Things To Remember When Using This Recipe
Start slowly when introducing essential oils to your pet. Let them smell the combination of oils before using this recipe. If your pet reacts negatively, using it could cause them emotional discomfort.
Cats tend to be more sensitive to essential oils than dogs. They may not like the citrus oils used in the Peace and Quiet Blend. Try using Juniper Berry Essential Oil instead if your cat isnt a fan of our Peace and Quiet Blend. For using essential oils with cats check out this blogpost.
For using essential oils with dogs Check out this blogpost.
Never ingest any essential oil, even if its generally regarded as safe. For more information on why we dont ingest essential oils, check out this blog post.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Poisoning
If you think your cat has been poisoned, contact the pet poison helpline immediately. If possible, reach out to your vet as well and consult him/her on any possible first aid. As poison control arrives, make note of the following information:
- The type of oil that caused the poisoning. Different oils have different effects on the body so knowing which specific one can help in giving the most appropriate treatment.
- The weight of the cat. Smaller cats are affected more by poisons than heavier cats.
- The amount of oil the cat took in. A cat that simply touched the oil will require different therapy from one that drunk a whole bottle.
- The cats age. Age may also be relevant especially if she is a kitten or if she is an older cat.
Metabolic Differences Between Humans And Animals
Because human bodies are so dramatically different from those of cats and dogs, essential oils impact us much differently than they do our pets. Our bodies tend to be much larger, and our organ systems are more complicated and able to handle different loads of various compounds such as those that are found in essential oils.
Compounds in essential oils are often times highly reactive with living beings this is why essential oils work so well as therapeutic agents for various conditions that occur in the human race. For animals, however, the highly reactive nature of compounds found in essential oils can have detrimental effects on their much smaller bodies.
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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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Essential Oils And Cats: What You Need To Know
When it comes to using essential oils, whether it is for yourself or your pets, the quality of the oil is very important. Safe essential oils are unadulterated, genuine, and pure. Many oils are marketed as organic natural or even certified pure but you still need to be careful of the oils you choose, as there is no oversight for essential oils. Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA like some medications are. The brand of essential oils we recommend using is Young Living, as we know that these are high-quality pure oils that are very safe to use for yourself and your pets. The Doterra brand oils are high-quality that are safe to use as well.
For cats in particular, you need to be careful about what oils you use on them or expose them to because cats do not metabolize things the same way as dogs . A cats liver is different, as it lacks the P450 cytochrome metabolic pathway. This means that the liver in cats cannot break down or metabolize certain drugs, medications, and even some essential oils.
If you are interested in using essential oils for your cat, you should do so only as directed and/or supervised by your veterinarian. In general, the essential oils you should AVOID using with your cat include oils that are high in salicylates or phenols, such as:
- Basil
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense.
Which Essential Oils Are Dangerous To Cats
Certain essential oils are more dangerous to cats than others. Pennyroyal and melaleuca oils have been implicated in some severe cases of seizures and liver damage. Some oils, like tea tree oil, are more toxic than others in smaller amounts.
Other essential oils that are considered particularly dangerous to cats when either ingested or exposed on the skin include cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, wintergreen, and ylang ylang.
If you suspect your cat has ingested these or any other essential oils, or has gotten essential oils on her skin, call your veterinarian and bring any packaging from the product with you to the veterinary hospital. And like any new ingredient you introduce to your cats environment, its better to be safe than sorry: give your vet a call if you have questions about what kinds of essential oils are safe to use around your cat.
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Applying Eye Drops To Cats
The proper administration of eye medication is critical in helping your cat quickly recover from an eye injury or infection. Gently clean away any debris around your cat’s eyes with warm water and a washcloth. Hold the bottle using the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand with the tip pointed downwards. Use the last two fingers of the same hand to pull back the upper eyelid. Place your remaining fingers under the cat’s jaw to support the head. The lower eyelid will act as a pouch to receive the drops. DO NOT touch the eye’s surface with the applicator. Aiming for the center of the eye, squeeze the desired number of drops onto the eyeball.
What Should I Do If I Suspect That My Cat Has Been Exposed To Essential Oils Or Liquid Potpourri
Rapid diagnosis and treatment are imperative. If you believe that your cat has ingested or come in contact with essential oils or liquid potpourri, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline , a 24/7 animal poison control center, immediately. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the prognosis and outcome for your cat.
Please note:
- Do not induce vomiting or give activated charcoal to your cat. This may worsen your cats condition.
- Put the product packaging in a sealed container and take it with you to the veterinary clinic.
- If any product is on the skin or fur, quickly wash it off using a liquid dishwashing detergent.
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Your Cat And Essential Oils Sensitivity In The Liver
There is a lot of contradictory information concerning the use of essential oils around cats. And in many cases, medical knowledge and practical experience seem at odds with each other.
First, lets take a look at the medical side of things specifically, the liver.
In all mammals, the liver is designed to remove the build-up of toxins from the body. Various enzymes in the liver break down and remove different varieties of toxins.
And that means that if an animal is lacking a certain enzyme, it wont be able to remove the associated toxins.
Unfortunately, cats lack many of these enzymes, including one called glucuronyltransferase. This enzyme is responsible for ridding the body of excess carbolic acid, a type of phenol.
Phenols are a byproduct of plant metabolism and are found in many essential oils. But because cats lack the appropriate enzyme to remove them, phenols can build up in the body, resulting in liver toxicity.
Other compounds found in essential oils can also be toxic. In particular, ketones and terpenes are potential sources of danger when using essential oils around cats.
But at the same time, some research suggests that these same compounds could have health benefits for many cats.
Safe use of essential oils around cats requires solid knowledge about these compounds and familiarity with their presence in various oils. Lets take a closer look.
Essential Oils For Fleas On Cats
Essential oils have been used as natural alternatives for flea removal on pets, instead of traditional, chemical-based flea collars. Today, there are several flea repellent essential oils on the market. Safe, natural remedies for fleas on cats include marjoram and red cedar essential oils. Flea collars with low concentrations of these essential oils may be effective in eliminating fleas. Always talk to your veterinarian before using any essential oils for fleas on cats.
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Is It Possible To Safely Use Essential Oils Around Cats
Essential oils might smell greatafter all, who doesnt love a scent-infused bath bomb or an invigorating fragrance diffused into the air? But because many types of essential oils can pose a risk to cats in the home, its important to use them safely around your feline friend.
We asked Tina Wismer, a veterinarian and senior director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, for her expert advice to help pet parents learn how to safely use essential oils around their cat. The number one rule? Be cautious.
“The best way to avoid exposing your pets to dangerous substances is always to err on the side of caution and by ‘pet-proofing’ your space,” Wismer says.
To help pet parents create a safe space for cats and essential oils to coexist, Wismer and the team at ASPCA Animal Poison Control offer these guidelines for minimizing the risk to cats and other pets:
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.
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What To Know About Essential Oils For Pets
You know your pets sense of smell is an inherent part of how they explore the world. Just think about your dogs meet and greet behavior or how your cat sniffs the new food before tasting.
Dr. Jeff says, Animals have a substantial part of their nasal passages and brain anatomy dedicated to olfactory functions, so it makes sense that aromatherapy can be useful in addressing their medical needs.
Yet, we can overdo it by accident without guidelines, as our pets sense of smell is exceptionally stronger than ours.
According to pet groomer and educator Malissa Conti-Diene,
If we can smell it, imagine 20x more for that animal. As humans, we get nose blind. Well diffuse for longer and longer amounts of time, and its overwhelming for the animal and can make them sick.
Additionally, Malissa says, Research shows that cats are much better at differentiating between scents than dogs. So in a way, their sense of smell is more powerful than your pups.
Besides diffusing essential oils for too long, we can also diffuse ones that can be toxic to our animals because we just dont know. Malissa warns that citrus oils, for example, are dangerous for cats because they lack an enzyme to break them down.
Which Essential Oils Are Toxic To Pets
Essential oils have had a place in alternative medicine and therapies for centuries, and many people have chosen to also use them with their pets so that beloved animals can also reap the benefits that they offer. However, while essential oils may be completely naturally-occurring substances, this doesnt automatically make them completely safe. In fact, many are toxic to animals and humans alike.
As a caring and conscientious pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your creature safe from harm. If you are planning on using essential oils in your home, regardless of whether you are going to apply them.
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Which Essential Oils Are Safe For Cats
April 23, 2018
Recently, there has been a lot of excitement, varying opinions and strong emotions surrounding the use of essential oils around cats. Organic Aromas wishes to remind everyone to be calm and approach this very important, yet sensitive, topic with caution, prudence and always using a practical approach. To avoid subjecting your beloved kitty to something unhealthy we remind everyone to go slow, use your essential oils sparingly and start in a place where your cat is not located.
Furthermore, please note that Organic Aromas strictly discourages the ingestion of any essential oil regardless of human or animal. Likewise, we never promote or condone the use of essential oils directly applied to the fur or the body of any animal ever.
We defer the decision to use essential oils for cats to the cat owner and his or her veterinarian.
Remember that for Organic Aromas, the primary context and purview of our article on the use of essential oils around cats is strictly limited to diffusion of those oils from our nebulizing diffusers® only. Moreover, as cat owners and lovers ourselves, the following list represents essential oils that we have used around our own pets for many years without trouble or incident.
We note that the following recommendations are essential oils that are NOT found on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® list of plants known to be toxic to cats!
When To Call The Vet
Symptoms of essential oil poisoning include difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, drooling, vomiting, tremors, wobbliness and low heart rate, reported the Pet Poison Helpline. Contact your vet or an emergency clinic immediately if you suspect your cat has ingested an essential oil and discontinue the use of any essential oil that causes irritation or discomfort for your kitty.
Before using essential oil products and diffusers in your home, speak with your vet to ensure the health and safety of your furry friend.
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Are Essential Oils Safe For Cats And Dogs
There is a lack of scientific research available about essential oils and their effects on cats and dogs to support the idea that they are safe. From experience, scientists know that many essential oils are not safe for pets.
Because scientific information doesn’t exist for many essential oils, your best bet is to speak with your veterinarian to determine if your pet will be affected by the oils you’re using for yourself. However, not all veterinarians are knowledgeable with essential oils, or there may not be a veterinarian local to you that has this expertise. Any research you find should be shared with your veterinarian so that you can both align on your pet’s overall healthcare approach, as there many factors to consider.
Tips For Safe Essential Oil Applying
You can keep your cat safe while enjoying essential oils in your home.
Even though your favorite essential oil is toxic to your kitty, it does not mean that you need to avoid it forever. If you cannot live without a particular oil, you can use it with certain precautions.
The crucial thing is to prevent your cat from coming into contact with the specific oil thats harmful for it. Always avoid petting your kitty after applying essential oils to the skin of your hands or face. The residue may get on the cats fur, and there is a high possibility that it will ingest them while bathing itself. Be cautious, cover all of your oiled body parts, and wash your hands after finishing the application.
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