Why cat owners should avoid some essential oils

Essential oils have quickly become a staple in many homes all over the world. Despite varying reasons why people use essential oils, many people simply enjoy the pleasant scents. However, they’re not exactly the safest things for your cat.

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What are essential oils?

Essential oils contain phenols, compounds that occur naturally in various plants. Obtained through distillation or cold pressure, essential oils capture the plant's scent or flavor. Essential oils have been used for decades in cleaning products, food, drinks, and more.

However, higher concentrations of essential oils have become increasingly used for alternative medicine and aromatherapy. In recent times, a common way that concentrated essential oils have been sold is for use with diffusers, rolls, or sticks.

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What makes essential oils bad for cats

While essential oils have a range of benefits for humans, they can be harmful to your cat whether inhaled, ingested, or touched. There was a time when essential oils were used as treatments for many issues for cats - mites, respiratory infections, and even stress. However, through the years, several studies have revealed that they can be toxic to cats.

Cat lack the enzymes that can properly metabolize phenols safely. Older cats, young kittens, cats with compromised immune systems, or cats with poor liver functions are the most at risk. In general, the higher concentration of essential oils, the more dangerous it is for your cat.

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What essential oils are bad for your cats?

There are dozens of potentially fatal essential oils for your cats. Here are the common ones that you might have around your home:

• Tea Tree Oil
• Lavender Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Cinnamon Oil
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Ylang Ylang Oil
• Pine Oil
• Citrus Oil

If you have these oils at home, it doesn't mean that you have stop using them altogether. Although it is necessary to be extremely cautious when exposing them to your cats.

What are the symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats?

There are several symptoms of essential oil poisoning that you should watch out for in your cat. Some of the common symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats include difficulty breathing or walking, lethargy, muscle tremors, redness on the skin or gums, or vomiting. When not managed, these symptomcs cause anything from a slight discomfort to death for your furry friend.

It’s important to remember that some essential oils are more lethal for cats than others, especially when taken in larger concentrations. While there is no antidote for essential oil poisoning, early intervention is necessary for their survival. Your veterinarian will know what the right treatment will be for your cat.

What to do if your cat is exposed to essential oils?

After coming into contact with essential oil, immediately wash the fur using dishwashing detergent to avoid accidental ingestion. Being prolific groomers, even stepping on leaked oil or residue will most likely lead to ingestion. If you suspect that your cat ingests an essential oil of any kind, go to the vet immediately.

In addition, many vets suggest that you do not induce vomiting or give activated charcoal that may worsen your cat’s condition. Bring the essential oil in question in a sealed container or take a photo for vet evaluation.

Veterinarians will likely do various tests to see if your cat’s kidney and liver are still functioning well. If there are any chemical burns on their mouths or esophagus, they may need a feeding tube. Additionally, they may require IV fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics.

How to keep your cat from ingesting essential oils

To make sure that your furry friend doesn’t have problems with their health because of essential oils, here are a few things you should do:

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Avoid Putting Essential Oils on Your Body

A common practice for essential oil users is to put them on your body to help aid various discomforts. However, this may pose problems if you touch your cats in any way. Essential oils can be unknowingly transferred to their fur, which they can ingest when they lick themselves clean.

Put Away The Stick Diffusers

Unlike machine-enabled essential oil diffusing that we turn on when necessary, we often leave our stick diffusers throughout the day. While it is definitely convenient for us, it can be a hazard for our cats. Playful felines might try to play with the sticks and get the oils on their paws, making them at risk of accidentally ingesting them.

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Don’t Turn On Your Oil Diffuser When Your Cat Is Present

One of the most important things that you can do to avoid essential oil poisoning for your cat is to avoid diffusing potentially dangerous oils when they are in the same room. Make sure to keep them away in a safe location and prevent them from entering the room you are currently diffusing your oils, especially if it is proven to be harmful to your cat.

Air Out Rooms After Essential Oil Use

If you cannot avoid using essential oil use in a room where your furry friend frequents, make sure to properly air out any room that your cat is likely to frequent. Essential oils can remain in the air for several hours after being diffused, even when we can’t smell them anymore. Make sure to open the windows, turn on the fan, and keep your cats away while the room is being ventilated.

Hide your Essential Oils in Difficult to Access Places

Essential oils can look beautiful when arranged on top of your dresser or right next to your diffuser. However, keeping it in plain sight makes it easily accessible for your cat. Keep both your essential oils and cats safe by storing your oils in a safe place, away from your cat’s view. You can store your essential oils in a beautiful display cabinet, a locked box, or even just a drawer.

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Keep Cats Away from Bad Essential Oils

Essential oils can be a pleasant experience for humans. However, it can be lethal for our furry friends. While some cats will not immediately show any negative symptoms, some cats will be more sensitive than others.

With essential oils rising in use worldwide, we can expect more information on their safety of use for animals in the next few years. Scientists have barely scratched the surface on the various effects of essential oils on cats - both in the short term and long term effects. However, being safe is still better than being sorry.

Hopefully, more studies can help guide our decisions on protecting our furry friends from essential oil poisoning. Until then, we can keep our cats safe from accidental ingestion and keep them healthy.