Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats.
A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense. If you diffuse oils in your home, it should not cause a problem for your cat, as oil used in a diffuser is highly diluted (versus direct topical application or dietary supplementation).
“Diffused oils are very dangerous, as the oils are inhaled,” Bailey said. “Not only are these oil droplets dangerous themselves, but the inhalation of these oils can cause a foreign body pneumonia in cats.” Symptoms of respiratory irritation include a watery nose and eyes, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
Peppermint oil is toxic for dogs. Whether you're using an oil diffuser, applying it to their skin, or adding oil to their food, it's unfortunately harmful to our four-legged friends.
Large Doses Lead To Risk Of Seizures
If you are experiencing nausea, difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, slowed heartbeat, dizziness, and/or convulsions, then it could be because of using peppermint oil. Call in for medical care at the earliest to avoid complications.
Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
Menthol, which is in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child because it may negatively affect their breathing.
This is because essential oils are heavily concentrated, with very potent odors. Similar to these creatures, your pet will find the smell of peppermint overpowering to their senses. Additionally, applying oils to your pet will likely cause them to lick, trying to rid their fur of the scent.
As far as cleaning with essential oils, when using a few drops mixed in with a lot of water (and any other ingredients) as a cleaning solution, the mixture should be very diluted, so it shouldn't cause any trouble for the cats.
How safe are these essential oils for our pets? Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Passive diffusers are generally considered a safer option around the house with pets, but Dr Hoolahan still recommends you chat with your vet prior to use. One of the greatest risks of essential oils to cats and dogs is respiratory irritation.
Key takeaway. Lavender is toxic to cats, so they should not consume it in any form, including essential oils or the plant itself. Signs of lavender toxicity in cats include diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness.
The best essential oils that are safe for cats are rosemary, copaiba, helichrysum, oregano, frankincense and cedarwood essential oil. Cats can also tolerate chamomile, lavender, thyme and valerian essential oils at very diluted concentrations.
Cats dislike eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint – just choose the ones you don't mind the scent of yourself.
Essential oils that are unsafe for cats:
Citrus oils (bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine) Birch. Cinnamon. Clove.
This even extends to eucalyptus oil, which can cause irritation in your cat's mouth or on her skin as well, Dr. Bustamante said. So basically, if you have a product that contains eucalyptus in any form, you should keep it far away from your cat (or ideally not keep it in your home at all).
Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, oregano, clove, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin OR used in diffusers.
Yes it's safe to use in well ventilated areas but we advise caution when using around cats. ie. Not in enclosed spaces, not on/ near cat bedding or anything they may touch with their fur/ paws then lick.
Peppermint oil is highly toxic to cats.
They are typically strong-smelling and make up the active ingredient in many essential oils, such as peppermint oil. Without the enzymes required to break down phenols, cats exposed to peppermint oil can experience: Liver damage. Breathing difficulties.
Do cats like peppermint? Many cats do not like the smell of peppermint as it contains Salicylate which is poisonous to cats. Unfortunately, some cats are attracted to the peppermint plant because it contains Nepetalactone mimicking compounds, the active ingredient in Catnip.
More smells cats hate include mint and strong mint-related odors, such as wintergreen and menthol. This may be for good reason, as ingesting mint and its relatives can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats.
Peppermint oil can also lead to a number of other hazardous conditions such as difficulty while breathing, convulsions, and slowed heartbeat to name a few. If you are have been suffering from any of these conditions, it is advisable to take the appropriate medical help.
The menthol in peppermint works as a decongestant, shrinking swollen membranes in the nose and making it easier to breathe, and also helps loosen mucus that has collected in the lungs.
Diffusion and inhalation of peppermint oil also has substantial benefits. Inhaling diffused peppermint oil can help clear the sinuses or offer temporary relief from sore throats as well as coughs and asthma. The scent of the oil can also eliminate hunger pangs and acts as a natural energizer.