No, most common mints are not good for cats and can be toxic, causing vomiting or diarrhea, though some types like catnip (cat mint) are safe and enjoyable for them; avoid garden mints and concentrated essential oils, as these can lead to severe issues like liver failure or breathing problems. While a tiny nibble of regular mint might just cause mild upset, it's best to keep most mints away and offer catnip as a safer alternative.
According to the ASPCA, mint is toxic to dogs and cats. They don't have to eat it to get sick. Even inhaling mint may cause severe symptoms. If you have dogs or cats, avoid using peppermint oil in your home/cottage unless it's in an area your pets can't access.
Your cat is mostly likely responding to your mint products because it smells similar to catnip. Although catnip is safe for cats, a breath mint or toothpaste is not.
Cats are attracted to peppermint because it has compounds similar to catnip and also has aspirin derivatives making them dangerous to cats and birds. For cats peppermint can cause gastrointestinal problems, respiratory issues and liver damage in cats. Peppermint oil can be toxic to pet birds.
Menthol
It's a chemical reaction, not just the smell alone, that makes cats go wild. However, menthol, though derived from mint, is a synthetic version. Because menthol lacks the natural chemicals that catnip has, its artificial scent comes across as simply ick to cats.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
Mint – This one's a toss-up, but cats who really dislike mint are demonstrating good sense: from peppermint to the wintergreen herb, these mints contain salicylate, a substance toxic to cats.
Oils like tea tree, peppermint, citrus, pine, and eucalyptus are particularly harmful. Cats lack certain liver enzymes needed to metabolize these compounds, leading to a risk of toxicity. Symptoms can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, and even liver failure.
Cats dislike the smell of certain scents, such as citrus, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary. You can use these scents to deter cats from entering certain areas of your home or garden by using essential oils, planting these plants, or using citrus peels.
Cats hate strong, pungent, or overly sharp smells, with citrus (lemon, orange), vinegar, strong spices (pepper, garlic), certain herbs (lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary), and harsh cleaners (ammonia) topping the list due to their overwhelming intensity and potential toxicity. These scents irritate their sensitive noses, often causing them to recoil or avoid areas where they are present, making them useful for humane deterrents.
Top 10 Poisonous Plants for Cats
Mint
An herb belonging to the mint family
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb belonging to the same family of plants as peppermint and spearmint. Native to Europe, Asia and Africa, historians believe the plant was brought to North America by settlers.
Both catnip and catmint are types of mint that are safe to cats. Garden mint may cause gastrointestinal upset if too much is eaten. The essential oils specific to garden mint have also been known to relax the esophageal valve, making vomiting more likely in a cat who may already be ill.
The reason why cats are so enthusiastic about this special mint is not completely clarified by research. What is clear, however, is that catmint contains a substance called nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is probably used by the plant as a natural defense against insects and pests.
Most mint plants contain essential oils, such as menthol and peppermint oil. These oils can cause negative responses in cats if consumed in high quantities. The ASPCA lists mint as toxic to cats, and ingestion of large amounts can lead to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
Cats hate strong, pungent smells like citrus, vinegar, coffee grounds, cayenne pepper, and certain essential oils (e.g., peppermint, eucalyptus) because their noses are sensitive, but also dislike smells from predators (like coyote urine) and harsh cleaners, with the best options being citrus, vinegar, or coffee grounds for gardens and enzymatic cleaners for indoors, always ensuring safety.
Citrus or lemon scents (orange peels, lemon peels), garlic, ammonia, vinegar, coffee grinds, pipe tobacco, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus all deter cats as well. The scents diminish over time, so re-applying is necessary. Motion-activated sprinklers: These have motion sensors that trigger a short blast of water.
Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, and even some humans think bananas are smelly. Bear in mind cats are mostly carnivores, so "smells like fruit" doesn't mean "smells like food" to a cat.
Since peppermint is a particularly powerful essential oil, even the slightest whiff can overrun your kitty's senses and make them incredibly uncomfortable. Cats are also very sensitive to the phenols contained within essential oils, and these are the primary culprits behind their toxicity when ingested.
Top 10 toxins for cats are:
While cinnamon itself isn't toxic to cats, it's not something you should actively introduce into their diet. Here's why: Digestive Sensitivity: Cinnamon contains essential oils that can irritate a cat's digestive system. Ingesting even small amounts of cinnamon can lead to stomach upset, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Mint plants contain essential oils that can be dangerous for cats in their undiluted form. But a cat would need to ingest very large amounts of mint to have that much essential oil, which will make your cat sick. Luckily, on their own, cats tend to nibble mint leaves, which won't deliver anywhere near a toxic dose.
Some cats are attracted to the smell of menthol, which smells minty and is usually made from peppermint essential oils. This is because it smells similar to catnip, and it likely has a similar taste which is why cats will try to lick ointments containing menthol.
It's not uncommon for cats to react to mint in a way that resembles their response to catnip. This is because certain types of mint, like spearmint and peppermint, contain menthol, a compound that can mimic the effects of nepetalactone in catnip.