sorry. It's true that doctors and vets know very little about essential oils, especially how they affect cats.

Thank you for telling us all about what happened to your cat. I hope it will help make more people aware that cats metabolize essential oils differently.

I hope you can get over your loss and feel better with the passage of time.

For anyone scared to use essential oils on their cat, may I suggest a completely non-toxic modality? Dinshah Color Therapy is surprisingly effective on humans and animals, and the best thing is, animals frequently self-adjust. They move closer to the light, sleep under it, and walk away when they sense they have had enough. Of course, every animal is different, but there is nothing to metabolize, nothing to go through the cat's system, just light on the outside. Many cat owners say their cats love it. It may be worth a try.

The Essential Oil Diva

Hello,

We have just bought home a Ragdoll kitten on Saturday and I burn essential oils mostly every night. The three I often use are Eucalytus, Lavender and Lemongrass.

I wasnt sure with your article weather it is more related to application of oils to cats or if it is the same with burning them?

What would your advice be seeing as there is quite alot of conflitcing information? Should I continue to burn them very diluted, say 2 drops at a time or is it best to stop burning them altogether?

Thanks for your help, this is a great article.

Lydia,

Burning essential oils is extremely toxic to begin with. I have an article about it here: Are Christmas Candles And Christmas Potpourri Safe?

Essential oils need to be diluted quite a bit for small animals, very much like for children because they are so small. With cats, there is a whole other issue, as you know from the article above.

But the burning oils factor could be the death of your cats, especially since GreenPaws lists Eucalyptus and Lavender on their "Toxic to Cats" list.

When the oils are burned, you never know what toxic elements that can create, but you can be sure they will affect your cats. Cats are very sensitive creatures – and the oils will be absorbed from their lungs just as much as applying them topically.

I would switch to diffusing for myself and diffuse in a room where the cats don't spend much time.

The Essential Oil Diva

Thank you so much for your information, I can't believe I have never heard any of this before!

Thanks again, Lydia

Yes, there is a lot of conflicting information, even here. How are we ever going to get this straight? You here say that cedar oil is OKAY for cats….but my aunt runs a natural pet food and supply store, and has know cats that died from cedar oil. I have always know this to be toxic to them…

Thanks for all the important info! I have been using Badger Sleep Balm (on me, not my cat) & it contains bergamot, fir, and lavender. My cat sleeps right next to me & I am afraid he has absorbed these dangerous oils. He seems fine, but I worry about residual liver damage. Does anyone know a way to help cats detox after exposure? Thanks!!

Hello, my 18 yr old cat has gingivites. i do not want to put my cat under surgery to have her teeth pulled as she is quite tiny, delicate, and has a hyperactive thyroid along with kidney disease…. all that is under control. i decided to give her a couple of drops of thieves oil diluted in water twice in her mouth, hoping that it would help the gingevites. reading this article has now concerned me. she seems to be fine, but last night she decided to take to another room…. which is unlike her. could the amount that i have given her cause damage to her health? please advise. thank you so much.

Angie,

A couple of the oils in Thieves are very high in phenols, which are dangerous to cats. At least you diluted the thieves, but even so, it could be very hard for you cat to metabolize it, especially since your cat is 18 years old – which is a ripe old age for a cat.

I wish I knew of a way to detox cats after exposure. I'm going to have to look for a way.

I would not repeat giving her Thieves. Perhaps try dabbing her gums with hydrogen peroxide? Not sure this would do it since vigorously swishing, then spitting out is the usual proceedure for humans. But hydrogen peroxide is generally good for the gums and safe for cats as far as I know.

The Essential Oil Diva

Ren,

Thanks for sharing your experience with cedar oil. My list is from other sources that have supposedly done the research. But there's nothing like the hands-on research of life experience.

It seems like cats are different. Some die from what other cats manage without a problem. Better not to take the chance.

The Essential Oil Diva

Hello. As a Veterinary Nurse of 28 years I would recommend not using hydrogen peroxide on your cats gums as it is very damaging to tissue and if ingested can make her sick. I have done many a dental on older cats 18 and above including my own cat who lived to be 21!

If the mouth is severe, a dental procedure would be best as long as her blood work is normal, the vet places an IV catheter and gives her IV fluids before, during and after the procedure, keeps her warm with heating pad or hot water bottles during and after procedure and uses very safe anesthetic gas like isofluorane. I know it's very scary but when a mouth is severe it can be very painful even though your cat may not show it as they are so stoic.

Most people never notice how uncomfortable a pet is until after the procedure and they see such a difference in how they behave…obviously feeling better. Also, if the teeth are bad, bacteria from the mouth can get into the blood stream and make them very sick. However, if you do not do the procedure, the only thing I would use in your cats mouth would be a product specifically made to use in a mouth that you can purchase from your vet. There are quite a few of them out there so speak to your vet and he/she should be willing to help you find the right product. You can research them online as well.

The one I used at my hospital is C.E.T. oral rinse which has a disinfectant called chlorhexidine in it and is easy to use, affordable and safe. There are others available as well. Even with kidney disease, and at her age, anesthetics today are quite safe. And I would expect her to recover well from the procedure should it be necessary. I hope this is somewhat helpful to you and good luck with making your decision.

Thanks again Jill. I didn't know that ingesting hydrogen peroxide could make a cat sick. As stoic as they are, cats are delicate.

Diatemaceous Earth, (silica) is a natural and safe detoxifier of the liver for animals (human and four-legged). Look it up online. You MUST get FOOD GRADE or you can kill your animal and yourself! The other grades are for pool and garden use.

It is always a good idea to have an emergency home remedy homepathy kit, and if you are not experienced then get the 30c (it will have some common safer to use 200c in it…you can research the remedies that are good for toxicity/poisoning, ahead of time…also, I have safely used colloidal silver diluted in water for my cats for internal infections for brief pd of time as well as for an older cat who was near dying time and had dental infection for which nothing could be done bec it would have been too much stress on her immune system to do surgery…you can rub it in their mouth if you are afraid to let them drink it …

Is there any essential oil I can use to make my cat avoid going under my sofa and end tables to pee. I was going to soak a piece of cotton and tack it to the areas, not put it on the floor where she could step on it. I just 5 hours cleaning the floors under two sofas and 2 end tables so the house wouldn't smell bad for the holidays. I do this about once every ten days. Many thanks and I hope you have a suggestion.

Merry Christmas

Lynda,

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Five hours cleaning the floors under sofas and end tables is waaaayyyy too much! You definitely need to do something about this problem.

First, it's important to get your cat checked for a kidney or urinary tract infection. Either one of those is a serious problem that could be causing your cat to lose control of his/her bladder. At least go to the vet to rule it out.

If its not one of those, you need to train your cat not to pee on the floor or furniture. Get a good book on cat training and do exactly what it says. Cats should only urinate outside or in the litter box. Most cats know that.

However, cats sometimes get confused. For instance, if a cat gets locked in a room all day and there is no place else to pee, it will relieve itself wherever it decides is a good spot, and then do it there forevermore, unless you re-train it.

Cats are sensitive to strong odors and tend to leave an area with a strong odor they don't like. On the other hand, they just LOVE some pretty unpleasant strong odors like smelly shoes and will roll in the shoe for hours, don't ask me why!

Citrus oils (lemon, orange, tangerine, citrus fresh) are often used to deter cats from frequenting a certain area. I haven't tried it myself, but its worth a try. You can try soaking a piece of cotton, as you suggested, or spritzing the rug with a citrus oil daily and see which one works best.

I think you have to put some oil on the area where the cat urinated for it to get the message that this is not a good place to do it again. But be careful that your cat does not ingest any citrus oils, as cats can have adverse reactions to it.

Thieves Household cleaner is a good thing to use to clean up an area where a cat did its business. It will get the smell out and kill germs. It may also repel the cat.

Those are the two things that I would try. All cats are different, so what might work great for one cat might not be so successful with another, so you have to experiment.

I think a cat would go the other way from oregano oil, too, since its a very strong smelling and hot oil, and maybe Melrose with melaleuca, and eucalyptus.

Does anyone have a list of essential oils that are safe for pets? I've started making soy candles and want to be sure I don't use essential oils that are unsafe to my cats.

Also, I've used Rescue Remedy for Pets on my cats, sparingly. Should I be concerned about that?

This morning my 5 year old cat Sully suddenly got a weird look on his face, cried, and started drooling. He hid under my bed for about 10 minutes and then seemed fine. While I was at work my son called to tell me our little kitty was fighting with Sully. I got home and saw the aggression between the two, and brought Sully into my room. He immediately went under the bed, which he never does. I then saw a puddle around my oil warmer and realized he must have bumped it and got some in his fur. I use pure cinnamon oils! It ruined the finish on my dresser and I am very alarmed after reading these articles. I have no way if knowing how much he ingested, but the warmer probably spilled a teaspoon at most. I'm so worried about my baby.Today is Saturday, and since we live in a rural area with no emergency veterinarian care within 50 miles. Monday morning is the soonest I could get him to a vet. He does not seem to be ill or distressed, he is eating and drinking, but he is hiding. I truly hope nothing comes of this. Can someone tell me how long it takes for symptoms to begin? Is he safe after 14 hours have passed? Will he be okay until Monday? He has always been very healthy, and is a moderately large fellow at about 8 lbs. any advise would be appreciated.

Melody,

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. If your cat got all that cinnamon oil on him, it could be way too much for his system to process. Your cat could have also licked quite a bit of the oil off his fur and got it into his body that way as well.

If you had noticed it right after it happened, washing it off with soap and warm water would have removed it and stopped more of it from absorbing (not just rinsing with water as that only drives the oils in further).

But since it happened some time ago, the oil has already been absorbed into your cat's system. You could still try bathing him in warm water and mild soap to remove any residue.

I don't know what else to tell you to do, other than make sure your cat drinks plenty of water to try to flush it out and to call the vet as soon as possible. The vet can check to see if your cat has highly elevated liver enzymes. Once the vet does that, they know what course of treatment to pursue. The vet can also give IV fluids (because cats can go into shock), raise the cat's body temperature, etc. It may take days to months for your cat to come out of this, or to see how bad the damage has been.

The fact that your cat is eating and drinking is a good sign. Maybe his liver is strong enough to fight it. You might want to store your diffuser in a cabinet or someplace your cat can't reach when you are not using it from now on.

I sure hope your cat is OK.

I have a long hair cat whenever she enters the house from outside how do I stop insects from piggy backing on here to gain entrance to the house

Hi,

I really hope your cat is feeling better! A safe detox herb is Milk Thistle and Animal Apawthecary makes a detox blend with it + a basic milk thistle tincture for animals. This will help move the toxins out of their system and also works for post-vaccination, post-pharmaceuticals and other toxins they encounter — to help prevent any long-term liver / kidney damage. My holistic vet recommends an annual springtime cleanse with this for my dog & cat. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Animals-Apawthecary-Detox-Blend/148011.aspx

Did you try a homeopathic remedy such as arsenicum 30c or 200c or nux vomica 30c or 200c? You can look up the correct remedy based on the type of symptoms your cat has/had. I keep an emergency remedy kit at home and use it when my cats have problems.

Walter,

I would start with combing your cat's fur with a flea comb when he comes in from the outside. That will take fleas and their eggs out of your cat's fur, and most other insects as well. Check the comb after every stroke and shake the fleas, and/or bugs into soapy water immediately.

Another thing that works very well for fleas and other small invaders is rubbing diatomaceous earth into your cat's fur (make sure you get the food grade, not the pool grade). The edges of diatomaceous earth are jagged and cut up the insect's body, killing it. Be sure to wear gloves when you do this. Diatomaceous earth is not toxic to pets.

One application will last a while, although I don't know how long. You can also sprinkle some in carpets, bedding, upholstery, cracks and crevices. Fleas can even live in curtains, pillows and tissue boxes.

I've heard of people planting mint and basil, which repel insects, by the door, but I'm not sure that will convince any hitchhikers deep in your cat's fur to leave.

The fleabane plant (Fleabane Daisy Erigeron speciosus) repels fleas, and can be planted in the yard.

Some people make collars filled with pine needles, cedar chips or dried herbs, but make sure the cat can't ingest any of the herbs or chips. It would be risky to use essential oils in a collar, as many of them are toxic to cats.

I think I may have killed my cat ! Just a few days ago my cat started hiding under my bed and wouldn't come out. He usually goes under there but comes out frequently. When he came out I could tell he was sick. His eyes were goopy and his poor nose was glued shut w/dried mucous and then I got a whiff of his breath that smelled horribly putrid… almost like pus. Seems he had a serious sinus infection. I cleaned him up w/some cotton balls, q-tips and warm water and gave him some Newton's Homeopathics Cold/Sinus , some Fever/Infection and a little colloidal silver and gave him a shot of chlorophyll spray. Yesterday he seemed to be getting a little better as far as the goop and mucous. His eyes/nose weren't goopy or crusty but I found him laying out on the floor in the hallway once and on the floor in the bathroom once. He hadn't been eating at all and I assumed it was because he was unable to breathe. I keep essential oils around the house because I use them for my dogs, myself, for housecleaning, etc. I thought if I could open the cat's sinuses and he could breathe he'd start eating. So last night I took a cotton ball and soaked it in apricot oil which was the only carrier oil I had and I added ONE drop of peppermint oil to it and then swiped it under his nose. When I woke up this morning, my baby had passed away. I was horrified and am thinking that I killed him w/the peppermint oil Or maybe the infection killed him ? I'm always going to think that I was responsible.

Trying to do a little more research and came across this you might be interested in:

External application of essential oils in animals.
Jürgen Reichling
Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology
University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg

http://www.cropwatch.org/Ext%20applicn%20of%20e.o.%27s%20in%20animlas.pdf

Well good news. After about 48 hrs of feeling under the weather, my Sully cat bounced back and seems as frisky as ever. The vet said everything looks normal so it seems the cinnamon oil didn't have any lasting effects. Thank God!!! I am going to be VERY careful from now on. Thank you all for your comments and concerns.

Sharon,

How awful about your cat! If it brings you any consolation, peppermint oil is one of the safer oils to use with cats.

It's impossible to know whether the infection or the essential oil killed your cat without an autopsy or thorough examination. It sounds like he was pretty sick and may have had a killer infection. One drop of peppermint oil, given only once, is not that much. Try not to beat yourself up about it too much, its always possible he could have eaten some rat poison. Even parasitic infections can have flu-like symptoms similar to those your cat had, so its hard to know.

Thank you for the link to the research article, "External application of essential oils in animals," by Jürgen Reichling.

It's very informative, although it doesn't say whether the research was done with pure essential oils or those synthesized in a lab. But it is an interesting study and you can get the PPT slides to it here:
http://freedownload.is/ppt/external-application-of-essential-oils-in-animals-409335.html

Well I'm feeling a little frustrated! After just purchasing a rather expensive organic "Herbal Defense Spray" from "Only Natural Pet" for my cat who I believe is allergic to flea bites – and reading that it has clove, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli and neem in it. From what Ive read, neem oil is safe enough for cats but the rest I guess are not! Before knowing it, I sprayed a little on my hand and rubbed it on her (she quickly ran away because of the strong smell). I am trying to find a way to help soothe itchy skin as well as prevent fleas in a natural way…any suggestions? I read the post about diatomaceous earth, maybe I will research that more. Thank you!

Lily…the most effective remedy for avoiding fleas is feeding your cat a high quality diet…preferably RAW or pre-made frozen raw. If that's not possible than a very high quality NATURAL, human-grade wet diet or dehydrated diet. Cats are OBLIGATE carnivores. They MUST have a high protein ( 40-50%), high fat(16-18%), nearly 95% all meat diet. That means NO grains, NO fillers, NO by-products, NO chemicals, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc. You need to stay AWAY from supermarket/discount store brand foods and move up to brands like Wellness Core, Innova Evo, Timberwolf Serengeti, Nature's Variety Instinct, Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Acana, Blue Wilderness, Merrick BG and other high quality natural foods. DIET has EVERYTHING to do with good health, flea/tick prevention, strong immune system, resistance to parasites and disease. You must also supplement the diet w/omega fatty acids like salmon, sardine, menhaden fish oils, an overall supplement like Missing Link and brewers yeast & garlic tabs. Add raw coconut oil and raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar to food also for resistance to fleas, healthy skin and healthy coat.

Lilly,

Ummm, I would think that combination of clove, citronella, lemongrass and patchouli quite a risk as well. If your cat ran away from it, that may be all the 'proof' you need.

Using diatomaceous earth is a great alternative. Just be sure you use the food grade, not the pool grade as that is far too refined to be of any use for fleas (and could be bad for your cat).

Kristen Leigh Bell, in her book, Holistic Aromatherapy For Animals feels hydrosols are OK for cats. I have a couple of articles about it here: What Is Herbal Hydrosol?

and here: Making Herbal Hydrosol aka Floral Water at Home

Also, the safest and most non-toxic thing you can do for your cat is regularly comb him with a flea comb. The fleas get caught in the comb and all you have to do is knock them off into some soapy water. It's a little time consuming, but it gives you a chance to enjoy some bonding time with your cat.

And what Sharon said about diet is so true.

My cat LOVES apricot oil! He is purring away now after licking the container and the drop of oil that fell on the ground. This same cat LOVES shea butter too! Would a few drops a day help with hairballs?

Tracy,

The fruit part of apricots and apples are OK for cats. However, the stems, leaves, and seeds of apricots can cause vomiting and loss of appetit. Unfortunately, I don't know if the oil is equally as bad, but its probably safer to not take chances.

Apricot oil is usually made from the kernel. On WedMD, I found this:

Apricot kernel contains a toxic chemical known as amygdalin. In the body this chemical is converted to cyanide, which is poisonous… The amygdalin is actually converted to cyanide in the stomach. The cyanide then goes throughout the body, where it can cause serious harm, including death.

Knowing that cyanide is deadly to cats, this gave me pause. But I don't know if it works the same in cat's stomachs.

Also apricots, along with cherry, peach pits, almond nuts, apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides (and I don't know if its just in the pits). This can result in cyanide poisoning. It interferes with the ability of the blood to release oxygen into the tissues, so although the cat's blood has a lot of oxygen in it, the cat ends up suffocating.

Shea butter is not normally toxic, but I would not feed very much of it to your cat and nobody has done any studies to show what happens to these oils once a cat ingests them.

I just posted an informative article on What To Do If Your Cat Has Injested Poison that goes into what poisons a cat can swallow and what to do about it.

Hello!

So I've just started purchasing more natural and organic cosmetic products because of all of the concern about toxic cancer causing chemicals in regular products. I've purchased items from Desert Essence (shea butter lotion, and facial moisturizer), Shikai (borage dry skin therapy lotion), and Dr. Bronner's (chapstick). I'm concerned now if these products could be harmful to my 17 year old cat. I never let her lick my skin (she knows I hate that) – so direct transmission is not a concern. However, if I were to pet her after applying natural lotions and then she were to clean herself…could this be harmful? I would assume, however, that all of the "normal" lotions I've been using for years couldn't be that good for her either – since many of the chemicals are toxic and carcinogenic to humans.

Justine,

If the lotion has already been absorbed by your skin, it shouldn't be a problem to pet your cat, considering the products are natural and not terribly toxic to cats. I would not pet a cat, though, if I had used a lotion with artificial fragrance or chemicals in it.

Thank you so much! I assumed this would probably be the answer, but the reassurance is what I needed!

Hello!,

I am in the process of purchasing a little Ragdoll kitten and in research mode.

I tend to use organically certified essentials oils to clean the home. I burn these oils like lavender and eucalyptus and lemongrass all day. I also use lavender and eucalyptus in my washing machine with vinegar. I use vinegar as a household cleaner too. From reading all these responses I am really concerned this would be harmful to the little one who is to arrive in the coming months.

Should I be changing my oils to burn in the home?

Appreciate your advice.

Zari,

I'm sorry to have to tell you burning essential oils in your home is extremely dangerous to cats. Burning essential oils isn't good for humans either, as it changes the delicate constituents of essential oils drastically. They are converted into toxins such as acetone (an ingredient in nail polish remover and paint thinner), benezene, toluene, particulate matter and soot.

Not only do the soot and chemicals get all over your home, but they get into your nose and lungs where they can do serious harm.

Its very hard on cats to deal with these toxins, especially Ragdoll kittens, which tend to be a little more sensitive.

I don't think it will be a problem to continue using essential oils in your wash as most of them will get rinsed out, or to use oils on your body. But burning the oils is way too risky.

*sigh* ….dera me …..gremlins in the system .

Seeking help ……my cat, for the last two months or so, has been scratching and grooming incessantly! He also avoids the bedroom and lounge/carpeted areas of the house, and has developed a thirst far more excessive than before. He doesn;t appear to have lost his appetite at all, and otherwise appears 'happy'. He is 8 years old, and has always been a healthy cat.

My wofe has, for a little while now, been using Eucalyptus oil, soaked into tissue paper and kept next to the bed/under the pillow, to help with her breathing at night, and my theory is that this may be the cause of my cat's 'distress'.

He is a very affectionate cat and we often pick him up, stroke him etc – he also used to sleep on the bed and lounge chairs all the time. Is it possible that the vapours are causing this reaction, or perhaps he has picked up traces of the oil off our hands/skin?

Any comments/feedback would eb most welcome.

Thanks

Bruce

Bruce,

The Eucalyptus oil could certainly be bothering your cat. The first question to ask is if the scratching, grooming and excessive thirst started when your wife started using eucalyptus at night? If so, it could be a reaction to the oils. Drinking more water helps flush the system.

It sounds like your cat doesn't sleep in the bedroom anymore and that could be a sign that he is trying to protect himself. He could be smelling the oil in the room and sense that its too strong for him.

He could also be picking up traces off your hands and skin. Its OK to use the oils on yourself, just wait 20-30 minutes before going near your cat, especially touching your cat, to give the oils time to absorb.

Do you open the windows periodically for fresh air? It's important to do that if you have a house cat and are using essential oils. Also, make sure the door to the bedroom is closed at night and the cat sleeps in another part of the house away from the oil.

If he starts to have other signs of trouble or any of his current signs get worse, take him to the vet.

Hi,
My mum bought me some Young Living oils and a diffuser. She really wants me to use it, but i am worried the oils might be unsafe for my cats to breathe in. I have the following oils and would like to know if they are safe for cats to breathe in:
Lavender
Clarity-cardamon, rosemary, peppermint, basil, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, lemon, palmarosa, roman chamomile, rosewood, ylang ylang
Clove
Abundance- myrhh, cinnamon bark, frankinsecse, pachouli, orange, clove, ginger, spruce,
Eucalyptus
Bergamot
Christmas spirit- orange, cinnamon bark, spruce
Lemon
Cedarwood
Thyme
Envision- sage, geranium, orange, rose, lavendar, spruce

Thank you
Sam

Sam,

Here is an excerpt from the book, "Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals" by Kristen Leigh Bell regarding cats and diffusers that helps clarify the issue:

The best choice for your health – and the wellness of the planet — is obvious: natural products containing essential oils. Just make sure to respect your cat when you use them. If you diffuse essential oils, don't keep your cat enclosed in the room with the diffuser. Open a window and provide ventilation. If you apply oils to your dogs, keep the cats away for at least an hour (The same goes for you.) You can't eliminate exposure, but you can responsibly minimize it, thus decreasing the chance that any level of essential oils will be quickly build up in you cat's system.

Bear in mind that cats cannot tolerate terpene hydrocarbons, terpene oxides, phenols and ketones.

What can you do if your cat starts foaming, peeing, and pooping after being
around a essential oil? She its completely normal as of now. Nothing is wrong with her.

Mary,

Try to get your cat to drink some water and take her to the vet immediately.

Hi. I have 3 cats and a peeing problem. Short of calling in CSI, I'm having a hard time figuring out the culprit(s). Also, I'm not so sure the pee-er is really the problem or is responding to stress in the household or spraying that occurred first by another cat. I am using a Feliway plug in in the room that seems to be the biggest problem. I also put Bach Flower Remedy on my hands to pet them to try to keep them calm. And I play with them daily with a feather/string toy to help them get their yayas out. I'm open to other suggestions.

I don't know if this is contributing factor, or just another concern. But my oldest cat (15) has always been a grouch. She seems to be suffering from arthritis and limping some. I'm sure that doesn't help the overall situation. She is hell on wheels to take to the vet. And, although I have lots of experience giving pills, this cat is one tough customer. I can sneak up on her and give her something. But, she'll make herself sick to get it up. Also, if I give her something at 2 p.m., I won't see her between noon and 4:00 for a week. She's too smart for my own good. Any suggestions to aid her comfort that don't involve the stress of oral medications or going to the vet would be welcome. THANK YOU.

Renee,

A peeing problem could indicate a liver or urinary issue. It's really important to take your cats to the vet to determine the cause because liver or urinary problems can be very serious.

I'm not sure what the ingredients in the Feliway plug in are, but my guess is that it is made from chemicals produced in a lab. Cats do not do well for very long with lab-produced chemicals. The Bach Flower Remedies should be fine.

I had a cat just like yours when it came to avoiding going to the vet or any treatment. Its hard to help a cat like that. Clearly, your cat has shown you that it won't tolerate pills and medications! It's best to honor that and give your cat natural assistance.

One thing that cats sometimes like is color therapy. The thing to do is just turn on the light with the right color and let the cat adjust himself. More info here: color therapy

Another thing that most cats really like, and that helps a lot, is this.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'll post more when I think of them.