It is not recommended for cats to eat lemongrass. According to the ASPCA, the leafy plant contains toxic principles such as essential oils and cyanogenic glycosides. Simply nibbling on the plant isn't likely to harm your cat, but if she eats a substantial amount, she may end up with an upset stomach.
Lemongrass isn't harmful to cats, as long as they nibble in moderation. When made into an essential oil, lemongrass is potentially deadly for your cat.
Lemongrass oil is most often found in the form of a hydrosol, a 100% non-alcoholic aroma that is made by steam-distilling or hydro-distilling plant matter. Lemongrass is a safe essential oil to use around cats at a low concentration. It should not, however, be ingested by cats or directly applied to their skin.
Lemongrass is toxic to dogs due to the cyanogenic glycosides and oils in the plant. Lemongrass poisoning, however, is rare in canines since dogs must ingest large quantities of the plant to trigger severe symptoms.
Cats dislike eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint – just choose the ones you don't mind the scent of yourself.
So a nibble of lemongrass will not harm your cats, but an intense craving could indicate (rather than cause) some underlying nutritional deficiency or disease such as hyperthyroidism. Dear Dr. Fox - I adopted two cats from the Animal Compassion Network. I noticed one of them eating dirt out of my planters.
Lemongrass has a similar catnip effect for some cats sending them into a euphoric state. Lemongrass essential oil, though, is a different story altogether. Without harming your cat, you can diffuse lemongrass in your home in moderation.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, so that they may enjoy the scent of lemongrass oil. It can be an effective way to add some extra pep to their step and boost your cat's health, too! If you want to try making homemade treats with lemongrass oil for your cat, make sure the recipe has no added sugar or salt.
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).
Overall, lemongrass in moderation appears to be safe. “However, there have been some toxic side effects, such as lung problems after inhaling lemongrass and a fatal poisoning after a child swallowed a lemongrass oil-based insect repellent,” according to WebMD.
Think about how your cat responds to the smell of anything citrus. It may pull back and run to another area of your home as cats find any citrusy scent offensive. All citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, limes and lemons) are mildly toxic to cats.
2. Lemongrass/citronella. Similarly, lemongrass is a tropical, grass-like plant known for its fresh, citrusy scent. And while this fragrance is pleasant, this can be too strong for cats and will keep them away.
Lemongrass essential oil is a great mood enhancer. If your pet is suffering from depression or deep sadness read more here, but using the essential oil acts as a sedative to calm the nerves, ease anxiety, relax muscles, reduces stress in cats, dogs and humans!
Citronella is toxic to pets
Citronella candles and oils are a popular mosquito repellent, but the citronella plant is toxic to pets. Use caution when using citronella products around your pet, and make sure they don't have access to any citronella plants in your garden.
While it is not deadly, lavender is toxic for cats. Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which cats cannot process in their livers. This means that consuming too much lavender can lead to liver damage.
The answer is a firm no. Lemons and other citrus fruits can harm your feline friend because they contain toxic compounds that are poisonous to most domestic pets. These toxins are present not only in lemon fruits but also in lemon trees, so pet owners who are also lemon tree gardeners should exercise caution.
As long as it is properly diluted and used in a way where your pet cannot ingest it, as a general rule, lemongrass essential oil is safe. For context, this means you can diffuse it in a well-ventilated room, not that you should be applying it to your four-legged friend or to yourself if your dog commonly licks you.
Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
While we wait for more research on essential oils and animals, as a rule of thumb, we recommend you avoid using diffusers if your animal has breathing problems, is confined to a small space or a lot of oil needs to be used. Speak to your veterinarian before bringing essential oils into your home or using a diffuser.
Orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, & mustard oil.
Lemon essential oil is not safe for cats. Citrus essential oils are hazardous to them. Essential oils are rapidly absorbed both orally and topically, then metabolized in the liver. Cats are especially sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils.
Essential oils that are unsafe for cats:
Citrus oils (bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine) Birch. Cinnamon. Clove.
Lemongrass is antifungal and antibacterial, which is why it's great for all kinds of skin and body care. It can also help repel mosquitos, making it a great choice to diffuse in the summertime.
You can also make cat repellent with essential oils, like citronella, lavender, peppermint, or lemongrass oil. Just mix 1 part essential oil with 3 parts water in a spray bottle.
According to the ASPCA, lemongrass is toxic to dogs due to the oils and cyanogenic glycosides in the plant. But lemongrass poisoning is very rare for dogs since they would have to ingest a large amount to trigger severe symptoms.