The Proper Way To Use Essential Oils On Your Cat
The difference between the way humans accept essential oils and the way cats tolerate them has everything to do with dilution, and were not talking adding water to the oil! Remember what your mom said: Oil and water never mix! A high-grade, pure vegetable oil is the catalyst that makes essential oils tolerable for felines and the differential between the two must be dramatic: 50 drops of vegetable oil to 1 drop of essential oil.
You may wish to verify this dilution ratio with your own vet because some recommend taking that ratio up to 80- to 90-percent. Once properly mixed, you can place a drop of this mixture into your hands and begin to pet your cat. Some pet owners add water to already-diluted oil mixes and use a mister to spray their animal, but be forewarned, misting could be a turnoff for your feline and not every cat specialist recommends it.
Always err on the side of cautionHolistic veterinarian Dr. Melissa Shelton is just one member of the profession who believes that as long as a cat parent takes care to use essential oils properly, there is no reason why felines wont benefit from them. But Dr. Shelton cautions that because cat physiology is different from other animals, improper essential oil use could have devastating health effects.
Keep All Your Oils Stored Where Your Cat Cannot Reach Them
We all know that cats are very curious and mischievous beings, capable of getting into almost anything. Even if your oils are sealed tightly, there is a likelihood that there will be residual oil on the bottle that your cat could lick off or get on their fur. So keep your oils in a closed cabinet or drawer that you are 100% certain your cat cannot break into. .
Essential Oils Dangerous For Cats
As mentioned above, citrus is a problem for kitties. Malissa says, Do not use citrus oils with felines ever they lack an enzyme to break down citrus. The cat might start panting heavily, which means theyre trying to process, but its too much. They might drool or vomit. You might notice them looking woozy or lethargic. It depends on how much exposure theyve had.
Other oils toxic to cats via the Pet Poison Helpline include:
- Oregano
- Tea tree oil
Possibly Toxic Essential Oils For Your Cat
The liver of your cat absorbs and metabolizes nutrients differently than yours. Since it cannot breakdown some of the compounds, take care to avoid essential oils containing them in too high concentration.
Most problems make some chemicals such as phenols or ketones. Therefore, take care to use diluted oil with less than 8% concentration of phenols and 20% of ketones.
Phenols – They can be toxic to your cat, but be prepared that they may cause increased sensitivity in you too if overexposed.
Terpenes – These compounds are highly harmful to your cat when applied topically or ingested.
Ketones – They have calming properties for you, but you should avoid spraying them around if you have a cat.
Essential Oils Safe For Your Cat
If you are careful, you can use most of the essential oils even though you have a cat. Toxicity is a result of applying highly concentrated essential oils, but diluted oils used in small quantities are usually harmless for your furry friend.
If you like some oils containing chemicals dangerous for your cat, you can solve the problem by diluting them to a 95% rate. Some of the most popular are:
- Basil
- Marjoram
- Wintergreen
Some essential oils are highly beneficial for cats as a remedy. However, their applying is tricky because there is a thin line between a cure and a poison. The secret is in the right concentration! Therefore, you should not take them on your own. It is a job for professionals.
Are Essential Oils Unsafe For Cats
Yes! Unfortunately, cats and most essential oils are not a good mix. Cats absorb and filter nutrients much differently than humans. A cat has a deficiency of the enzyme, glucuronyl transferase, resulting in a reduced ability to metabolize certain toxins. These toxins then build up in your cats system and cause damage. Cats are sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds which are found in many essential oils. The more concentrated the oil, the more dangerous!
Is It Safe To Use Essential Oils For Fleas And Ticks On Pets
Essential oils are advertised for a variety of uses, including aromatherapy, beauty care and natural medicine. Because essential oils are naturally derived, people often mistakenly think they are safer alternatives to standard medicines such as antibiotics and antiseptics.
Some essential oil manufacturers even claim that their products are effective pesticides, so you may be wondering if essential oils are safe to use on your pets for flea and tick control.
The truth is that essential oils are extremely potent and can actually be very harmful to cats and dogs, especially if used in the undiluted form. Heres what you should know about essential oils and your pets safety.
What The Veterinarian And Essential Oil Expert #1 Has To Say
Veterinarian Dr. Melissa Shelton – has been regarded with many questions about essential oils and cats. Dr. Shelton has created a full line of essential oils that are made specifically for use on animals for ailments from arthritis to stress. Even after all of her research and usage, she was still cautious about using her essential oils diffuser around her cats at home.
She noticed that one of her cats was drawn to the diffuser, even laying right next to it daily. Dr. Shelton decided to begin monitoring her cats blood and urine for abnormalities. After many months of testing, she found no adverse effects and became more comfortable with diffusing essential oils around the rest of her cats.
Dr. Shelton believes that a lot of the information about the use of essential oils around cats is a result of misinformation and essential oil misuse. One needs to know the right oils to use before exposing their pet to any new substance, and education is everything. She has either met or spoken to thousands of people who use essential oils successfully, and only a few that have had major problems with them.
Using Essential Oils For Cats
Diffusion and highly diluted topical uses will be addressed in this article as both have received support on their safety from various resources.
If you are using the diffusion method, here are additional safety measures to consider:
If applying directly to your cats coat, do not use the oils around their eyes, ears, nose, or genitals. It is very important to dilute essential oils if you are planning to use them topically to best avoid any adverse reactions.
Essential oils are only safe at highly diluted levels of at least 50:1 . Some carrier oils that can be used are coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, or almond oil.
Some adverse reactions to look out for are:
- Distress
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 , 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 . 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.
Guidelines On Essential Oils Safety For Cats
Essential Oils And Pets: A Quick How
You love to share essential oils with your family, so it makes sense that you want to share them with your pets as well! Before you begin using essential oils for pets, you need to know the answers to some important questions: Can you use essential oils on dogs, cats, and other pets the same way you use them on yourself? How much should you use? What is the best way to administer oils for topical and internal use?
Check out our quick and easy how-to guide for tips and info that will answer your questions about the different types of essential oils for dogs, cats, and other animals!*
It is important to note that animals cannot tell us if something is working or not, so it is our duty to exercise due caution and approach using oils on animals safely and responsibly.
Please note that these are general recommendations for use. If your veterinarian suggests other usage, defer to your veterinarian. If your pet is pregnant, nursing, or has a medical condition, consult a veterinarian prior to use.
Are Your Essential Oils Harming Your Cat
Pet Health and Safety Mary Shaughney Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The use of herbal and botanical medicine for healing and spirituality goes back thousands of years. Recently, many people are returning to essential oils as an alternative therapy to treat everything from dietary problems to anxiety. While humans may find essential oils to be a way to heal the body and mind, these same oils can be deadly to our pets.
List Of Essential Oils That Are Safe For Your Cat
For cat owners, its important to consider where your best healthy practices may conflict with those of your pet. Cats are deficient in an enzyme called glucuronyl transferase, which is responsible for breaking down phenol. Phenol is an organic compound that is present in drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen . This compound, also known as carbolic acid, is also featured in many essential oils, making them unsafe for use around pets. Below, brush up on the differences between phenol-based and water-based oils, and make sure your favorite essential is safe for use around your cat.
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.
How Does Essential Oil Affect Your Cats Or Dogs
As I mentioned before, cats and dogs, as well as other pets, have a better sense of smell. Also, each pet is different than the other, which means their reaction might differ as well. In that regard, while your dog might not have any reaction when you diffused an essential oil, it doesnt mean that the other pet wont have any reaction at all.
Honestly, your other pet might have an even worse reaction to particular oil. Due to its heightened sense of smell, even the faintest scent of essential oil might be akin to sitting next to someone with dizzying perfume. Because of this, it is crucial that you first try out to see how your pets will react. It is a lot like trying a patch test when testing a product. By doing this, you can protect your pets.
Litteroma The Best Smelling Kitty Litter
In nature, your cat would use leaves and pine needles as their kitty litter, so theyd be getting exposed to small amounts of essential oil through contact with this vegetation. With Litteroma, we mimic what happens in the wild, by exposing kitty to small quantities of essential oils in their litter tray.
Start with unscented kitty litter, preferably the same brand you are already using. In Australia, I love using Breeders Choice which is recycled paper.
In a glass jar, add 1 to 3 drops of essential oil to 1 cup of Baking Soda . Shake well, and allow it to marinate overnight.
Sprinkle a small amount of this litteroma mix into one of the kitty litter trays, and mix well. Have a secondlitter tray available to your cat , so your cat can choose.
Try using earthy-smelling oils, such as Pine, Copaiba, Vetiver, Idaho Balsam Fir or Northern Lights Black Spruce. Alternatively, you can use oil blends that are great at dispelling odours, such as Purification or Di-Gize, or even Lavender.
Where We Stand On Essential Oil Usage On Cats
First of all, we dont recommend applying essential oils directly to the skin or fur of any animal. That is something that should be left to the discretion of you and your veterinarian. Though there are many cases where certain essential oils have been applied directly to eliminate fleas, heal wounds, and improve joint pain in cats, it is a personal choice best left to the owner and the vet to determine.
Secondly, we do not condone oral ingestion of any essential oils for cats . Essential oils are highly concentrated and contain the purest part of the plant or flower that they are derived from. This is what makes essential oils so amazing for use on the human body. The high levels of concentration, however, can be too much for your cats system to handle.
Finally, we know that many people have expressed their concerns on our blogs about cats and essential oils. We feel that we have a responsibility to provide honest and factual information regarding the use of essential oils on and around cats. With our voiced recommendations against oral ingestion and topical usage, we want to review the safety protocols when it comes to diffusing an essential oil near your cat.
Can A Diffuser Kill A Dog
The diffusion itself not necessarily harmful to dogs, but having these toxins in your home is a risk. Inhalation of essential oils is another concern for dogs. Breathing in the aroma of diffusers is generally not a problem. However, if a pet is sniffing the diffuser and gets oil in the airway, it could be disastrous.
The Danger Of Hydrosols
Hydrosols are often touted as a more natural, safer alternative to essential oils. Hydrosols are also known as “flower waters” as they consist of the water that remains after steam-distilling flowers or herbs in water, and are less saturated than essential oils.
While hydrosols are safer for use on human skin since they do not have to be diluted, they still are dangerous for cats and other pets. The water can hold on to residual matter from the plants that can be toxic if ingested or even inhaled.
Some pets can tolerate hydrosols, but others are more sensitive. Limit your pet’s access to them and their scents to minimize the risk of any health issues.
Uncovering The Truth About Using Essential Oils With Cats
May 11, 2018
There has been quite a debate raging in recent months over the use of essential oils on cats. Though many veterinarians have been using various essential oils in a variety of applications on cats and other animals for many years with no adverse effects, some cat owners have voiced concerns over what is deemed safe usage and what can be seen as toxic. When it comes to using essential oils on cats, there are several things to keep in mind to keep your kitty healthy and safe.
Three Ways To Use Essential Oils
If you have just started using essential oils, we recommend first using a diffuser. For topical use, only do so when you are comfortable.
The third method, using the oral application, is highly controversial and should be done at your own risk. Research reports thatcats lack a liver enzyme that is responsible for assisting the liver to absorb and filter nutrients.
Cats digest and metabolize differently; therefore the use of diffusing and applying essential oils topically is the safest method. If you are still unsure, we recommend that yousee a veterinarian for better guidance.
The most important factor to think about when using essential oils for cats is that you must first know your pets true state of health. You can do this by taking your cat to a health professional first just to make sure there are no other underlying illnesses.
When trying an oil for the first time, make sure to keep an eye on your cat for any negative reactions. Lastly, essential oils must also not be used around cats that are pregnant or nursing kittens
Essential Oils And Cats
Essential oils are volatile, organic constituents of plants that contribute to fragrance and taste. They are extracted from plants via distillation or cold pressing. Essential oils are utilized in a variety of ways: as insecticides, in aromatherapies, personal care products , flavorings, herbal remedies and liquid potpourri.
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. Cats are also very sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils. The higher the concentration of the essential oil , the greater the risk to the cat.
Essential oils that are known to cause poisoning in cats include oil of wintergreen, oil of sweet birch, citrus oil , pine oils, Ylang Ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Symptoms that develop depend on the type of oil involved in the exposure and can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia , respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.
Diffuser Types and Health Hazards
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LEARN
Essential Oils Toxic To Cats
Much like common houseplants that are toxic for cats, essential oils pose a threat, even in small amounts and especially when concentrated. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association , the following are just some of the essential oils toxic to cats:
- Bergamot
- Wintergreen, peppermint, spearmint and mint
- Ylang-ylang
In addition to the essential oils that you buy individually, they often appear in other household products such as paint thinner and insect repellent, which has a high risk of fatal reactions for cats, noted the CVMA.
Is Thieves Cleaner Safe For Animals
4.9/5cleaningThievescleanersafepets
Is Thieves Household Cleaner safe for use around animals? A. Thieves Household Cleaner is great to use around the whole family, including pets and children.
Furthermore, can dogs be around Thieves Oil? Thieves is a blend of multiple oils. Some of these oils should not be used on animals. For instance, clove oil for dogs is not recommended, so no. Thieves oil is not safe for dogs.
Correspondingly, is thieves cleaner toxic?
Thieves Laundry Soap:Very safe, non-toxic.
Can I put thieves cleaner in steam mop?
Mix 1/2 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner to your steam mop. (Thieves Household Cleaner is safe to be used on wooden, tile, and linoleum floors.
What Is An Essential Oil
An essential oil is a natural compound that are extracted from a single plant species and have the odor of the plant from which they have been obtained. Not all plants produce essential oils, but in those that do, the oil can be extracted from various sections of the plant including the stem, roots, leaves and flowers or fruits. While the oils that are extracted arent particularly strong, they are then distilled to make them more potent. It is for this reason that only a few drops of essential oil are needed at a time.
While essential oils are extracted for use by humans, they are also used therapeutically by the plants themselves since they help with wound healing, attracting or repelling birds and insects, hormonal effects and even infection control.
Thieves Household Cleaner The Pet
Thieves Household Cleaner is safe and effective for use with pets, including cats, dogs, horses and many other animal companions we share our homes and hearts with. Eliminating or minimizing the chemicals you have in your home will help you too. Everyday household cleaners that the animals areexposed to or accidentally get into can cause skin irritations, allergies and accidental poisoning.
Theives Household Cleaner, Safe for Pets
Thieves Household Cleaners formula has the most effective, 100 percent plant and mineral-based ingredients available. These include
- Vegetable-based surfactants
- Biodegradable cutting agents
- Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils
There is a whole line of products that was created based on the historical account of thieves in France who protected themselves against the Black Plague with cloves, rosemary and other aromatics while robbing victims of the killer disease. When captured, they gave up their secret recipe. Now, today, Young Livings propriety Thieves Oil blend is derived of clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon and eucalyptus, blended to offer the same kind of defense. Thieves has been university tested and found to be highly effective against airborne bacteria.
ACCIDENTS: Also, having a pet in your home means that inevitably you will need to clean up an accident at some point. Spot cleaning rugs, carpets and upholstery, wiping out kennels can be done using all-natural and safe Thieves Household Cleaner.
- Biothane or fabric-based tack
Warning: Essential Oils Dangerous For Pets Natural Flea Prevention May Do More Harm
*EDIT* I shared this post as a anecdotal experience only. I urge all pet owners to become familiar with their own breed of pet and what that species is or is not sensitive to. Rabbits and cats and dogs and horses all respond differently to different chemicals natural or manufactured. Please use care when administering ANYTHING to your pet and please know that i am NOT AN EXPERT and can not offer expert advice in the comments. This post is quite old and time sensitive comments may not yield results. *lot
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