Established research has shown that essential oils can be toxic to cats, whether taken internally, applied to the skin, or simply inhaled. Exposure can lead to serious liver damage, liver failure, respiratory failure, seizures and even death.
While the flowers are beautiful and make for perfect curb appeal, lavender oil can often be found in natural remedy sleep aids, soaps, and candles. However, if you have a cat, you should be wary of having lavender in easy access to them. Lavender is mildly toxic to cats.
Lavender essential oil is the most toxic form of lavender for your felines. “Cats are more susceptible to essential oils than some other species as they are missing a specific enzyme in their liver that helps them metabolize certain drugs, including essential oils,” says Richardson.
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).
Mix together 3/4 parts water with 15 drops of each essential oil. Cats dislike eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint – just choose the ones you don't mind the scent of yourself.
The small amounts of dried lavender we put in our catnip blends help promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety and help your cat sleep more soundly (and that might help you sleep more soundly at night as well). You may have heard that lavender oil is toxic to cats; it can cause your cat to have an upset stomach.
Lavender, which has natural sedative properties, may help soothe an anxious cat. Copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense are also considered safe for cats. Before using essential oils, even in the form of diffused scents, around your cats, check with your holistic veterinarian for recommendations.
While there are compounds within lavender that can be toxic to your furry friend, when it is properly diluted, it can be safe in small amounts.
It's best to avoid diffusing essential oils around dogs and cats. In addition to inhalation exposure to potentially toxic essential oils, microdroplets of oils could collect on your pet's fur. This exposure could lead to dermal absorption or eventual ingestion once your pet grooms or licks itself.
Even a lavender oil diffuser could cause trouble, particularly if your cat has asthma or other breathing problems. “Cats with respiratory issues can possibly have their symptoms worsened by inhaling lavender (or other essential oils) that are diffused into their environment,” Dr. Conrad said.
However, some scents are safer than others to diffuse. For example, lavender essential oil, orange essential oil, and lemon essential oil are considered relatively safe to diffuse around pets, but you should monitor your pet when diffusing oils in your home. Keep your diffuser up high where your dog can't get to it.
Burning incense produces smoke, which is not healthy for your cat's respiratory system. The smoke can act as an irritant, which may cause your cat to cough or have an allergic reaction.
Beeswax, soy wax or vegetable-based wax candles don't contain toxic pollutants, so are generally safer, and also typically burn for longer than paraffin wax. If you're worried your cat may have been poisoned by anything in your home, discover how to spot the signs of poisoning.
Candles don't need to be banished from your home or holiday decorating, but it's certainly a good idea to never leave a lit candle and your pets alone together in the same room. To avoid the flame but keep the smell, you can place a jar candle on a warming plate. Better yet, get one with an auto-shutoff.
If oil makes contact on skin or fur, wash with hand-safe dish soap. Watch for symptoms once the affected area is clean. Call your veterinarian immediately if the oil was ingested or call us at 415-554-3030. Do not induce vomiting as this can potentially further obstruct your cat's airway.
Essential Oil Cat Repellent
Add the essential oil to a spray bottle. For the repellent, you'll need a 2-ounce (59 ml) glass spray bottle. Squeeze 2 drops of lemon essential oil, 2 drops of wild orange essential oil, and 2 drops of lavender essential oil to the bottle.
Yes, when used as directed, the product can be used around children and pets (except birds). However, this product should not be used directly on pets. Refer to the safely requirements question below for additional information.
Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which are not safe for some animals but can be tolerated in small doses for others. For this reason, lavender oil should not be ingested, only used topically or diffused into the air around them.
Properly-prepared, diluted lavender oil is generally considered safe for use topically on dogs. The most common uses of lavender oil for dogs are to soothe itching, irritation, and inflammation. It is relatively versatile, helping dogs with multiple issues, said Sadie Cornelius of CanineJournal.com.
Lavender. Many cats are attracted to the sweet, soothing smell of lavender. Much like their human counterparts, the scent of lavender can induce feelings of relaxation. Some might even show their approval by rubbing against plants or sitting nearby them.
Use lavender to calm your cat.
Lavender is well known for its calming and sedative effects in humans. You can also use this oil to induce calm and relaxation in your cat. If your cat gets anxious before or during travel, for instance, you could treat the anxiety with some lavender essential oil.
Lavender is mildly toxic to cats, so be cautious when using it around your BFF.
Generally cats do not like strong perfumed smells, such as incense or air fresheners or disinfectants. In fact these things can be very bad for them. Inhaling the smoke and oils in incense can be toxic for cats if used in enclosed spaces or excessively and cause health problems.